PROTECTING YOUR BRAIN WITH SUPPLEMENTS

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The Protective Effects of Fish Oil

Eating fish regularly decreases your chances of developing Alzheimer’s, and research shows that it’s the DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in fish that’s offering the protection. Older people with the highest blood levels of DHA were about half as apt to develop dementia and 39% as apt to develop Alzheimer's as those with lower blood levels of DHA over a nine-year period, according to Tufts University researchers. Those with the highest blood levels consumed about 180 mg of DHA a day—the amount found in three servings of fish a week. DHA decreases the formation of amyloid plaque, researchers say.

Vitamin D Boosts Mood and Memory

We now know that vitamin D affects virtually all body tissues, including the brain, and a new study suggests that getting enough D can improve some mood and memory problems. In a group of older people, those with low blood levels of vitamin D were more likely to have mild depressive symptoms such as lack of interest or indecisiveness than people with adequate blood levels. Deficiency was also linked to poor thinking skills like memory, judgment and problem-solving.

Folic Acid Adds Years to Your Brain

Dark leafy greens contain folic acid, which protects your brain two ways: it helps to reduce inflammation, by lowering neurotoxic homocysteine levels, and it seems to interfere with expression of the genes involved in dementia. Dutch researchers studied 818 subjects aged 50 to 70 with high homocysteine levels. They found that those who took 800 mcg of folic acid daily for three years had better memory and information-processing speed than those taking a placebo. The difference was dramatic. On memory tests, those taking 800 mcg of folic acid daily scored as well as people 5.5 years younger.

Don’t Forget B12

With so much new research on nutrition and the brain, it’s easy to forget about vitamin B12, a nutrient long known for its critical role in nerve and brain function. B12 is needed to keep nerves working properly throughout the body. Plus, it works with folic acid and vitamin B6 to neutralize neurotoxic homocysteine. New research from Tufts University shows just how important vitamin B12 really is to brain function. They looked at B12 and folic acid status in people age 60 or older. Not unexpectedly, they found that people’s thinking abilities were best when they had adequate blood levels of both vitamins. Surprisingly though, cognitive abilities were worst in seniors with low vitamin B12 and high serum folate levels. Anemia and impaired thinking were observed nearly five times as often for people with this combination than among people with normal B12 and folate levels. This finding led researchers to conclude that, although it’s important to get enough folic acid, in seniors, too much folic acid and too little B12 is just as bad. You need both. http://www.stopagingnow.com

Food policy under Obama

President-Elect Barack Obama has pledged to bring change to his country. Three food industry executives discuss what his election could mean for food regulation and trade, and policy interplay with healthcare and energy. ...http://www.nutraingredients.com

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