Most of us are concerned about losing our memory and cognitive skills as we age. Apparently there is a test that can be done in the lab that can assess your susceptibility to dementia, they test your genotype. Even if this test shows you have the type that is most likely to suffer some sort of brain problem, this doesn't guarantee you will suffer. It is up to all of us to look after our brains and prevent destruction, regardless of our genotypes.
For example - you maybe a person that is susceptible to lung cancer, but because you have never smoked, never get lung cancer. On the other hand a person without a susceptibility to lung cancer decides to smoke and eat badly may eventually get lung cancer. We have all inherited a weakness of one description or another. Our life-styles and diets can either weaken or strengthen these inherited traits. The choice is ours.
As we age our brains shrink. It is thought by the time we are 75 the average person's brain will shrink by 10%. After the age of 75 about 1 in 10 people develop some sort of memory loss, like Alzheimer's disease. We lose brain cells as they are damaged by oxidation. It isn't all doom and gloom, there is however lots of good news. We can protect our brains from damage just like we can protect any part of our body, given the right know-how. We need the correct lifestyle, enough vital nutrients and the right attitude. Research has revealed that there are plenty of elderly that show no signs of brain shrinkage or memory loss or decline in mental function.
Research has shown a really important aspect to protecting our brain from damage, is to reduce the amount of inflammation within your body. An anti-inflammatory program is vital in protecting the brain function as the research has linked chronic inflammation to brain damage and other chronic diseases like arthritis or heart disease. It has been noted by many scientists that people who had been taking anti-inflammatory medication for arthritic pain over many years suffered less dementia or Alzheimer's disease. There is a big drawback to using these medications as they have side-effects that cause serious health problems, including kidney and liver damage.
But here is the good news - some life-style and diet changes can bring about that anti-inflammatory response, reducing inflammation, with really healthy side-effects. Over the years we have seen more and more evidence that gluten is playing a major role in our ill-health. More evidence is coming to light that in gluten-sensitive people, it is causing brain inflammation. In some very sensitive people brain dis-function is quite evident!! The brain in general is also very susceptible and sensitive to the added chemicals in our processed foods. This also includes artificial sweeteners, toxins and sugar.
Between our brain and the rest of our body is the blood brain barrier (BBB) it is there to protect the brain from whatever is circulating around in our blood. If the body is in a state of chronic inflammation, it eventually compromises our blood brain barrier. This means our brain becomes more susceptible to toxins that cause further inflammation and more brain damage. Other factors that cause damage to the blood brain barrier are glycation also known aptly as AGEs - Advanced Glycation End-products. AGEs are the direct result of poor blood sugar maintenance from your lifestyle and diet.
AGEs encourage inflammation in the brain and increase oxidative damage in the brain cells, and hence the cell's early death. M. Flint M.D. is a professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and his research has revealed a relationship between inflammation and oxidative stress causing brain cell damage or death, leading to dementia and many other problems like Alzheimer's disease and even Parkinson's disease.
In a nut shell - reduce the inflammatory producing diet, give up smoking, reduce alcohol and stimulants, take anti-oxidants (like vitamin E and C), ensure you get essential fatty acids (raw nuts and seeds), and remove the chemicals from your diet including artificial sweeteners. Most people now know that there is a connection with aluminium and other metals.
If I could think of a good joke right now I would tell it to you because laughter produces good chemicals in our brains - two very important neurotransmitters- serotonin and acetylcholine that are so very important for our memory and brain health. Dump the miserable friends, do some exercise as it helps the circulation keeping the brain supplied with enough oxygen and will help produce those happy chemicals that are so good for us. Get some good quality sleep on a regular basis. If you only take these few steps you will be going some way to protecting your past and future.
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