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December 10, 2021

Alzheimer's

Alzheimer’s Disease 101

Understanding Alzheimer’s disease is important. Learning and accepting how this condition affects each of us.

A recent study conducted by the Alzheimer’s Association reported that there is an estimated 5.8 million Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. That breaks down to one in every ten adults, aged 65 and older, have some form of the disease. A staggering 32 percent of adults, aged 85 and older, have Alzheimer’s dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most conventional cause of dementia in elderly people. Dementia, on its own, can be caused by a multitude of conditions, including strokes, brain tumors, chronic brain infections, hormonal problems, and even vitamin deficiencies.

The likelihood of Alzheimer’s disease increases as one ages. Alzheimer’s is not a standard outcome of aging but appears to be related to the toxic results of protein deposited in the brain called beta amyloid. According to sciencedirect.com, beta amyloid is defined as “a heterogeneous mixture of small peptides….”

While the majority of those affected by Alzheimer’s are 65 years of age and older, the disease has been shown to appear in individuals as young as 30 years of age. This has been reported to be a result of a genetic abnormality which results in higher amounts of beta amyloid being deposited in the brain.

Currently, there is no known treatment for Alzheimer.

Majority survive on average eight years after the initial symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. However, hospitals and clinics all over the United States are working daily on a cure.

The studies and trials are focused on how the disease can be avoided, its progression can be delayed, and improved therapies can be utilized.

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

The earliest symptoms often seen in Alzheimer’s can at first seem more of an inconvenience than a disease. The following signs are present in the early stages:

Difficulty remembering common items
Confusion in the evening hours
Inability to create new memories
Inability to do simple math
Making up stories

As the disease progresses through the brain, signs become more apparent and marked:

Paranoia
Jumbled speech
Repetition of own words
Loss of appetite
More aggression

Probability Factors

Deepening age is by far the main risk factor for Alzheimer. Scientists understand the noticeably clear association between age and disease development. Family history and biology are also factors leading to the disease.

A further risk factor has to do with race. Research shows that Latino and African Americans are at greater risk for Alzheimer’s progression and dementia related symptoms.

In 2018, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported the following statistics:

African American – 13.8 percent
Hispanics –12.2 percent
Non-Hispanic whites –10.3
American Indian/Alaska Natives –9.1 percent
Asian/Pacific Islanders –8.4 percent

Collective data reports are showing that cardiac activity is correlated with mental wellbeing, which means that people with cardiac dysfunction now appear to have neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s.

Current Treatments

Memory failure and certain other neurological effects can be treated with two separate kinds of FDA-approved drugs, cholinesterase inhibitors, and memantine. Cells are damaged at the source of these cognitive effects, and, while this cannot be reversed, various types of treatments can make it easier for the brain to function and decrease symptoms over years.

Due to the radical brain cell deterioration, often, the individual will show this frustration with heavy mood swings. Doctors should provide the patient and family with contacts on outside sources to aid in training and proper care during these last stages.

Preventing The Disease

While there are no definite ways to avoid an Alzheimer’s disease from arising, studies and data show that an aging approach, which is usually stable, leads to keeping the brain and the body in balance. It is essential to maintain a healthy body weight and eliminate smoking and reduce alcohol consumption.

The most beneficial steps to delay the onset of the condition tend to be a routine fitness regimen for the mind and body. It also appears especially useful to remain involved socially, since contact with others encourages brain function and can help reduce the loss of brain cells contributing to Alzheimer’s.

December 8, 2021

Health

How To Train Your Brain To Perform At Its Best

If you could keep your brain optimized, for years or even decades to come, wouldn’t you? Of course! It should be a no-brainer (pun intended).

See, the fact is, many people do not stimulate their brain sufficiently to keep it functioning well into the senior years. In fact, many people do just the opposite; as they grow older, they take it “easy,” which in reality speeds up cognitive decline on so many levels.

Watching Jeopardy isn’t nearly enough, if you want to keep your brain functioning at its best. Try the following tips, and stay sharper than a whipper-snapper (always wanted to say that!)

Keep Learning

Why?

You may be surprised to know that when we stop learning, or refuse to learn, that is when a drastic reduction of brain performance occurs. See, every time we learn something new, our brain develops new neuronal connections, which translate to memories over time.

Failure to keep developing these new networks compromises the ability of the brain to retain, or develop new links, paving the way for dementia or memory loss related disorders.

Exercise

Wait- before you write this off, you need to know why. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “healthy body, health mind,” but may be you never fully understood the context of it. Exercise, provides many benefits, one of which is to increase cardiovascular function, which improves blood flow as one of its benefits.

Without sufficient blood flow to the brain, concentration fizzles, mind fog ensues and your brain becomes less “brainy” and more “grainy.” Health blood flow also reduced the risk of stroke, and supplies efficient oxygen so the cells perform optimally.

Play Video Games

My personal favorite by a long shot, playing video games increase cognition and problem solving skills. Strategy based games, which requires you think out of the box and figure out “puzzles” are especially effective, and can even improve your fine motor co-ordination.

So next time your kid wants a new video game, don’t’ sulk; rejoice in the fact that you are likely raising a genius!

Develop A Regular Sleep Pattern

This involves getting a decent 8 hours sleep every night. Why? Because most of our memories are “cemented” during sleep and not merely while we are awake, as more people are led to believe. The brain keeps working during sleep, and it is this deep state of “repair” which allows us to develop long-term memory. Sleep will also keep your energy levels high, provide mental clarity and allows your brain to work the way it was meant to.

De-Stress

The brain is the central control of your entire body, and as you may guess, plays a major role in the stress we experience on a daily basis. This might explain why one scenario may be extremely stressing to one person, and a pinch of sand to another. It has a lot to do with the way the brain has been conditioned to respond to these stressful stimuli.

By taking part in de-stressing activities, such as yoga or meditation, you too can train your brain to not signal the release of stress hormones for every little thing in life.

The result? Sharper mental acuity and a healthier physical self.

Eat For Performance

If you want your brain functioning at its best, you need to ensure it is well fed. Healthy fats, especially omega 3’s, along with lots of beneficial phytonutrients and anti-oxidants keep things chugging along the way they should.

Want a secret weapon? Try dark chocolate.

The dopamine high you get from chocolate makes it easier to learn and retain, so take advantage of this fact (and taste!)

Conclusion

Now that you see how extremely easy it can be to train your brain to perform with efficiency, what’s keeping you back from your true potential?

December 7, 2021

Health

Can Periodic Fasting Improve Aging?

In an endless quest to improve the aging process, fasting has been suggested by some as an effective means to do so.

Periodic fasting refers to taking time out of your regular eating pattern to fast (not take in food) for a few days to a week. During that time, most people will drink water or juices but will allow their gut to clear out of solid waste before starting to eat again. This is done every month or however often the person feels like fasting.

However, does periodic fasting improve the aging process?

Very few studies like this have been done in humans but they have been done in animal models. In one study on mice, it has been shown that episodic fasting has been found to protect the animal against diseases relating to the aging process.

Since the cellular makeup of mice is similar to humans, it has been suggested that this type of fasting may be helpful in human subjects as well.

The Process of Fasting

Fasting can be very difficult to do. In the most extreme form of fasting, no food is taken in whatsoever with the exception of water in order to prevent dehydration. In less extreme forms of fasting, clear liquids like juices or Gatorade is allowed in order to provide some calories along with hydration.

Some fasting diets include vegetable juices made by juicing vegetables together with water in a juicer.

The idea behind fasting is to rid the body of toxins that build up in the gut as a part of the normal eating process. Bad bacteria are flushed out of the system and the liver is given a rest from eating the processed foods that make up a big part of the American diet.

Fasting is also done to lose weight although the weight loss doesn’t usually last once the person begins to eat again.

Results of the Study

In the study suggested above, published in the journal “Cell Metabolism,” mice were given no food for a period of time and then were allowed to eat a regular diet between periods of fasting. The researchers measured various biomarkers that predict an increased incidence of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

They discovered that the biomarker levels in fasting animals dropped dramatically when compared to animals who did not fast and maintained eating their normal diets.

Diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer are believed to be some of the diseases related to aging. Some of them have protein-based biomarkers that indicate the incidence of these diseases. In those animals who fasted, the levels of biomarkers were reduced. This can have a significant impact on these diseases as they relate to the aging process.

The fasting diet was also done in human studies. The fasting diet was made up of calorie restriction lasting five days in a row during a given month. The participants did not fast completely but were given energy bars, vegetable soups, tea, and drinks along with a supplement that added up to 1,090 calories on the first day and only 725 calories of food on the other four days of the fast. During the rest of the time, the participants were allowed to eat a normal diet.

This type of fasting diet was done in animals (namely mice) and showed increased health among the mice who participated in a fasting diet. The mice who fasted suffered from decreased loss of bone, a longer lifespan, and not as many cancers.

The researchers felt that the same thing could take place in humans who fasted in a similar way to the animals. The fasting does not have to be continuous but can be done on a periodic basis throughout one’s life in order to combat the effects of aging.

Further Studies

Clinical trials in larger groups of people are being planned. The biggest question in these types of studies and in real life is whether or not the humans can sustain such a diet. Fasting, as mentioned, will cause a temporary loss in weight but permanent weight loss is not believed to be sustainable unless the individual makes changes in their diet that they can stick with as a part of a normal and ongoing diet plan.

December 3, 2021

Health

How A Lack Of Sleep Impacts Your Brain

We all know the obvious effect of sleep deprivation with that dreaded feeling of utter fatigue and all day grogginess. However, very few people understand the role of sleep in keeping your brain healthy or how lack thereof can make you horribly unproductive.

In fact, lack of sleep is extremely common in the majority of adults; you have been groomed for this from your teenaged years, when you would need to study into the wee hours of the morning to ace that exam.

When you enter the workplace, it isn’t much different; you may have to take home work that you failed to complete during the day, or even if you did, you have to spend time with your family during the evening, and take care of tasks necessary to the smooth running of the home.

In addition, what normally pays the price for squeezing out these extra tasks? Yep, your sleep. You will seriously need to reconsider how important a task is after you see the impact sleep deprivation has on your brain.

Thought Processes Become Sluggish

Tasks that require thorough thinking, or require focus and attention suffer tremendously when your body is in a state of sleep deficit. You will find it extremely difficult to construct simple mental “directives’ to get you through completion of the task at hand, and will likely find yourself slipping in and out of sleep. If you can, sneak naps in throughout the day. A little as 15 minutes can help rejuvenate your brain for a few hours (until naptime comes again!).

Depression Can Ensue

Although the reasoning behind development of depression is not fully understood, a study conducted in 2005 of over 10000 people revealed that those that suffer from insomnia or lack of sleep have a 500% increased chance of developing depressive illness.

It is possible that since deep restorative sleep phases many only be experienced twice during a six hour period of rest, levels of the stress hormone remain consistently high. Your memory and executive functioning of your brain will subsequently suffer

Memory Suffers

Can’t remember the name of that corporate contact you made last week? Chances are that lack of sleep is to blame. In order for short-term memories, made during the day, to be converted and stored as long term memories you can recall at will, they need to be “compartmentalized” into logical collections during sleep.

A little nap here and there won’t cut it. Memories are organized during the deepest phases of sleep, which usually occur about 90 minutes into sleep. After this deep phase is completed, the mind once again enters light sleep. Ideally, you want about 5 of these deep phases experienced per night, or you are still bound to leave memories on the table.

Hallucinations

Think only crazy people hallucinate? Good, then that means you haven’t been sufficiently sleep deprived as yet! The well-rested brain is efficient at filtering stimuli as essential and unnecessary.

For example, as you’re reading this now, chances are a fan is buzzing in the background, maybe you have on some music or whatever, but your brain is sufficiently zoned in to allow you to focus on what’s important right now.

Compared to your brain critically lacking sleep, you may hear the fan playing music and the stairs calling your name!

Anger Issues

Have you ever just felt “enraged” because you were tired? Chances are you have, and what you were experiencing was the urge to sleep (or eat). Periods of sleep deficiency cause two areas of the brain to “disconnect,” so to speak.

An area known as the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex together regulate emotions and feelings, but as a result of a lack of sleep, you are subject to loose emotions, especially anger and sorrow. Road rage? Poor guy was probably asleep at the wheel!

Conclusion

Get good sleep and regularly. Sleep can profoundly enhance your mental and physical wellbeing, and it’s free! So sweet dreams!

December 2, 2021

Health

6 Habits That Boost Memory And Brain Health

Most people take their brain for granted. Indeed, chances are you have never actively thought of a way to improve your brain health, except for passing thoughts about how you could likely enhance your memory.

First off, supplements are not the means to an end. Sure, you will likely reap short-term benefits on aspects such as focus or clarity, but over the long haul, you will be no different from how you started.

Rather, a better approach to improving your memory and brain health is by cultivating habits that encourage healthy brain function, allows sufficient recovery, and aids in the natural process of delegating.

Wondering what are the habits of the ultra-efficient? Read on to discover the potent “no brainer” strategies they use.

Sleep Like You Were Meant To

Did you know, that we are SUPPOSED to spend about 33% of our lives asleep? Yet, many, if not most, adults only get about 6.5 hours sleep nightly, when they should get at least 8.

Sleep is important for two main reasons in the context of brain health; it is able to repair damaged cells from both the periphery and the brain itself, and a lesser known but critical action on compartmentalizing memories.

If you hope to turn your short-term memories into long term ones, you must experience deep sleep, which usually occurs about 60-90 minutes after entering sleep. Your energy levels and efficiency will speak mountains about why good sleep is so important.

Exercise Often

Besides the well-documented benefits on physical health, exercise also exerts numerous benefits on brain health too. Enhanced blood flow to the brain as a result of exercise helps keep you alert and focused, while the boost of feel good endorphins produced as a result aid in blunting the stress hormone cortisol, fingered in poor retention and memory abilities.

Get Executive

Executive functioning is critical for maintaining brain health, and boosting memory. Executive functioning allows our brain to delegate tasks on levels of importance, form mental “notes,” and bottom lines, and to block out unnecessary tasks that would detract from efficiency. Think of it as the CEO of your brain; bottom line is what’s required.

Do One Thing At A Time

Multi-tasking isn’t hot; it’s not the latest in trend, nor is it smart. Why? Because multi-tasking makes you less efficient, decreases your ability to remember and translates to poorer memory.

Forgot to return that phone call you received while you were writing up that report, sending emails and conferencing with a client? Now you see what we mean. At a maximum, do no more than two tasks at a time- if possible strive for one.

Learn Something New

Having your brain do the same thing day after boring day is not going to make your memory better, or improve the overall health of your brain. In fact, one of two things is likely to occur; your brain either begins slacking on you because it is familiar with the tasks that need to be done, or efficiency increases in a few tasks but at the expense of many others. Think of your brain as a muscle, one that can be trained by applying new “stimuli.”

By doing the same tasks over and over, your brain becomes much too accustomed and does not have the incentive to change. By trying out new things, learning a language for example, your brain is forced to come out of its comfort zone. As the popular saying goes, “when you stop learning, you start dying.”

Schedule Regular De-Stressing Sessions

As levels of neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin increase, so does your ability to form memories, perform tasks efficiently and to focus. The key to achieving this? Keeping cortisol levels low. However, cortisol levels will spike the higher the stress you experience, so try including yoga sessions into your weekly wellness plan.

November 30, 2021

Health

7 Ways You Can Boost Energy In The Morning

As we get older, we invariably have less energy, at least that’s how it feels. When we were younger, it seemed as though we would literally combust with the amount of surplus energy we had.

When we weren’t playing tag on the playground, we were outrunning everyone else on the soccer field. A few years later, we were expounding plenty of energy in the workplace, getting up at 6.30am in the morning and then working out at the gym after work. We were just so energetic.

But then we get older. Older people are more prone to sedentary lives than younger people are? True or False? Definitely true.

Older people do have less energy than younger people do? True or False?

The truth is that there is no black and white answer to this one. Seniors can be just as full of beans as their younger counterparts can as long as they do the right things. Let’s take a look at 7 ways seniors can boost energy in the morning.

Drink Green Tea

Maybe you grew used to drinking a cup of Joe each morning before work when you were younger. Maybe you relied on it to give you the boost you needed. The problem is that coffee eventually gives us a crash that is really not nice as you get older. Instead, you should consider drinking green tea.

Green tea is rich in powerful antioxidants that fight free radicals, which are detrimental to our mood and physical shape. Start the day with green tea and you’ll be ready to seize the day.

Go For An Early Morning Walk

Researchers at the University of Sydney say that if you sit more than 11 hours per day you’re more likely to increase your risk of death by 40% than folk who sit for only 3 hours or less a day.

So why not start your day off in the right way by going out for a walk? This gives your circulation a chance to get going, and ensures that your joints are moving. It basically energizes your whole body.

Drink Plenty Of Water

If green tea isn’t really your thing, you still need to find a healthy alternative to tea and coffee, which are both diuretics and cause your body to lose a lot of water. In addition, when you dehydrate, you get tired. Drinking water keeps properly hydrated, which is great for energy.

Do A Puzzle

After you’ve eaten breakfast, why not indulge in a puzzle, such as a crossword? Puzzles keep you mentally sharp, and mental energy is just as vital as physical energy. If you’re mentally focused, you’re far likelier to get things done than if you’re mentally fatigued.

Try Gardening

As we get older, it’s important that we find a hobby that allows us to move our body. The problem is that many seniors fall into a routine of watching too much television. Gardening gives you the chance to increase daily movement. It’s a fun hobby that keeps you mentally and physically active and also improves your sense of purpose.

Eat A Healthy Breakfast

As well as green tea, it’s also important that you start the day with the right type of food. Fatty breakfasts, although tasty, only serve to fill your body with bad fats. These fats make you feel tired not just physically but also mentally, because they have a tendency to make their way up to your brain. Sneaky.

Cut Out Smoking

If you smoke in the morning (or at any point in the day), you’re essentially sapping yourself of much-needed energy. No smoke means better breathing and more energy.

November 23, 2021

Uncategorized

5 Ways Regular Exercise Benefits Your Brain Health

Exercise is well known for improving your physical wellbeing, but did you also know that exercise directly improves the wellbeing of your brain too? Yep, concentrating and working behind a desk all day isn’t enough to “exercise your mind”, but rather you need to focus on performing exercises that keep the brain sharp, free from disease and functioning optimally.

With that said, exercise fits the bill perfectly! Not sure what it does for your brain? Then read on and be left awe struck.

Exercise Promotes Regeneration Of Brain Tissue

As we age, the ability of our brains to regenerate and for new cell growth is decreased significantly. However, research has found that regularly scheduled aerobic exercise sessions were able to significantly inhibit the loss of brain cells and associated shrinkage, in fact, after a period of six months, an increase in bran volume was reported in the group that performed regular aerobic exercise, compared to sedentary individuals who only perform light stretching or toning exercises.

Exercise Can Prevent Incidence Of Debilitating Depression

Ever notice that mega high you feel after successfully completing a workout, a run, or any type of workout? That is your brain on its happy hormone, serotonin, and dopamine.

When these levels of neurotransmitter hormones are high, your brain functions optimally with focus, quick calculating and the ability to recall information effortlessly.

Suffers of depression have reduced levels of serotonin especially, which typically lead to sluggish response time, mental fog and inability to concentrate. It is for this reason that exercise is regarded as an effective mood enhancer and natural remedy for depression.

Exercise Helps Keep Your Brain Well Fed

Our brain primarily uses glucose as its fuel source. However, in order for glucose to be efficiently shuttled to the brain cells, it requires the hormone insulin. Individuals who do not exercise on a regular basis (both aerobic and anaerobic varieties) typically have higher levels of insulin resistance, which is a fancy term to explain insulin’s efficiency.

High resistance means that it takes a lot more insulin to do the job of what a smaller amount should be able to do (think of 50 obese construction workers being needed to do the job of 10 fit ones).

Exercise keeps insulin resistance low, and promotes efficient transport of glucose to your brain. This translates to greater clarity, wakefulness, and improved ability to concentrate.

Exercise Diminishes The Effect Of Stress Hormones On The Brain

The stress hormone cortisol has been positively implicated in a host of processes related to premature aging and breakdown of body functions.

The brain is not exempt; in fact, you may be surprised to find out how much of your lapses in memory may be due to cortisol. In addition to the growth hormone and testosterone spike, which exercise results in, it also increase levels of a brain hormone referred to as BDNF, which helps keep the structures within the brain viable and healthy. In fact, it helps new cells to proliferate in instances where cell death is rapidly occurring.

Keeps Blood Vessels Healthy

Just as how diet, high cholesterol levels and inactivity can affect blood vessels surrounding the heart, so too can plaque formations develop in the brain. These plaque formations may be difficult to detect, but you may experience frequent light-headedness, mental cloudiness, or drowsiness. Or worse, a stroke may occur without notice.

Exercise helps to account for some cholesterol usage, increased oxidation of fat, or by helping improve blood flow to the brain subsequently.

Conclusion

The benefits of exercise on the brain cannot be discounted. The mere fact that exercise can keep you lucid well into old age should be enough incentive to get moving today!

November 19, 2021

Uncategorized

Natural Methods To Boost Memory Function

As we age, it is natural to start losing some of our cognitive functions. One common complaint among middle-aged people is forgetfulness. From forgetting where we put our keys down, to why we walked into a room these issues seem small but overtime have the potential to grow and become a more serious issue.

There are things you can start doing now to boost your memory function, even if you aren’t a forgetful person.

What You Eat:

What you eat plays a big part into your memory. Certain foods, such as processed foods containing trans fats, sugar and grain carbohydrates, can contribute to memory loss. Other foods are considered superfoods in terms of boosting memory function.

Walnuts: High in omega-3 fatty acids and poly-unsaturated fats, walnuts have been shown to reverse brain aging in older rats. DHA, a type of omega-3 fat has been shown to boost memory, concentration, and cognitive abilities.

Blueberries: Full of antioxidants, which protect the brain from stress related damage; blueberries improve learning and memory by enhancing the communication between neurons. Also low in fructose, they are one of the healthier fruits available.

Avocado: Encouraging blood flow throughout the body, including the brain. Increased blood flow helps ensure the brain has the oxygen it needs and boosts memory.

Water: Aside from being great for our body as a whole, water also significantly impacts brain function. Toxins, which can have the ability to inhibit the ability to concentrate and think, are flushed out of the body when we drink water.

Meditation:

Meditating teaches the art of clearing your mind. If you are someone, who is consistently overwhelmed trying to multitask or find your thoughts constantly straying, meditation is a great way to learn how to focus your concentration. When you meditate, you learn how to let go of intruding thoughts. If you apply these lessons to other parts of your life, you will find your concentration and memory improving.

Sleep:

Sleep is known to help improve your memory. A study that was published in the journal Science showed that when we sleep our brain rids itself of toxins that build up when we are learning. It also demonstrated that our brains create new connections and learn, while we are asleep. Studies have also shown that our brain commits short-term memories into long-term memories while we sleep.

Exercise:

A 2010 study on primates published in Neuroscience showed that exercise didn’t just encourage blood flow to the brain, it also helped the monkeys learn new tasks twice as fast as monkeys who were not getting any exercise. In a separate study that spanned the course of a year, scientists were able to show that the brains memory center, which usually decreases in size, expanding 1-2% in individuals who regularly exercised. To ensure you are getting the most from your workout incorporate strength training with stretching, core work, and cardio.

Mental Stimulation:

Stimulating your brain is a great way to keep it active. Eventually, without enough stimulation, your brain will begin to deteriorate. You can reverse this degeneration by spending at least twenty minutes a day doing crossword puzzles, Sudoku’s, or picking up a craft or hobby.

Stay Social:

Researchers at the University of Michigan found that socializing helps keep your memory and mental ability sharp by stimulating the brain. This is because you use the frontal lobe for planning, decision-making, and response control. The frontal lobe is also responsible for memory function.

Forgetfulness doesn’t need to translate to permanent memory loss. Whether you are already a forgetful person, or you are planning ahead, there are many easy ways to modify your lifestyle to improve your memory.

November 18, 2021

Uncategorized

8 Best Anti-Aging Foods

The secret to youthfulness is a gold mine to anyone who can find it; maybe it isn’t as simple as a fix all solution. In our society, we are very much focused on our looks, staying young, healthy, and anti-aging creams and other solutions. Unfortunately, our bodies don’t quite work in the same way and inevitably start to decline in a number of different ways.

While there are a number of techniques, creams, and other potions available, there might be a simpler and easier solution: certain foods. We’ve all heard the benefits of eating well in terms of maintaining our physical health, but what if some foods could actually having anti-aging properties and mitigate against some of these age related declines in functioning?

Research has shown that we really are what we eat, and if we want to try to reduce, the effects of aging then certain foods should most definitely feature in our diets.

The foods outlined below have all been shown to have anti-aging properties.

Olive oil

Olive oil is hugely popular in Greek and other Mediterranean diets, and many of these countries have a longer life expectancy. This is no coincidence. Research has now shown this is because olive oil contains particular anti-oxidants that can target and reduce age related diseases.

Oats

Whether it is oats for breakfast or made into a snack, they can be hugely beneficial, particularly for your skin. Oats contain natural plant chemicals that promote cell repair and reduce skin irritation. Skin health and appearance is such a key factor in anti-aging that everyone should be eating oats in some way or another.

Oranges

We already know that oranges contain vitamin C and this has many health benefits to us. Oranges are also excellent when it comes to anti-aging. As oranges contain a high portion of water they can help to rehydrate the skin and reduce the dried out and unhealthy look. Moreover, vitamin C helps to make collagen, another essential ingredient in anti-aging.

Fish

Fish has been shown to be important in many body functions, and is also important in anti-aging. Fish contains omega 3, which we now know to be critically linked to heart disease and reducing clogged arteries. In terms of anti-aging, anything that keeps your blood flowing as it should and your heart healthy must be a good thing.

Chocolate

While chocolate may not seem like a typical sort of anti-aging food, most types of chocolate are not. However, good quality chocolate with a high cocoa percentage has many health benefits. Cocoa is rich in flavanols that are essential for healthy blood vessel functioning. By keeping your blood vessels in good health, you reduce the risk of developing diseases such as diabetes, dementia, and kidney disease.

Grapes

Grapes contain high levels of Resveratrol, which must be on the list of anyone interested in anti-aging. Not only can they slow down the natural aging process, but they can also repair damage done to the skin by too much exposure to the sun.

Nuts

Like olive oil, nuts contain a number of beneficial components; in places where nuts comprise a high proportion of the diet, people generally live longer. Nuts contain a number of vitamins and antioxidants, which are vital when it comes to anti-aging.

Blueberries

Research has shown that blueberries have many beneficial properties, including anti-aging ones; studies in rats have shown blueberries can even increase life expectancy. Blueberries and other berries contain certain compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce oxidative damage. In terms of anti-aging, this can help to reduce cognitive decline and improve memory abilities.

cognitive-impairment-senior-help-palm-beach-county

November 16, 2021

Uncategorized

Warning Signs Of Mild Cognitive Impairment

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the stage between the expected cognitive decline of normal aging and the more serious decline of dementia. It’s characterized by problems with memory, language, thinking or judgment.”

Mayo Clinic further states, “If you have mild cognitive impairment, you may be aware that your memory or mental function has “slipped.” Your family and close friends also may notice a change. But these changes aren’t severe enough to significantly interfere with your daily life and usual activities. Mild cognitive impairment may increase your risk of later developing dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease or other neurological conditions. But some people with mild cognitive impairment never get worse, and a few eventually get better.”

How MCI Occurs

If you have been through a traumatic experience, it could cause MCI to occur in your brain naturally.
As you age, MCI could develop due to brain deterioration.
Younger people who have chronic conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD could battle with MCI on top of their other states.
This is sometimes a way of the brain, protecting them from other things. Strokes or brain injuries can also affect a younger person, and later the mild cognitive impairment could lead to worse impairments.

The Warning Signs/Symptoms of MCI

Even though mild cognitive impairment may seem less severe than other forms of memory loss, it should still be taken seriously. If someone is left unaware, they may accidentally make it worse, which could lead to other problems. The more aware you are, the healthier you can stay, which may affect you positively later on in life.

Memory- Most commonly recognized as a warning sign of MCI is the lost memory. If someone is having trouble remembering things that should be easy for their age, it could be a sign of MCI.
Losing Things- If someone often misplaces essential things, it could be an early warning sign of mild cognitive impairment.
Words- Not being able to think of words that should be easy to think of can be a significant sign.
Loss of Smell- In some instances, people have reported a sense of smell going along with other MCI symptoms.

Symptoms of MCI can remain stable, improve, or progress to worse conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia.

Though these are only the primary list of symptoms, there could be more signs. It can be frustrating at times and may cause additional behavioral issues due to the lack of remembering.

However, if you live with someone who has MCI, the important thing is to be patient, understanding, and forgiving. It is harder for a person who is struggling with mild cognitive impairment.

Risk Factors

Strongest Risk Factors:

Age
A gene known as APOE e4, which is also linked to Alzheimer’s disease does not guarantee you will get MCI, but it is linked to it.

Medical Conditions and Lifestyle Factors

Diabetes
Obesity
Depression
Not engaging in physical exercise
Smoking
High blood pressure
Elevated cholesterol
Low education level
Lack of social interaction
Lack of mental stimulation

What To Do If You Notice Symptoms

If your family is telling you that you may have some of these symptoms, the first thing you can do is talk to a doctor. They will be able to give you a set of tests for speech, memory, and other motor functions that will help them diagnose you. If you have more than one symptom or results that come back odd, you may have MCI.

Doctors may be able to provide you with certain drugs that help boost memory and block whatever keeps you from remembering certain things. Prescribing drugs is also not an ordinary course of treatment. Keeping healthy can be one of the best ways to help your brain function fully.

Thought Processes Become Sluggish

Depression Can Ensue

Memory Suffers

Hallucinations

Anger Issues

Conclusion

Sleep Like You Were Meant To

Exercise Often

Get Executive

Do One Thing At A Time

Learn Something New

Schedule Regular De-Stressing Sessions

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