Cod liver oil significantly improves the functioning of brain, and increases memory, concentration and cognitive thinking. DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that is involved in the structural functions of brain cell membranes. It improves the fluidity of brain cell membranes and increases the sped by which messages travel from and o the brain.
Cavanaugh and Blanchard-Fields (2015) state that there is research showing how brain plasticity can be enhanced through aerobic exercise (p.51). It is important that adults be active in their lives. A 30-minute walk or some type of physical activity will benefit them as the age. The text mentions a study done by Erickson and his colleagues in 2009 where they studied the effect of aerobic exercise on the hippocampus. They found that due to aerobic exercise it produced greater volume in the hippocampus. This is significant because the hippocampus is the part of the brain that is responsible for memory, emotions, and spatial functioning. The body does not only need physical activities to produce healthier cognitive functioning but also nutrients. The text identifies three nutrient biomarker patterns that are significant on the aging brain. These nutrients are vitamin B, C,D, and E, omega-3, and trans fat. the foods that belong to these nutrients are beneficial to the brain. Older adults should make an effort to include these nutrients into their diets. positive impacts these nutrients make are better cognitive functioning and greater brain
Last year my maternal Aunt Kate passed away. She had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) about eight years earlier. My maternal grandmother also had been diagnosed with AD before her death. Later this month I will accompany my 77-year-old mother to her neurologist appointment. While she has not been diagnosed with AD, she has been prescribed Donepezil (Aricept), one of the newer drugs that are thought to reduce the decline in memory in patients that have or might be developing dementia. Opportunities to learn more about AD and the effects on the brain are welcome. The Alzheimer’s Association website, ALZ.org, is filled with a wealth of this information. Especially interesting was Inside the Brain: An Interactive Tour. I
Fatty acids are considered to be the building blocks of fat, which play a critical role in cell, muscle and organ functioning. Studies have found that infants that consume omega-3 fatty acids have better vision compared with those that don’t. In addition to this, studies have also found that omega-3 fatty acids protect the eye from developing macular degeneration and dry eye syndrome. Tuna, salmon, halibut and sardines are all excellent sources. Keep in mind that eating fish is a much healthier alternative than eating red meat.
Fruits and vegetables are an important aspect of having a healthy diet. Ingesting nutrients along the color spectrum is also important as it boosts defensive antioxidants and vitamins. Free radicals are harmful compounds, but with the help of antioxidants, can be extracted from the body. Harm produced by free radicals may disturb typical cell activity in the brain, causing termination of nerve cells. Eating a healthy diet provides many other health benefits as well. The Mediterranean diet is a healthy diet, which is consumed of vegetables, whole grains, fish, and fruits. Having a diet with an abundance amount of fruits and vegetables prevents the free radicals from forming. Healthy diets dramatically reduce the chances of acquiring Alzheimer’s disease and intellectual deterioration. Probiotics such as yogurt, a yogurt drink or a probiotic pill with live bacteria can also
The research study was about fish oil, I concluded from the research that people with lower level of omega 3 fatty acid in red blood cells have trouble with problem solving, abstract thinking , multitasking, visual memory and executive function, and all of this could be hurt with dementia.
A german Physician Alois Alzheimer did a postmortem (already dead) analysis of one of his patients, her name was Auguste Deter she was admitted to the hospital for the Mentally 111 in Frankfurt in 1901.He hoped to find out the root of the severe and rapid mental deterioration. When auguste was first interviewed she had a fog of confusion and also showed delusion behavior. She would have a lot of jealousy for her husband; she would start screaming thinking everybody wanted to kill her; she became wild and couldn't be controlled. She then died five years after she was put in the Hospital .When Alzheimer took a thin slice of her brain and put it under the microscope he found the following: that next to the nerve cells was a small clump that
Although, it may seem that we often acquire vitamin D from the sun, and our food studies show that on estimate people are 40%-75% vitamin D deficient. “Vitamin D has exhibited multiple biological targets mediated by its nuclear hormone receptor, the Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) Specific actions on target organs such as the central nervous system have been described. VDR are present in neurons and glial cells and influence a number of physiological processes in hippocampus, hypothalamus, cortex, and subcortex; all areas essential for cognition. Consistently, vitamin D status has showed links with cognitive performance as a whole, and low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations have been associated with cognitive disorders among older adults.” (Annweiler, Llewellyn, Beaucheta, 2012) Vitamin D receptors are spread widely throughout the brain tissue, and the VDR is present in numerous important parts of the brain. The hypothalamus helps maintain homeostasis and manages sleep, hunger, body temperature and many other functions, and the cortex is responsible for language and information processing functions. The hippocampus is extremely important, and is associated with memory retention, mainly in long-term memory. In a person with Alzheimer’s those specific sectors deteriorate, and over time the cognitive functions that the
Some physicians also prescribe high doses of vitamin E for cognitive changes. The most common treatments today are cholinesterase inhibitors (FDA-approved drug), memantine (FDA-approved drug), vitamin E, and many alternative herbal treatments including caprylic acid, coconut oil, and coral calcium. With all of the treatments out there though, it is difficult to discern which is the best one. The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the different treatments available today in order to find the best line of treatment for AD. In order to do so, we will be looking at the efficacy, side effects, cost effectiveness, availability, dosage, and those most likely to benefit from each treatment.
Last year my maternal Aunt Kate passed away. She had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) about eight years earlier. My maternal grandmother also had been diagnosed with dementia before her death. Later this month I will accompany my 77-year-old mother to her neurologist appointment. While she has not been diagnosed with AD or dementia, she has been prescribed Donepezil (Aricept), one of the newer drugs that are thought to reduce the decline in memory in patients that have or might be developing dementia. I welcome opportunities to learn more about AD and the effects on the brain. The Alzheimer’s Association website, ALZ.org, is filled with a wealth of this information. Especially interesting was “Inside the Brain: An Interactive Tour.” I learned about changes the normal brain experiences from early, mild to moderate and severe stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s is a disease where neurotransmitters, acetylcholine, or the brain’s chemicals break connections with other nerve cells causing the cells to die off, the effects of this are irreversible. The loss of these cells result in loss of thinking and language skills, unpredictable behavioral changes and eventually the inability to carry out the simplest tasks. Although there is no known cause for Alzheimer’s, researchers have found a genetic link. Alzheimer’s first symptoms usually appear when a person is between forty and fifty years of age. Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease that initiates in the brain, drastically decreasing the quality of life as well as life expectancy in millions of people around the world.
One of the things that is recommended to eat is plenty of omega-3 fats. The DHA found in these fats may help Alzheimer's and dementia by reducing beta-amyloid plaques. Some food sources that omega-3 fats are found in include cold-water fish like salmon, tuna, trout, mackerel, seaweed, and sardines. You may also supplement with fish oils.
Omega-3 fatty acid alone served as the investigational treatment in a study exploring fish oil supplementation in subjects with mild cognitive decline, a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease. In this study conducted by Lee et al. (2013), 36 male and female
Healthy nutrition essentially is eating healthy and balanced from all the basic food groups; which consists of the dairy group, poultry group, fruit group, vegetable group and a little from the fats, oils, and sweets groups. However, food may not always be a suitable way to collect all of one’s essential vitamins daily. That’s where supplements can be extremely valuable in assuring that people receive all of their nutrients. I learned a lot about the many effects vitamins have on the brain. For instance, vitamins play a very important role in babies’ brain growth and development and also prevent sickness and illnesses of the brain among elderly. However, even the wealthiest of people do not receive these nutrients as much as they should. I think this is a virtuous topic connected to Nutrition. Many people are aware that eating right is a key to a healthy life. Yet, the effects vitamins have on the brain are not usually discussed. Helping others gain an insight on what they could be missing in their everyday diet could be very beneficial and can even save a
As with any of the internal organs, the brain has certain nutritional requirements for optimal health. To keep the brain functioning a diet that is well balanced and varying in nutrients is necessary. The brain is made up of two-thirds fats and requires a steady supply of high-quality fatty acids to keep cell membranes intact and insulate nerves. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish, flax and walnut oils, are the best fats for brain health. Diets high in these fats may help prevent degenerative brain conditions such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases and decrease the risk for depression, according to The Franklin Institute for Science. Phosphatidyl serine, a lipid molecule the body makes by combining fatty acids with phosphate, is an important component of cell membranes and is found in particularly high concentrations in the brain. Phosphatidyl serine keeps cell membranes flexible and helps speed the transmission of nerve impulses. Antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, protect delicate brain structures from free-radical damage, particularly to the fats that insulate nerve cells and comprise a large portion of the brain, according to Dr. Shari Lieberman, co-author of the book "User's Guide to Brain-Boosting Supplements: Learn about the Vitamins and Other Nutrients That Can Boost Your Memory and End Mental
Environmental exposures is only one of the extrinsic factor that affects our brain. Another factor that can affect our brain is nutrition. Although food has traditionally been perceived as a means to provides energy and also aid in repairing and restoring the body, its capability to prevent or protect against diseases is becoming well known. Research over the past 5 years has contributed evidence as to how specific systems and mechanisms that maintain mental function are possibly influenced by dietary factors. For example, a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids is known for supporting cognitive processes in humans. Furthermore, diets that are high in saturated fat are also becoming more known for causing an increase in the risk of neurological dysfunction in humans and animals. Through the years, diet, along with other aspects of daily living such as exercise played an important role in constructing an individual’s cognitive capacity. (Gómez-Pinilla) This could explain the fact that any negative impact on cognitive abilities is not entirely due to biology, but