How Does Cod Liver Oil Affects The 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 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.

Vitamins A,B,C,D,E,K are very important in maintaining a healthy mental lifestyle, and some major foods that contain these vitamins are carrots, meat, citrus fruits, seafood, almonds, and leafy greens. Some main beneficial foods I learned more about, were dark chocolate and avocado. Dark chocolate improves mood and energy by releasing endorphins and helps the health of the brain with magnesium. Avocados have many good fats, counteracting the claim that they are negatively too fatty. They also contain potassium and folate which both lead to better brain health and function.

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.

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.

“Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest tasks individuals with AD may start having symptoms their mid-60s” (nih.gov). AD is a multifactorial and progressive neurodegenerative disease. “Parts of AD, for example, increased oxidative state, amyloid plaque deposition, and neurofibrillary tangle of tau protein in the central cortex the limbic system of the brain, have been related with Alzheimer 's disease. The disease was once thought to be a natural part of aging; it is an extremely incapacitating type of mental dementia. Albeit, some dementia

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

The brain is a vital part of the human body, it is how humans function and process so when smoking it causes the brain to react differently. Nicotine is said to be as addictive as heroin and it is hard to beat becauses it changes the brain drastically. The brain develops extra nicotine receptors to accommodate the large doses of nicotine from tobacco. When the brain stops getting the nicotine it’s used to, they result in nicotine withdrawal (18 Ways Smoking Affects Your Health). People may feel anxious, irritable, and have high cravings for nicotine. The brain is not the only thing that is affected while using these products, the head and face are included as well. Many smokers experience hearing loss, blindness and night vision, and a “smoker’s

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