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Regain and Maintain Your Memory: A Natural Approach, Part 1
The truth is that throughout our lives there are always times when our memory fails us. But because we have been taught that memory decline is a natural consequence of aging, and because we fear the onset of serious mental conditions often related to advancing age, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, lapses in short-term memory as we age can result in ongoing stress or worry. Ironically, stress and worry are two factors that contribute to continued lapses in memory. The fact is, bouts of forgetfulness are usually unrelated to Alzheimer’s disease, and there are simple and natural ways to prevent and impact memory loss and even maximize your memory as you age. The Blood–Brain Barrier It is important to understand the importance of the entire body’s circulatory system in relation to the health of the brain. Blood carries nutrients to every part of the body, but the delicate tissues of the brain require a specialized security system. This tightly woven net of endothelial cells is called the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and acts as a filter, permitting only certain substances to travel from the blood to the brain. The BBB is responsible for providing neurons with glucose and other nutrients and also maintaining proper neurotransmitter balance. The function of the blood–brain barrier is crucial, as it protects the brain from foreign substances in the blood that may be toxic to the brain, maintains a constant environment for the brain, and protects the brain from hormones and neurotransmitters in the rest of the brain. The blood–brain barrier can be weakened in several ways, including high blood pressure; hyperosmolality (or high concentration of a particular substance in the blood); microwave exposure; radiation exposure; infection or exposure to infectious agents; as well as trauma, ischemia, inflammation, pressure, or injury to the brain. Age-Related Alterations in the Blood–Brain Barrier Studies have shown age-related alterations in the blood–brain barrier transport function, including a decrease in choline transport and a decrease in brain glucose influx. Choline, one of the B vitamins, is critical in the manufacture of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Glucose is the primary fuel for the brain and supports many of the cognitive functions of the brain. It is important, therefore, that the blood circulating throughout your body and brain is nutrient-rich and full of antioxidants, such as NADH or N-acetylcysteine, and amino acids, such as acetylcholine. As Dr. James LaValle says, “When you restrict blood flow you restrict oxygen delivery to a very vital area in the brain.” Problems with our circulatory system start to surface when we have a deficit of blood and nutrients going to the brain because the arteries are clogged, due often to eating foods that are not promoting proper circulation or not exercising enough which also promotes proper circulation. According to Dr. Martin Feldman, “The improvement of circulation to the brain can actually make the brain more efficient and even reverse some of the potential problems we associate with aging of the brain.” The Role of Hormones Though memory loss affects both genders, it can be particularly devastating to women during and around menopause. In the book Female and Forgetful: A Six-Step Program to Help Restore Your Memory and Sharpen Your Mind, authors Elisa Lottor, PhD, ND, and Nancy Bruning explore the uncharted waters that link memory loss to menopause. Estrogen has a powerful influence on the brain, playing an important role in functions such as memory, language skills, moods, and attention. The authors describe case studies of women who, in the beginning of menopause, suddenly cannot remember simple things, such as their social security or phone numbers. The authors posit that the sharp decline in hormonal levels during menopause wreak havoc on memory. Fortunately, as the reported incidences of menopause-linked memory loss increase in scientific literature, so do the reported efficacies of treatment. Diagnosing Memory Loss It is difficult to know exactly when memory failure is a simple lapse on the part of your brain in processing known information, and when it is indicative of a more serious condition, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. It is this uncertainty, perhaps, that makes these episodes of forgetfulness so stressful to the older population. Let’s start with the important distinction doctors make between normal, ageassociated mental impairment and conditions such as dementia that signal a disease process. Not all memory difficulties or cognitive complaints indicate the presence of Alzheimer’s disease or other mental disorders. Many changes in memory or cognitive function in older adults are temporary and are linked to environmental factors, such as stress or poor nutrition, rather than to physiological processes. A doctor evaluating a patient who complains of memory loss will have to consider underlying factors, such as illness or medications, head injury or trauma, the possibility of stroke or heart disease, or drug or alcohol abuse. These factors can make it unclear whether their patient is suffering the “inevitable” memory decline associated with aging, or experiencing symptoms that indicate the onset of a serious condition such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Your doctor should also consider: • essential fatty acid deficiencies
Generally speaking, a memory problem is serious when it affects your daily functioning. If you sometimes forget names, you should not be worried, and there is much you can do to correct this tendency. In fact, researchers suggest that people who are aware of their memory loss probably do not have a serious problem. If you have trouble remembering how to do things you have done many times before, or a place you visit often, or difficulty in understanding the order in which to do things (e.g., following a recipe), your doctor should be notified. The Medical-Industrial Complex would have us all believe that we are in the midst of a mental illness epidemic, when this surge in diagnoses has much more to do with profit margins than true health. Before another child is diagnosed with ADD, ADHD, or any other psychiatric condition we must carry out a critical reassessment of the psychiatric establishment and the way America’s youth is being forced to take dangerous and ineffective medications. The wellbeing of our precious children hangs in the balance.
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People may joke about
“senior moments”—
those times when their
memory suddenly fails, and
they are unable to come up
with the name of their boss or
the time they are supposed to
meet for dinner.