Resiliency in Aging

This edition is about the great new battery recharge often called resiliency by doctors.

Why is it so important? Because as you age, the “Stress of Life,” mounts up. Each time you suffer a set back, are exposed to a situation that has you feeling overwhelmed, or during times of great effort, your “battery” depletes and it can age you too fast if you don’t do something about it.

To illustrate this point, I recently saw a middle-aged patient who lost her resiliency and, she was suffering because of it. She runs 2 businesses in a large metropolitan area but lives in the suburbs, which means she has to commute at least 1 ½ hrs each way.

Additionally, it was unclear if her marriage of over 25 years was going to survive.

There were business problems and children challenges and so on. Need I say more?

She was faltering at every turn; feeling tired all the time and looking fatigued as well with baggy eyes and dark circles and skin that had lost its color and looked grey.

Good health and the ability to “bounce back from stress” begins at the cellular level, and your body gets the energy it needs to live, breathe, and thrive from microscopic “batteries” called mitochondria, located within your cells.

I mentioned these energy power plants before but to review, after age 25, these powerhouses begin to lose efficiency. That means the cells throughout your body – in your skin, heart and even your brain – don’t operate as productively as they once did.

A combination of Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) and Coenzyme Q 10 are all highly effective anti-aging nutrients. These compounds work synergistically to restore mitochondrial integrity and increase metabolic efficiency at the cellular level. Taken regularly, just these nutrients help support healthy aging by increasing the vitality of mitochondria, thus improving and maintaining cellular health.

Some doctors believe you will never be able to reverse the aging process.  I don’t agree.

Indeed, research offers compelling evidence that the before mentioned compounds help promote health deep in our cells. Healthy cells may be the key to a whole range of benefits from a better brain to better looking skin, less disease and a longer life.

Prevention is key to the question of resiliency.  Eating right, taking supplements and exercising mind and body become the building blocks of maintaining your resiliency.  Begin today!

Multiple Health Benefits

One scientific piece of information that has really captivated my, as well as scientific attention, is the most recent research on a nutrient called N-Acetyl Cysteine or NAC.
 
What it does: NAC replenishes levels of the most important antioxidant in your body called glutathione (GSH). GSH plummets as you age, which makes it easier to develop an illness. NAC also makes your genes healthier, which limits the effects of all kinds of stress and slows down inflammation.
 
To quote one science writer, “These effects give NAC a unique role in the prevention and treatment of many common diseases, both acute and chronic.”

Did you know that next week, March 12-16 is Brain Awareness Week?

What is Brain Awareness Week (BAW)? Coordinated by Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives and European Dana Alliance for the Brain, BAW is a global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research. 

“Every March, BAW unites the efforts of partner organizations worldwide in a celebration of the brain for people of all ages. Events are limited only by the organizers’ imaginations and include open days at neuroscience labs; exhibitions about the brain; lectures on brain-related topics; displays at libraries and community centers; classroom workshops; and more.”

This year, ARPF is participating and showing our support for BAW by hosting a teleseminar on Thursday, March 15: How Your Choices Today Impact Your Brain Health Tomorrow with guest speaker Jamie Durner, Ayurvedic …..

We join a number of organizations who are dedicated to brain research and show their support by providing a variety of classes, symposiums, group discussions, social media presence and more.  We are asking ARPF supporters to show your support in various ways:

• Spread the word about ARPF
• Spread the word about BAW
• Sign up for the FREE teleseminar at www.alzheimersprevention.org/teleseminars
• Donate

The more that we can bring awareness to Alzheimer’s and other dementias, the closer we come to finding prevention techniques to eradicate this disease.  We thank you for your continued support for ARPF and thank you for helping us find a cure!

To learn more about Brain Awareness week and find activities in your area, please visit http://www.dana.org/brainweek/.

Antioxidant has potential in the Alzheimer’s fight, UGA researchers find

This month, I wanted to share this fascinating article on oxidative stress and an encouraging study on MitoQ, a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, written by Chelsea Toledo, used with permission.

When you cut an apple and leave it out, it turns brown. Squeeze the apple with lemon juice, an antioxidant, and the process slows down.

Simply put, that same “browning” process-known as oxidative stress-happens in the brain as Alzheimer’s disease sets in. The underlying cause is believed to be improper processing of a protein associated with the creation of free radicals that cause oxidative stress.

Now, a study by researchers in the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy has shown that an antioxidant can delay the onset of all the indicators of Alzheimer’s disease, including cognitive decline. The researchers administered an antioxidant compound called MitoQ to mice genetically engineered to develop Alzheimer’s. The results of their study were published in the Nov. 2 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.

According to the Alzheimer’s Society, more than 5 million Americans currently suffer from the neurodegenerative disease. Without successful prevention, almost 14 million Americans will have Alzheimer’s by 2050, accounting for healthcare costs of more than $1 trillion a year.

Oxidative stress is believed to cause neurons in the brain to die, resulting in Alzheimer’s. Study author James Franklin, an associate professor of pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences, has studied neuronal cell death and oxidative stress at UGA since 2004.

“The brain consumes 20 percent of the oxygen in the body even though it only makes up 5 percent of the volume, so it’s particularly susceptible to oxidative stress,” said Franklin, coauthor of the study along with Meagan McManus, who received her Ph.D. in neuroscience from UGA in 2010.

New Year Resolutions

It’s a new year…and that usually means a new list of resolutions. For many, the list may include losing weight, eating healthier, saving money, spending more time with family and friends, quitting smoking or drinking, and learning or doing something new. Perhaps instead of resolutions, we should consider commitments for the new year…commitments to a healthier lifestyle.

You are already familiar with the 4 Pillars of Alzheimer’s Prevention™, which include diet and supplements, exercise, and stress management. Make a commitment to eat healthier. Just like your body, your brain needs proper nutrition, blood flow, energy, and care to operate effectively. There is growing evidence that links brain health to heart health. Many of the conditions that damage the heart or blood vessels, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, and diabetes, appear to increase the risk of developing vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s. Eating a heart-healthy diet rich in cold-water fish, lean protein, nuts, whole grains, olive oil and healthy fats, and fresh fruits and vegetables can help protect against these conditions. Additionally, antioxidants found in foods and supplements, such as Vitamins A, C and E, help protect against free radicals, which are highly-reactive forms of oxygen that create chemical reactions that damage brain cells. Foods such as broccoli, tomatoes, kale, citrus, green leafy vegetables, blueberries, wheat germ, and seeds, are great sources of antioxidants.

Holiday Stress, Memory and the Brain

The holidays are upon us…a wonderful opportunity to visit and spend time with family and friends. For some of us, the holidays can also be quite stressful…traveling great distances, crowded shopping malls, paying for holiday purchases, setting up holiday decorations, preparing holiday meals, entertaining the in-laws, unexpected company, frequent family gatherings, increased workload… all of which can affect our brain function.

Numerous studies have shown that stress may adversely affect our ability to focus and solve problems, and may also cause short term memory loss. Here’s what happens chemically: the stress hormone cortisol damages the cells in the memory center of your brain. As stress and cortisol levels increase, so does the chance of developing memory loss. Remember frequent visits to the grocery store for ingredients that never made it on the shopping list? High levels of cortisol also impact your ability to learn and retain new information, which is called short-term memory loss.

So how can we cope with holiday stress?

Stress Management
Stress-relaxation techniques work by reducing stress, thus lowering cortisol levels, and improving many aspects of mental function. Research has shown that the benefits of a regular stress-relaxation practice can improve your overall health…such as improved heart function, reduced anxiety and chronic pain, and increased longevity…and can especially improve focus, attention, and optimal mental performance.

There are many ways to manage stress, the most obvious of which is to avoid stressful situations. Since this is less likely to occur during the holiday season, other techniques to lower stress and anxiety might include yoga, meditation, exercise, deep breathing, and chanting. Proper nutrition and proper sleep are also important for brain health.

During the holiday season and beyond, it is important for us to learn how to manage the stress in our lives so we can be better prepared for life’s unexpected and challenging situations. Stress management is essential for our continued mental and physical well-being.

Learn more about the 4 Pillars of Alzheimer’s Prevention™, which includes Diet, Stress Management, and Exercise, at www.alzheimersprevention.org.

Wishing you a stress-free holiday season!

Every 60 Seconds

According to the latest research, every 60 seconds someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, this statistic is up from last year when it was every 70 seconds. The number of people in America who will lose their memory is sky-rocketing. It could be because of aging, stress, life style issues, genetics, or some unknown reason but it is definitely happening.

The best way to make strides against Alzheimer’s is to not only maintain your brain as you age, but actually make it better by creating a lifetime of peak mental performance. An aging brain does not have to be the norm. You can make your brain, mind, and memory younger as you age and not allow yourself to lose it all.

According to my investigations, if we can delay the onset of memory loss by only 5 years, we can virtually drop the rate by 50%. More impressively, if we can delay the rate of memory loss by 10 years, which is possible, then we will never suffer from loss of mental function as we age. How you live your life today will go a long way towards determining the state of your mind and memory tomorrow.

You can protect and repair your brain with your lifestyle choices. You need to find a solution that first recognizes and then reduces the factors that put you at risk. The answer? The 4 Pillars of Alzheimer’s Prevention™:

• Diet and Supplements: Just like the rest of your body, your brain needs proper nutrition, blood flow, energy, and care. Discover how simple it can be to supercharge your brain health with the right diet and supplements. Diet and nutrition can prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s.

• Stress Management: The effects of the daily grind on your body are well known, but did you know your brain also suffers when you’re stressed out? Find out how you can benefit from easy stress-relieving techniques that can dramatically reduce your risk for developing Alzheimer’s.

• Exercise: It’s simple: if you want to maintain a healthy body and mind, you must exercise. But, in addition to physical exercises, it’s time for you to discover how mental and mind-body exercises are essential for your health and wellbeing.

• Medicines: Medications and hormones can be an important part of the answer. Working with your physician, it’s vital that you understand how pharmaceuticals may be an important part of your overall solution if you have an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

By following these lifestyle changes, prevention is possible. Let’s spread the word together so that “60 seconds” will turn into zero.

Love May Start in the Brain

It seems that there is always research being done on the brain, helping us to learn more about the brain and brain longevity. 

In New York, some unusual research was done by Bianca Acevedo, a New York neuroscientist.  Her research concluded that love is in the head and not the heart!

Acevedo is part of a new field in science that seeks to biologically explain love, and so far they have found that love is mostly understood through hormones, genetics, and brain images, according to a report from the Associated Press.

A Historic Moment: Improving Lifestyle May Decrease Alzheimer’s by 50 percent.

Dear Friend:

As you may have heard, a recent announcement at the International Conference on Alzheimer’s disease hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association in Paris, France, states that the prevention of cognitive decline is now within reach. This statement has drawn an enthusiastic response from many industry leaders.  The ARPF is among those quick to affirm the news. As you may recall, in 1993, we were the first to begin this pioneering prevention research work.

I’m thrilled that the Alzheimer’s Association and others have joined our prevention camp. When I first started speaking publicly about Alzheimer’s prevention, I wasn’t the most popular physician in the room. But science has always been on our side, and I was patiently optimistic that the conventional medical establishment would embrace the concept one day. Listening to the news that the other experts now agree with me that with lifestyle measures, we can reduce the number of people who develop Alzheimer’s by as much as 50 percent is validating – not of me personally, but of the science that we have been promoting for many years.

Life Expectancy: The Most Important Measure of Health

Life expectancy is perhaps the most important measure of health. It is readily comparable across countries and asks the most fundamental question concerning health: how long can the typical person expect to live?

Life expectancy increases due to healthcare improvements like the introduction of vaccines, the development of drugs or positive behavior changes like the reduction in smoking or drinking rates. During the 20th century, the average lifespan in the United States increased by more than 30 years as the rates of infectious diseases declined.