Memory Show
Memory Show
Today we’re talking about memory! Memory is the range of processes involved in the storage and retrieval of information within the Central Nervous System. The structures of the Limbic System are involved in memory. Most people think of Alzheimer’s disease when it comes to memory lapses; however, the majority of senior moments as they say have nothing to do with Alzheimer’s.
You might say, “Well it’s because I’m aging and you know you just forget when you get older”. Well, I say, Not necessarily!
According to Dr. Balch, “Occasional memory lapses such as misplaced car keys, forgetting something at the store, etc… these can happen at any age, but with proper diet, nutrition, and memory use, the memory should remain sharp and active well into one’s nineties or beyond.’
Today on Alternative Health, we’re going to tell you how to increase your memory and hopefully never have a senior moment again!
Ok, so lots of people have senior moments! I have, you have, we all have! I even think my 9 year old has, oh wait, that’s selective hearing…
I even think the dogs have had those moments when it comes to going outside when they need to…
So it seems to be a reoccurring theme among mammals, but especially humans. So what’s causing it?
Memory impairment can occur as a symptom of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Memory impairment can occur as a result of Hypothyroidism, that is an under-active Thyroid, so not only do you gain weight, feel bad and have no sex drive, you forget about it all. And memory problems can occur as a result of Adrenal Insufficiency. Another root problem can be dementia or even worse, Alzheimer’s Disease. But let’s talk about some of the more common problems like...
Excessive Stress which increases the rate of Memory loss. And memory loss can occur as a result of the PMS-D (Depression) form of Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS).
Insufficient supply of nutrients necessary for proper brain function
causes memory loss. And high cholesterol levels can cause memory loss due to the blood being too thick; therefore, the blood surrounding the brain known as the blood-brain barrier, is not receiving the amount of nutrient rich blood that it needs to pass through and feed the brain. The brain becomes malnourished!
An imbalance in neurotransmitters can be responsible for poor memory as well as memory loss. Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that act as electrical switches in the brain. If you are deficient or imbalanced, you basically have a power failure and there are blips in the brain. An example is “you’re telling someone a story and suddenly a specific piece of information is missing”. You just had a short circuit. Another common problem is lipofuscin accumulation – which is basically free radical damage. One way to tell if you have this is age spots. If they’re on your arm’s, they’re in your brain!
Another very common issue is bad fats not good fats…and in just a moment I’m going to tell you all about the fat…
Does what you eat make a difference in how you think and remember ?
Well, Good fats and bad fats affect the brain so dramatically. Every area of sensory and motor skill improves or declines with the fat you choose to eat! In one study of people with memory impairment, the use of EFA along with PS, for 12 weeks showed dramatic improvement.
The results showed the equivalent of rolling back the clock 12 years
in mental and memory capacity. Studies show that a large percentage of those diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s could simply be lacking EFA as well as B-12. So the old saying you fat head, is actually a compliment.
Bad fats on the other hand make the blood sticky and cause poor cellular communication and a whole host of other issues such as ADD, ADHD and memory loss according to Dr. Michael Schmidt from Northwestern University. Chances are if you’re having a senior moment at 42, look at the food on the fork!!!
Is it good fat or bad fat or do you remember???
If you’d like to increase your learning ability, improve your memory,
and be one of those quick thinkers, stay with me because when we come back I’m going to tell you how to improve your brain function,
memory, behavior, personality, and concentration!
Step #1, stop eating those transfats…they are killing you! Go for the good stuff! It works!
Step #2 is take in the good stuff.
And what is the good stuff?
Well, let’s start with Choline. It improves memory due to its ability to produce neurotransmitters. In fact, Choline supplementation during Pregnancy causes long-lasting Memory enhancement in offspring (the developing fetus and newly-born infants utilize large quantities of Choline for growth-related Membrane and Myelin synthesis). My 2 year old is a perfect example …
Cytidine Diphosphate Choline (CDP-Choline) improves memory (especially in people with Memory impairment).
Folic Acid, is something I happen to love taking! In factm poor memory can occur as a result of Folic Acid deficiency (primarily due to Folic Acid deficiency increasing the risk of elevated Homocysteine levels). So your heart is at risk and your memory with a little Folic Acid deficiency.
Lipoic Acid improves memory (in elderly persons).
B Vitamins. Poor memory can occur as a result of Vitamin B1 deficiency. The Nicotinic Acid form of Vitamin B3, or Niacin, improves memory. Vitamin B6 (at least 20 mg per day) improves memory (especially Long-Term Memory). Vitamin B12 improves memory (due to its role in the synthesis of (RNA) within the Neurons of the Brain) and memory impairment can occur as a result of Vitamin B12 deficiency.
Vitamin E helps to preserve memory and poor memory can occur as a result of Vitamin E deficiency.
And here’s some interesting tid bits …
A deficiency in Boron can cause memory impairment.
Manganese improves memory.
Poor memory can occur as a result of Magnesium deficiency as well as a potassium deficiency. And, believe it or not, as a result of a Sodium deficiency.
Ok, let’s say “No more” to poor memory! Determine to make a difference today! I just recently read a study that said the more children a woman has the better her memory was. And you know why, necessity is the mother of invention…so ladies have more kids, it only works for the mom’s, not the dad’s, they have selective hearing like the kids sometimes…
So, what else works besides having more children? Well, how about phosphatidylserine or PS…
It increases Intelligence: In one study baby mice were supplemented with PS from birth for two months - after one month of PS supplementation the supplemented mice had higher intelligence than control mice and after two months, the supplemented mice learned faster and more accurately than control adult mice.
Phosphatidylserine improves the memory and mood of people afflicted with Age-Associated Memory Impairment and it is estimated that supplemental PS may reverse approximately 12 years worth of Memory decline. In one human study of 300 mg of Phosphatidylserine per day for 12 weeks, caused maximum improvement in those people with the worst Memory impairment. The improvement in Memory was sustained for up to one month after the cessation of Phosphatidylserine treatment.
Phosphatidylserine (300 - 400 mg per day) alleviates many of the symptoms associated with early Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia:
Studies have shown that 300 mg of PS per day for 8 weeks restores the EEG patterns of Alzheimer’s Disease patients to normal, while 400 mg of PS per day improves Brain Glucose metabolism, normalizes EEG patterns and improves cognition.
Phosphatidylserine increases the generation of Alpha Waves in the brain by 15% - 20%. Phosphatidylserine may alleviate anxiety. Phosphatidylserine reduces apathy (especially in people aged 55 - 80).
Phosphatidylserine is presently under investigation as a possible treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder.
PS improves Attention Span as well as concentration and research shows it alleviates Depression - especially in the elderly. Phosphatidylserine helps to stabilize Brain Wave patterns in Epilepsy patients and Brain's utilization and metabolism of Glucose. Phosphatidylserine improves Short-Term Memory.
In one study on humans aged 55 - 80 years with mild cognitive impairment, benefits noted were: improved ability to learn and recall names of familiar persons, recall the location of misplaced objects, recall details from the prior week, recall telephone numbers, paragraph recall, ability to concentrate while reading, conversing and performing tasks. PS improves nerve impulses as well as reflexes.
PS aids the body in fighting stress by reducing Cortisol levels.
© 2003-2005 Valerie Saxion