Dietary Supplementation and Age Related Cognitive Impairment

                  Dietary Supplementation and Age Related Cognitive Impairment

By: Tara Raven



    The brain weighs about three pounds and has 100 billion neurons which act as our
‘personal computer’.(Best,2004) Reasearch indicates that age is the best predictor of memeory performance, manypeople beleive that memory problems really are an inescapable consequence of aging.(Filburn, 2000)People live approximately three decades longer than people did in 1900, which means we have to be able to utilize a sound functioning brain a lot longer than our ancestors. Studies show how lifestyle choices can directly negatively impact the brain’s physiological well-being. (Healthy Solutions;Natural Solutions,1999-2008)



    Fish has been called brain food , but Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) really deserves the credit. DHA declines in the brain cell (neuron) membranes with aging and may result in a waning mental function. DHA is an Omega-3 fatty acid,  because it has a double-bond,  3 carbon atoms away from the methyl end of the long carbon chain carboxylic acid.(Best, 2004) Our brains have highly concentrated amounts of DHA within the synapses and in the retina of the eye. DHA requirements in late-stage fetus and newborn are so critical thatslight dificiencies can have a life-long impact on intellegence. (Best, 2004)


    Neuronal cells and their plasma membranes undergo turnover and renewal  throughout most of our lives. (Filburn,2000) However, as we age, this turnover and production slows or ceases depending on genetic and diet interaction.Brain phospholipids are uniquely rich in the highly unsaturated fatty acids known as omega 3 (n-3) and omega 6 (n-6) fatty acids. Brain fatty acids are highly enriched in membranes of the central nervous system and also function as messengers and modulators of neurotransmission. (Filburn,2000)
 

A key structural component of cell membranes and particularly concentrated in the brain, phosphatidylserine (PS) assists the flow of electrical signals within the neurons.
It also maintains cell-membrane fluidity, which is important for receiving and releasing neurotransmitters and for bringing nutrients into the cell and moving waste product out of the cell. (Healthy Solutions;Natural Solutions, 1999-2008) When you talk about getting ‘rusty’ at certain tasks, you may not be far off! Oxidation, the process that causes metal to rust, can also damage your brain cells. Every major disease you can think of with respect to aging has an oxidative stress and inflammatory component. Anti-oxidants and other compounds in foods can help curtail the damage by disarming potentially harmful free radicals.



Tufts University,  Cheif of the Neuroscience Laboratory , Dr. J. Josephs, PhD., shows that some antioxidative compounds in the foods we eat have a direct affinity for speific areas of the brain: Ellagitannins in raspberries, strawberries and blueberries are found in the hippocampus, the brain’s memory control area. Proanthocyanins in blueberries , purple grapes, red grape juice, and red wine gravitate toward the straitum, which is associated with spacial memory. The implication? These compounds  enhance the performance  of those specific parts of the brain, showing how research has proven certain food types and supplementation improve cognitive and motor skills.


Healthy fats have been long proven to be instrumental in maintaing brain health
throughout life. DHA is in your brain , so having them in your diet will be beneficial to yor brain. Fatty fish is a great source of DHA. “Components of fatty acids in fish go straight to the synapses of nerve cells,” says Duke University Medical Center Professor,
H. Scott Swartwelder, PhD, who is also a research scientist with the US Deoartment of Veterans’ Affairs. (Eat Your Way Smart:Natural Solutions Magazine, ID 14582) That means they help neurons communicate with each other which has a positive efffect on memory and learning.


    It is of the utmost importance to obtain fish oils (DHA) as pure and uncontaminated as possible. Certain species of fish can contain high levels of
cantaminants, such as mercury, from the environment. Thus, their oils could pose a health risk. The fish that the Federal Government  has found to have the highest levels of mercury are shark, swordfish, king mackeral, and tilefish. It is advisable to find out whether the manufaturer tests the product for contaminants and if those test results are available. (Rheumatoid Arthritis and Complementary and Alternative Medicine;NCCAM Research Report, 2007)


    “Because of the body’s inability to synthesize essential fatty acids (EFAs) the only way to obtain required levels is from exogenous sources. (supplementation) Many studies have shown that manipulating the intake of EFAs can alter the structure and function of cellular membranes”. (Filburn, 2000) That means supplementation is a must when it comes to brain health.


    In conclusion, dietary supplemention is critical for brain health and age related cognitive impairment . Taken with mindfulness DHA can maintain neural function.(Raven,2008) DHA supplementation coupled with a few extra required vitamins, minerals, a good diet and excersize is not always possible for aging Americans, wether it be financial, physical or ignorance. So, the real issue is getting this information into the correct hands, nursing homes, extended care facilities, homecare health nurses and our friends and families.


   

                           

Best, B. (2004) DHA for Hearyts and Minds, Retrieved February 19, 2008, 6:01 AM
    https://wwwbenbest.com/health/dha.html#brain
   


Harding, P., (n.d.). Eat Your Way Smart: IQ-boosting foods are a no brainer.  Natural
Solutions . Retrieved February  19, 2008, 5:49 AM, from       https://www.naturalsolutionsmag.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/center.printArticle/articleID/14582/pageID/1


Filburn, C.R., (2000) Dietary Supplementation with Phospholipids and Docosahexaenoic
    Acid for Age-Related Cognitive Impairment. JANA, Vol.3, No. 3, 45-55



Rheumatoid Arthritis and Complementary and Alternative Medicine.  (n.d.) Retreived      
            February 18, 2008, 6:29 AM, from https://nccam.nih.gov/health/RA