Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Researchers have indicated parts of the brain that are necessary for maintaining memory functions as we age. These studies have also looked at nutrients that can help to support and promote the brain as we grow older.
Many people who were sick with COVID-19 are still suffering from issues with cognition in a phenomenon known as long COVID. Learn about how you can help support your memory and mood in the face of these issues from Jerry Hickey, Ph.
mild cognitive impairment
InViteⓇ Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Jerry Hickey, Ph.
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In Part 1 of this episode, we discussed what mild cognitive impairment is and how it compares to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. In Part 2, we will discuss specific ingredients in supplements and foods that have been studied in people with mild cognitive impairment, as well as other nutrients that are great for the brain.†
Green tea is a powerful nutrient for brain health. There was a study where researchers gave young people a green tea drink without the caffeine-related ingredients. They had these people on powerful functional MRI machines and they found that the catechins in the green tea were stimulating the brain to work better. Additional studies in countries such as Germany and Italy found that people who drink green tea have a lower risk of developing memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.†
GREEN TEA AND LONGEVITY – INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 336. Listen Now>>
There is also evidence that cocoa is good for the brain. In older people, cocoa works as an anti-inflammatory, anti-aging nutrient. This is important as we age because antioxidant levels in the brain decrease dramatically with age. The brain is a super high-energy organ that releases a lot of peroxides. These peroxides can damage the fats in your brain that are important for memory functions. Green tea and cocoa both help resupply antioxidants in the brain to fend off these damaging free radicals. Cocoa also re-establishes circulation in the aging brain, which is important because a decline in brain circulation can impact memory functions.†
A study done in Italy looked at the efficacy of cocoa for helping with mild cognitive impairment. This study looked at people aged 56 to 75 who had mild cognitive impairment. They were forgetting things. The researchers split the people into two separate groups and found that patients who had real disruption in their cognitive functions did not have many polyphenols within their brain. The people who had more cocoa had less deterioration in their brain functions.†
There’s also ALCAR, which is found in our ALCAR with ALA formulation. The combination of these nutrients is great for your brain, brain energy and mood. People who have mild cognitive impairment have a decline in ALCAR, while people with Alzheimer’s disease have an even bigger decrease in this nutrient.†
THE MANY BRAIN BENEFITS OF ALCAR AND ALA, PART 1 – INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 134. Listen Now>>
In this episode, Jerry Hickey, Ph. expands on his discussion of mild cognitive impairment. He details various studies on nutrients that help with this issue and explains the role they play within the brain.†
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Thank you for tuning in to the InViteⓇ Health Podcast. You can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting www.invitehealth.com/podcast. Make sure you subscribe and leave us a review! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at InViteⓇ Health today. We’ll see you next time on another episode of the InViteⓇ Health Podcast.
As we age, we lose phosphatidylserine, a nutrient that is crucial for learning and memory. This can impact our memory, mood and brain health.
Vitamin B6 Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Amanda Williams, MPH Subscribe Today! B vitamins play a really important role when it comes to supporting energy levels, metabolism, heart health, brain health and so many more systems that are crucial for the everyday functions of …
brain
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Jerry Hickey. Ph
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Many older adults worry about their memory and the other abilities of their brain. For instance, they may find it’s taking longer to learn something new or maybe they’re forgetting to pay their bills once in a while. Well, is this normal forgetfulness or is this something else? This episode is designed to help you identify the difference between Alzheimer’s and normal brain aging.
Mild forgetfulness and absentmindedness is often a normal part of aging, not a sign of a serious memory problem. Fortunately, on a yearly basis, only a tiny percentage of people with what would be perceived as normal age-related memory loss will convert to dementia. It’s very rare.†
This Gene Increases The Risk of Alzheimer’s; How to Fight Back – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 301. Listen Now >
A memory lapse for a second is normal and no big deal. Everybody forgets something, especially when we’re distracted or busy. This may happen more often as we get older. Mild memory loss is a normal part of aging and not something to worry about. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to develop dementia. As we age, we can have some “senior moments,” as they call it.†
Dementia is not as common as you think it is. If memory loss makes it hard for you to carry out your daily tasks, then you have a sign that shouldn’t be ignored. For instance, are you forgetting something you just heard? A big clue that it’s something worse is asking something over and over again. That’s a big clue that the memory is having a big problem. Relying on a number of notes to get through your day is a clue. If you or your family are noticing these things happening to you, you really need to talk to your doctor.†
Another clue that it’s not just memory loss is if you’re struggling to do things like follow directions on something very familiar to you, like a recipe, or if you can’t keep track of things such as paying the bills like you used to. It could be a warning sign of memory problems.†
According to the National Institute on Aging, a way to tell the difference between normal brain aging and a serious memory problem is that a serious problem makes it hard to do everyday things like driving and shopping. Signs can include:
If you have problems with your daily typical activities, it could be a sign of a more serious memory issue. It’s normal to forget where you parked your car, especially if you were rushing when you parked or you’re distracted when you’re parking. But if it happens regularly, check with your doctor. That could be a sign of dementia.†
Tune into the full podcast episode for more details on the differences between normal aging in the brain and dementia.
Enhanced Memory Support with Cognition Hx® – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 293. Listen Now >>
If your memory is okay but you’re still concerned, you should use your brain. It’s like your muscles. If you don’t use it, then you lose it. Read, learn to play an instrument, sing, solve puzzles and be social. Exercise is great for the brain. It’s great for circulation to your brain, it’s great for brain health and heart health, but it’s also a stress reducer. Stress triggers the release of cortisol, a stress hormone. A little bit of that once in a while is good for the brain, but if you’re chronically stressed and you’re chronically releasing this, it is bad for your brain. A very safe option if you’re stressed is L-theanine, which comes from the green tea plant.†
For more information about foods and supplements that can help boost your memory and brain health, listen to the full podcast episode.
Thank you for tuning in to the Invite Health Podcast. You can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting www.invitehealth.com/podcast. Make sure you subscribe and leave us a review! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at Invite Health today. We’ll see you next time on another episode of the Invite Health Podcast.