If you want to stay sharp and in control of your life well into your golden years, there are proactive methods to achieving the mental alertness you need. More and more research is pointing to the fact that physical activity and lifestyle choices have more to do with preventing Alzheimer s disease (AD) and other forms of dementia - once thought to be a normal part of aging - than pure genetics. So if you had a parent, grandparent or sibling with AD it doesn’t mean you have to follow the same path.

Statistics gathered from extensive research do point toward a higher risk of developing AD if you had a close relative with AD - as much as 50%, but that has less to do with genes and more to do with following their lifestyle patterns. If for example, your parents were smokers who rarely exercised, you may have developed some of the same destructive habits.

What can you do to break the cycle and prevent AD? Take action and take control today. Even if you are in your 60s or 70s you can reverse some of the damage done to your brain through poor diet, inactivity, or damaging lifestyle choices. Scientists have discovered very recently that the brain has the ability to repair cells and neurotransmitters and improve cognitive function and memory.

It’s Not Too Late to Make A Difference: Start the 5 Steps Today

1. Eat Right. It seems so simple, yet too many people just don’t get enough of the mind preserving antioxidants found in fresh fruits and vegetables. A well-balanced diet, free of diary products and using low fat sources of protein will protect both heart and mind.

2. Supplement where necessary. Many diets lack the nutrients proven to promote brain health. These include sources of essential fatty acids found in fish and specific herbs and minerals that can enhance cognitive function.

3. Exercise. Originally it was thought that exercise increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain cells. This is still true, but a report prepared for the National Institutes of Health states that exercise can also stimulate the production growth factors, which are molecules produced by the body to repair and maintain nerves.

4. Lower Your Cholesterol. Many people with early dementia or AD symptoms may have actually experienced small strokes that damaged the brain’s neurotransmitters. By keeping cholesterol levels in check, the arteries are free and clear of plaque that can cause stroke.

5. Do your Mental Exercises. Keeping up with current events, working puzzles each day, learning and memorizing new information all work to keeping a mind strong and alert. It is normal for people to sometimes forget a name or date, but the more practice recalling such information the greater the brain’s ability to do this throughout old age. In the case of mental challenges, the more you do the more you can push back the clock on cognitive decline.

Five easy steps, when you think about it, can do much to make aging an event to celebrate instead of dread. With age there comes experience and wisdom, and we should all do whatever is within our power to be able to pass that on to the next generation.

About the author: Frank Mangano is an active member of his community who works diligently providing assistance to senior citizens and probing as a health advocate to discover new and innovative ways to promote well being. Discover how you can maintain good mental health at: http://www.alzheimersdefense.com/

Sundowners Syndrome

Sundowners syndrome, also known as sundowning, is a condition often associated with the early stages of Alzheimer’s, although a definitive connection has not been made. Sundowners syndrome can also be considered a mood disorder or even a sleep disorder. Sufferers experience periods of extreme agitation and confusion during the late afternoon or early evening hours, leading to irritability towards caregivers or hospital staff. It was once believed that sundowners syndrome was a result of missed day/night light cues, hence the sudden onset at sundown.Sundowner’s Syndrome largely remains a mystery to medical science, although there are several theories about why these symptoms begin at night. More and more studies are being conducted to try to determine the exact cause.While sundowners syndrome is still being studied, research indicates that the condition may be related to certain drug interactions or stress which is capable of interfering with cognitive function. This theory means that an elderly person may have more on their mind than their cognitive ability can handle. This results in the patient becoming full of negative thoughts and as a result being very irritable.Sundowners occurs frequently in Alzheimer’s patients, although it can also be mistaken for the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease or another cognitive deficit. The exact reason for the syndrome is not known, although several factors can contribute to its effects. Sundowning can be a temporary disorder in some people, or more prolonged in others, and is currently gaining more attention among health care professionals who see the syndrome’s effects in elderly hospital patients recovering from illness or surgery, as well as elders in nursing facilities.Most professionals believe sundowning occurs only in elderly who exhibit symptoms of dementia such as Alzheimer’s Disease, but this may not always be the case. Dr. Maria Sullivan, associate professor of clinical psychiatry, at Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, explained that all elderly people exhibit some age-related cognitive decline, even if it cannot be termed dementia. Therefore, even a minimal mental degeneration may predispose someone to sundowning.Sundowners syndrome is confusion and agitation that may only appear or become worse in the evening. The exact cause of sundowners syndrome is not known. One theory hold that it may be the start of Alzheimer’s disease. Some researchers believe it is related to sleep disorders.Sundowner’s is generally referred to in dementia-type writings. Sundowner’s occurs at “sundown.” The environment that your loved one was in during the day becomes confusing when it gets dark. They may become agitated, angry, or anxious. This may lead to wandering, pacing the floors, and showing of nervous behaviors.Be aware of paranoid behavior and changes in language abilities. Some individuals may be unable to express their thoughts. If these symptoms seem to appear in the evening it may be a sign of sundowners syndrome. Notice if symptoms are getting progressively worse. Although research is very sketchy when it comes to Sundowners Syndrome some theories have been suggested: Unmet psychological needs due to the lower number of evening/night shift staff Disordered circadian rhythm Afternoon fatigue due to high levels of activity earlier in the day.

Mild Cognitive Impairment

It is estimated that up to one third of adults will experience a gradual decline in cognitive function known as mild cognitive impairment as they age (Low LF et al 2004; Busse A et al 2003). Less severe than dementia, mild cognitive impairment is defined as cognitive defects that do not interfere with daily living. It may include slower thinking, a reduced ability to learn, and impaired memory. While many conventional physicians view these defects as an inevitable consequence of aging, newer research has uncovered possible reasons for mild cognitive impairment and has also identified potential therapies that may enable people to battle age-related mental decline more effectively than ever before. Minimizing cognitive defects will become even more important as the average life span continues to lengthen and hundreds of thousands of people head into their 80s and 90s, when the risk for cognitive decline is greatest.A typical American diet does not provide enough essential vitamins. Worse yet, older people are at greater risk for vitamin deficiency because they tend to eat less, although their requirements for certain vitamins, such as B6, actually rise with age. Older people may also have problems with efficient absorption of nutrients from food. Even healthy older people often exhibit deficiencies in vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and folate.Vitamins are involved in biochemical processes throughout the body and appear to be involved in protecting and enhancing cognitive function. In particular, the B vitamins play an integral role in the functioning of the nervous system and help the brain synthesize chemicals that affect mood. A balanced complex of the B vitamins is essential for energy and for balancing hormone levels. An article in the Journal of Psychopharmacology described a study of 76 older men who were given vitamin B6 or placebo and then tested on memory function. The authors concluded that vitamin B6 improved storage and information retrieval (Deijen JB et al 1992). Another study reviewed vitamin B12 deficiency in relation to memory impairment and neuropathy in older people and concluded that both memory impairment and neuropathy can be successfully managed with vitamin B12 injections or supplementation (Carmel R 1996). One study determined that low levels of folate (a B vitamin) are associated with cognitive deficits and that patients treated with folic acid for 60 days showed a significant improvement in both memory and attention efficiency (Fioravanti MFE 1997).

Does DMAE Help with Mental Cognitive Function?

DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol) enhances mental function through the improvement of concentration, mental clarity and mental alertness. It is also a mild brain stimulant because it increases and sustains the energy levels in the brain. It also improves the level of restful nighttime sleep because the sleep is deeper and less time is needed to reach a rejuvenated state. DMAE helps to boost mental function through an increase in the levels of acetylcholine and choline. These are the brain’s chemical messengers.Because of DMAE’s ability to stimulate mental cognitive function, it also has been shown to improve learning, increase intelligence and elevate mood.DMAE Benefits:* Accelerates mental processes* Decreases irritability and overactivity* Does not cause drowsiness* Improves concentration* Improves IQ* Increases attention* Relieves mild depression* Aids in long-term treatment of schizophreniaIt is believed that DMAE may also increase physical energy. Athletes and other active individuals are using DMAE more and more because of its ability to enhance these brain functions. The connection between the mind and muscles is a means to focus on form and reduce the risk of injury. So, when the mind is enhanced, it communicates better with the muscles to improve and refine function.Due to DMAE’s mild stimulating effect on the brain, athletes report that it is a good alternative for a quick lift instead of coffee. They also believe the stimulating effects last longer than they do with caffeine. DMAE used as a mild stimulant is also safer and healthier than caffeine.How It Works:DMAE, once consumed, is transported to the liver where it is converted into choline through the process of metabolism. A small amount is then converted into acetylcholine, which is a brain transmitter. Through this process, DMAE increases the levels of these brain transmitters (neurotransmitters). This causes a boost in mental cognitive function and memory.Acetylcholine is also responsible for helping to conduct nerve impulses in the brain. Choline is also converted in the brain into phosphatidylcholine. This chemical rebuilds and protects existing cell membranes inside the brain. DMAE has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier faster than choline. Through this quicker travel, DMAE enhances cell protection and repair and helps our brains function better and create enhanced, positive behavioral changes in most people.Other DMAE Uses:DMAE is being studied for use in aiding a movement disorder in Parkinson’s patients. This disorder, called dyskenesis is caused by L-Dopa, which is administered to treat the effects of the disease. DMAE seems to counteract dyskenesis effectively and safely without interfering with the benefits of the therapy. DMAE is proving to reduce the effects of other disorders that involve involuntary movements. Two of these disorders being treated are blepharospasm (eyelid twitching) and benign essential tremors.Age spot sufferers may find hope for treatment of their condition as well. DMAE has been found to inhibit the formation of pigment caused by aging (lipofuscin) and liver spots (lentigo). It may actually flush lipofuscin from the body, causing the skin spots to disappear over a few month’s time.DMAE is being studied for its possible ability in helping to reduce cognitive impairments related to age. Aside from increased mental cognitive function, research has shown that DMAE may also be useful in treating the following conditions.* Alzheimer’s disease* ADD (attention deficit disorder)* HyperactivityThe use of DMAE as a regular dietary supplement is increasing steadily. All of its benefits in aiding mental cognitive function and brain stimulation are an attractive quality for everyone. Additional research showing that DMAE is useful in treating debilitating conditions such as Parkinson’s gives us new hope. As research continues and more new uses for DMAE are discovered, its popularity will continue to grow as well.

Information on Locked-In Syndrome

Locked-in syndrome is also called is Cerebromedullospinal Disconnection. Locked-in syndrome is a rare neurological disorder characterized by complete paralysis of voluntary muscles in all parts of the body bar for those that manage eye movement. Locked-in syndrome has been classified into three categories including classic, incomplete and total. Patients have intact cognitive function and are awake, with eye opening and normal sleep-wake cycles. They can hear and see. However, they cannot move their lower face, chew, swallow, speak, breathe, move their limbs, or move their eyes laterally. Locked-in syndrome results in quadriplegia and inability to speak in or else cognitively-intact individuals. Locked-in syndrome typically results from a pontine hemorrhage or infarct that causes quadriplegia and disrupts and damages the lower cranial nerves and the centers that manage horizontal gaze. It may also effect from traumatic brain injury, diseases of the circulatory system, diseases that demolish the myelin sheath surrounding nerve cells, or medication overdose. There is no cure for locked-in syndrome. Stimulation of muscle reflexes with electrodes (Neuromuscular stimulation) has been known to help patients regain some muscle function. Several devices to assist communication are available. Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Good nutrition is also beneficial this condition. New direct brain interface mechanisms may provide future remedies. Providing physical therapy to prevent limb contractures. Speech therapists may help establish a communication code using eye blinks or movements. Because cognitive function is intact, patients should make their own health care decisions if communication can be established. Assistive computer interface technologies, such as Dasher in combination with Eye tracking may be used to help patients communicate.

It’s a well known, stated fact: “Healthy mind, healthy body: healthy body, healthy mind.”

So in the same way that a proper diet is good for your body, so it is for your brain.

And the foods that you consume, whether “good” or “bad” can possibly influence your brain power.

Your brain is the greediest organ in your body, with some quite specific dietary requirements. So it is hardly surprising that what you eat can affect cognitive function. And like any other organ in your body, your brain also needs the correct fuel to perform well. Unfortunately, proper nutrition for the brain is often overlooked by a fast paced lifestyle and often having to eat “on the go”. Take for example, the effect of simple carbohydrates (such as processed flour and sugary foods) on your brain and body. These foods can cause a rush of sugar into the bloodstream, causing Insulin to be released. Insulin works hard to “mop up” all the excess sugar in your blood; the trouble is, Insulin is a bit too efficient, and can cause blood sugar levels to plunge. This is known as Hypoglycemia. But it doesn’t stop there. Hypoglycemia can cause the release of Adrenal Hormones: these hormones squeeze stored sugar from the liver, sending blood sugar levels back up. This is known as a “sugar high”. So the body goes on a blood sugar roller-coaster, with “sugar highs” and “sugar blues.” But it still doesn’t stop there, because the ups and downs of blood sugar and adrenal hormones may stimulate brain neurotransmitter imbalance, causing fidgetiness, irritability, inattentiveness, and even sleepiness.

And after all, people work hard to conserve their body in the desire to look good for as long as possible, so why not do the same for the brain? Here is a list of my Top Five foods which may influence, and possibly, double your brain power! Omega- 3 Oils.

Perhaps the number one food for brain health, the case for Omega- 3 oils is overwhelming. Omega-3 oils, (or Omega-3 Fatty Acids) are essential fatty acids necessary for human health. They are termed “essential” because they cannot be produced by the body, and so must be obtained from the diet. Omega-3 oils are beneficial because they provide fluidity to cell membranes and improve communication between brain cells. They may help to boost learning power, but also greatly enhance mood. Foods rich in omega-3 oils include oily fish such as sardines, salmon and mackerel. Maybe fish is a “brain food” after all! Vegetables and legumes Unlike processed flour which contains simple carbohydrates, vegetables and legumes contain complex carbohydrates which can supply your brain with a steady source of energy. These would include soybeans, kidney beans, chick peas, and lentils. Soya

Soya contains natural plant Oestrogens called Isoflavones.

These are thought to act on oestrogen receptors in the human brain, particularly those in the hippocampus, which we know is a crucial area for memory. As a result, new nerve connections may form more readily. Medical trials have revealed that persons fed a high Soya diet showed improvements in verbal and non-verbal memory and in mental flexibility. Good sources of Soya include Soya milk and tofu. Berries Fruit such as Blueberries, Blackberries, Cranberries, Strawberries and Raspberries contain anti-oxidants, helping to rid the body of harmful free radicals produced during body cells converting oxygen into energy. Scientific Studies have shown that a good dietary intake of antioxidants from fruits and vegetables will significantly reduce the risk of developing “Cognitive Impairment”. Chocolate Good news for all lovers of chocolate! Studies have hinted that eating milk chocolate may boost brain function. Substances, like Theobromine, Phenethylamine and Caffeine, present in milk chocolate, can act as stimulants that may lead to increased mental performance. So the next time you feel tempted to eat that huge sticky donut, think about the effect it might have on your brain as well as your body!

Copyright 2006 Lynnee Davidson

Music is a creative pattern of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal pitch in an organized and relentless manner. How about in health? Based on the study held by Journal Heart, the researchers discovered that listening to music is healthy for your heart whether you are seeking arousal and serene or relaxation. Listening to fast and convoluted tempos of music like classical and techno will increase the degree of physiological arousal. Meanwhile, listening to slower music such as love song, raga, and etc. could create induced calmness and fall in heart-rate. These are the reasons why the researchers said that these two kinds of music are could be helpful to decrease the risk of heart disease and stroke aside for boost immunity, ease muscle tension, and more.

In music treatment this is the use of musical intervention, such as listening, making music, recital composing, or improvising with instruments in order to reach a person’s therapeutic goals. According to the data from the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas; it occupies neurotransmitters that would otherwise be used to drive pain messages to the brain, thus decreasing your perception of pain. These are the reasons why it’s been one of the 8 natural options to relieve cancer-related pain.

Benefit for your brain

Another beneficial effect of music is that for your brain. Based on the study in year 2004 by the journal Heart %26 Lung even discovered proof. People who those listened to music while they workout, researchers said, it performed more than two times as well on a verbal fluency test than persons who listened to no music.

As said by the study’s lead author, Charles Emery, “… Listening to music may influence cognitive function through different pathways in the brain. The combination of music and exercise may stimulate and increase cognitive arousal while helping to organize cognitive output.”

The used of music therapy

The following are some of the used of Music therapy, the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to complete individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship, is a growing field. According to the American Music Therapy Association, music therapy can be used to help:

• Children, adolescents, adults and the elderly with mental health needs, developmental and learning disabilities.• Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related conditions• Substance abuse problems• Brain injuries• Physical disabilities• Acute and chronic pain, including mothers in labor

As certified music therapists extend to burst up in psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitative facilities, medical hospitals, outpatient clinics, day care treatment centers and more all over the country, it is just clear how music therapy was a helpful tool for staying or becoming healthy.

Despite the fact that it has been known for quite some time that children who have sleep apnea normally produce poor scores on IQ tests (by and large scoring around 85 as opposed to a score of 101 without sleep apnea) what has not been known until recently is that this results from chemical changes within the brain. This means that a normally ’smart’ kid might well produce a run of the mill performance as a result of nothing more than a sleep disorder which can be relatively easily treated in the majority of instances.

In a study conducted at the Hopkin’s Children’s Centre 31 children between the ages of 6 and 16 (19 of whom suffered from severe sleep apnea) were examined under a special form or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and discovered that the children with sleep apnea demonstrated considerable changes in both the hippocampus and right frontal cortex - two areas of the brain associated with higher mental function and learning. The same study also found that these children had unusual levels of three specific chemicals within the brain that is indicative of brain damage.

This alteration of the brain chemistry resulting from the presence of sleep apnea could or could not be lasting and additional studies will be necessary to see whether this affect can be reversed. However, even if this difficulty can be reversed and the cognitive function and chemistry of the brain can be returned to normal, children who are suffering from sleep apnea will display a loss in learning as long as they suffer from sleep apnea which is left untreated and they will not be able to wind back the clock and regain this learning period.

Of course parents should already be watching for signs of sleep apnea in their children however this latest study clearly indicates that the early treatment of this sleep disorder could have a very important affect on your child’s future.

The symptoms of sleep apnea may include numerous pauses in breathing during sleep which frequently produce an arousal from sleep and tossing and turning in bed. A child might also show loud or labored breathing, snoring, coughing, gasping and, sometimes, bedwetting at an age when this phase should normally have passed. Parents may also note that a child is sleeping in a strange position, possibly with their bottom in the air and their head slanted back in an unwitting effort to force their airway open.

In the majority of instances childhood sleep apnea can be treated by surgically removing the adenoids and tonsils or excess tissue from the back of the throat or nose. Additionally, a CPAP (continuous positive airways pressure) machine could also be recommended to provide the child with air which is delivered through a mask worn while sleeping to keep the airway open.

Sleep apnea is in itself debilitating for any child and the affects of an extended period of inadequate sleep will take a toll on your child. But, when you mix this with an impairment of your child’s IQ, it is imperative that you act as quickly as possible to have this condition diagnosed and then treated.

Help-Me-To-Sleep.com provides extensive information and advice on a whole range of sleep disorders including sleep apnia and sleep apnea in children

While you may experience the misery of hot flashes and mood swings as you enter menopause, one thing you can’t blame on the “change” is memory loss.

In the latest study that exonerates menopause as a cause of impairing the ability to recall, Taiwanese researchers compared the memory of hundreds of women before they had any menopausal symptoms to their memory as they entered menopause.

They found the women who were going through the menopausal process scored as well or nearly as well on five different cognitive function tests. Results of the study are to be presented Oct. 4 at the American Neurological Association annual meeting in Toronto.

“When women go into perimenopause, they don’t need to worry about cognitive decline,” said Dr. Jong-Ling Fuh, an attending physician at Taipei Veterans General Hospital and an associate professor of Yang-Ming University School of Medicine.

The researchers said the myth of memory loss during menopause is a perception some women have because as they went through menopause, they felt their memory wasn’t as sharp as it had been before. Studies suggesting that hormone replacement therapy might protect against dementia strengthened that belief. However, a large study later found that in older women, hormone replacement therapy not only didn’t help protect women from dementia, but could actually increase the risk.

To try to answer the question of whether menopause did have any effect on memory, Fuh and her colleagues studied nearly 700 premenopausal women living on a group of rural islands between Taiwan and China. The Taiwanese government restricted access to these islands until the 1990s, so the authors report that the study’s population was nearly homogeneous, which would help rule out other potentially causative factors of memory loss.

The women were between the ages of 40 and 54. None of them had had a hysterectomy, and none took hormone replacement therapy during the study.

All took five cognitive tests designed to assess their memory and cognitive skills at the start of the study, and then again 18 months later.

During the study period, 23 percent of the women began to have symptoms of menopause.

The researchers then compared the memory of the women who had entered menopause to those who had not, and found very little difference. In four of the five tests, there were no statistically significant differences in the two groups of women.

Only on one test was the difference statistically significant, and that difference, said Fuh, was very slight. This test was designed to assess verbal memory and involved showing the women 70 nonsensical figures. Some of the figures were repeated during the test, while most were not. The women were asked whether they had seen the figure earlier.

“For women, menopause does not mean you’ll develop memory loss,” said Dr. Raina Ernstoff, an attending neurologist at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. As you’re going through perimenopause and experiencing symptoms like hot flashes, she said, you may feel lousy and have trouble sleeping, which might temporarily affect your cognitive skills.

“I don’t think declining estrogen levels are what causes memory loss,” said Dr. Steven Goldstein, an obstetrician/gynecologist at New York University Medical Center in New York City. “It’s not like your memory is bopping along, doing fine and then takes this big dive during menopause, like bone density can.”

Both Ernstoff and Goldstein said they weren’t aware of many women who believed that menopause might cause significant memory loss. They also both felt that results from this group of women who were so homogeneous might not apply to different groups of women, such as those living in more industrialized society. And they both said that other factors that weren’t studied could play a role in memory loss, such as hypertension, which can contribute to vascular dementia.

Ernstoff also pointed out that the education backgrounds can play a large role in memory loss. Fuh acknowledged the researchers did attempt to control the data for educational differences.

SOURCES: Jong-Ling Fuh, M.D., attending physician, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, and associate professor, Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Steven Goldstein, M.D., obstetrician/gynecologist, New York University Medical Center, and professor, obstetrics/gynecology, New York University School of Medicine, New York City; Raina Ernstoff, M.D., attending neurologist, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Mich., and member, Alzheimer’s Board of Detroit; Oct. 4, 2004, presentation, American Neurological Association, Toronto.

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Phosphatidyl serine May Prevent Age Related Memory Loss

Phosphatidyl serine (PS) is a phospholipid compound that is found in the cell membranes of the body and most significantly is highest in the cell membranes of the neurons in the brain. Neurons are the nerve cells that make up the central nervous system in the brain, and the nutrient particularly protects one of the major memory centers of the brain (the hippocampus).

It is aging of the cells of the hippocampus that leads to age related memory loss. PS is able to prevent cognitive decline, or lose of memory, to slow down the aging process of the brain and to help reduce the risk of dementia. So exactly what is this substance, what can it really do and what are its sources.

As you get older, the membranes of your cells wear, the same way as the tires on your car wear. The membrane of the neurons have to possess sufficient fluidity as to allow the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin and acetylcholine. Neurotransmitters are essential in allowing messages to be passed between brain cells over the synaptic gap. Brain cells do not communicate by means of direct connections such as electrical wires but by means of chemicals that cross the gap between the cells known as the synapses.

Up until middle age, the body produces phosphatidyl serine naturally to maintain the cell membranes in a good state of repair, and to properly coordinate the release of these neurotransmitters, thus maintaining mental health. However, after a certain age the levels of this essential chemical start to drop off. The neurotransmitters then become less effective, and so the function of the neurons begins to decrease. The result is less efficient communication between the brain cells of the hippocampus, and gradual memory loss and decline in cognitive function. What is needed to halt this process, or even to reverse it, is a synthetic or other natural source of PS.

Not only this, but stress causes the emission of cortisol into the bloodstream. This is a hormone that allows the body to react to stress in a positive way, but if produced in excess, the effects are negative, including a reduction of cognitive powers, or stress-related memory loss. Phosphatidyl serine blocks this effect of cortisol, and so helps those suffering from stress to maintain a good memory in spite of stress.

A deficiency of PS has been linked to Alzheimers disease and also other causes of dementia. It also has a link with severe depression and Parkinsons disease, especially among the middle aged and the elderly. A PS supplement would help to reduce the incidence of these conditions. It is unlikely that it would act as a cure since there are other reasons for conditions such as Parkinsons disease that is believed to be caused by a deficiency in dopamine. It would, however, resolve this particular cause of dopamine deficiency, just as it would resolve any other mental problem created by such a deficiency. So where are we to find such a source?

Much of the original work on a PS supplement was carried out using PS from the brain of a cow, termed BC-phosphatidyl serine. The BC is short for bovine cortex, but cow brain extracts are no longer in favor due to the dangers of contracting diseases from the brains of cows. The best known of these is mad cow disease (BSE), and PS is now obtained from soya lecithin which naturally contains small but significant amounts of the substance. It is also available from egg yolks, but soya is the preferred source for supplemental PS.

Regular supplementation with soya PS appears to work well in helping to maintain good cognitive abilities beyond middle age, and also to reverse some of the damage done by a deficiency. It is claimed that in some cases a reduction in cognitive age of up to 12 years can be attained by its use. It has also been claimed to have been established that EEG brain activity increases in patients who have been treated with phosphatidyl serine. No side effects have been found, nor any cross reaction with any other medication.

There is only one negative to the use of PS in treatment of cognitive and memory decline. The types of PS contained in soya and cow brains is not the same. They contain different fatty acids, and it has not been established if that difference makes a difference in the way they work, or the effect that they have on the human brain. However, studies on soya PS have indicated that there is a significant effect in improving the brain function of those that have been treated with it. The soya form should now be regarded as the only form, since it is doubtful if cow brains will ever be trusted again as a safe source of human nutrition, and the results obtained with the soya form appear sufficient to warrant the claims made for the substance.

So, what are these effects in practice. What will it mean to you as you get older? A number of trials have been carried out and the results published in several leading journals dealing with the topic. The consensus is that it can help to maintain the brain functions that decline with age, specifically the ability to remember facts such as telephone numbers, and recall names and faces. Short term memory is also maintained by its use, and it allows users to concentrate better and maintain medium and longer term memory better than without it.

However, it can not only prevent these conditions from occurring, but can also reverse age related memory loss. It is therefore an important phospholipid to the aging and the aged. A sufficient supply of B complex vitamins and essential fatty acids are also required if its full potential is to be reached since they help the brain to manufacture its own supply of phosphatidyl serine. A combination of both will provide you with maximum protection from age related decline in your brain function and help to protect you from the effects of stress, memory loss, Alzheimers disease, dementia and perhaps even Parkinsons disease.