Strolling Down Memory Lane

One of the complaints I hear in private consultations with men and women is the decline of memory and mental acuity.  It's a known fact that as we age, we lose some memory.  In fact, studies have shown that there is a loss from age 25 to age 40 of 21%.  Yikes!  (sorry to be the bearer of bad news. smile) Sadly, it doesn't stop there though.  By the age of 70-79 the memory decline is 43%.  (Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology 1991)   Mild cognitive decline begins 30-40 years earlier than when full blow Alzheimers Disease is diagnosed.  It's SOOOO important to protect your brain earlier rather than later. 

Alzheimers Disease is always a concern for people as they age and especially when there is a family history.  Here's some facts on Alzheimers: 
1) Several genes have been identified (chromosomes 21, 19. 14, 1, 21, apolipoprotein C1, HLA 2A gene)
2) Apolipoprotein E4 is a gene that is carried by 30% of people but only 10% who carry the gene get Alzheimers.
3) The younger the onset, the more likely that it's genetic
4) Head trauma with a loss of consciousness doubles the risk
5) Head trauma with the E4 gene increases the risk tenfold.
6) There's a link to the mother 9:1 compared to the father
7) Cherokee Native Americans seem to have a natural immunity
8) African Americans and Hispanics have a higher rate of A.D. than caucasians

Factors Affecting Memory:
1) Nutrition and Lack of Nutrients (high fat and sugar consumption)
2) Hormonal Imbalance
3) Inflammation
4) Homocysteine levels
5) Psychological health (Depression and Anxiety)
6) Toxic environmental substances (heavy metals i.e. dental fillings, fluoride, solvents, fuels, and pesticides)
7) cadmium which is found in cigarettes
8) Lead and arsenic
9) alcohol consumption
10) lack of exercise (a study in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that people who ballroom dance 2 times a week were less likely to develop dementia.  Also, for an extra mile walked each week, there was a 13% reduction in memory decline.
11) level of education
12) genetics, of course
13) recreational drug use
14) medications (pain meds, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, antihistamines/decongestants, heart meds, muscle relaxers, sedatives, steroids, and others)

Brain Boosters:
1) DHA (found in fish oil formulations)
2) Phosphatidylserine
3) Ashwagandha
4) Ginger
5) Ginko Biloba
6) Magnesium
7) Actyl-L-Carnitine
8) Alpha Lipoic Acid
9) Carnosine
10) Zinc
11) and some others

I met a physician recently who did not have any phone numbers preset in her cell phone or in her office.  She felt that it inhibited her congnitively to rely on the numbers instead of forcing her mind to memorize and recall.  It really made me think about our culture and environment.  Are we seeing a decline in memory just on this shift alone?  I remember as a child we did not have cell phones (and we walked 20 miles to school in the snow and rain...haha...jk) and you were forced to memorize key phone numbers in addition to all of the elementary facts obtained in school. We had TV guides, but mostly we just knew when certain shows were on and which channel.  Now without the online guide, we're not sure what's available.  I think there may be something to having everything preset in our society.  Do you? 

Cognitive decline is so frustrating for people.  Once again, I feel strongly that we should be supplementing our bodies with key nutrients that we are not obtaining from our poor Western diet.  If you are suffering from memory decline, give me a call. I feel that I can "alert" you to some key lifestyle and diet changes..

To your good health,
Dr. Sonja