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In this issue:
Meow,
What Are You Doing to Keep Memory Loss at
Bay?
Last week, Alzheimer’s research was in the news. Here’s more on brain health
and how you can keep your mind sharp as a cat’s claw!
First and foremost, your brain relies on healthy neurons to function
properly, so let’s revisit high school physiology for a moment.
Neurons are actually tiny messengers, responsible for a very big job:
transmitting signals between your organs and skin and your central nervous
system (your brain and spinal cord).
Simplistically, neurons can send data (“ouch, the stove is hot”) to the
central nervous system and send data back to the muscles (“quick, move away”).
Neurons stay busy communicating the slightest changes to your body – both
internally and externally – so your nervous system can make adjustments.
Electrical nerve impulses travel from sensory to motor neurons in
milliseconds, moving at a clip of about 250 miles per hour. Neurons pass
messages throughout the body like sprinters, especially compared to the slower
endocrine system, which can take hours to respond to stimuli.
Fast fact: The number of brain neurons varies dramatically
across species. Humans, for example, have between 100 billion and 100 trillion
neurons. For comparison, the lowly worm has only 300.
A healthy neuron can be linked to tens of thousands of other neurons,
creating more than a 100 trillion connections, each capable of performing 200
calculations per second. Wow! The complexity of a neural network is pretty
mind-boggling.
However, when neurons aren’t firing properly, things like memory and
attention suffer.
Scientists used to chalk up declining neurons simply to old age. Researchers
have now discovered that humans can continue producing
new
neurons into old age -- by remaining mentally and physically active.
Diet, exercise, and social interaction are all considered essential factors
to neuron production. So, here’s what you can do to make the most of your gray
matter:
Exercise often – Engaging your body increases blood supply
to your brain, giving it the fuel it needs. Inactive folks are twice as
likely to develop Alzheimer’s compared to folks who exercise three times a
week or more.
Reduce stress - Excess levels of cortisol, a stress
hormone, may shrink your hippocampus, which transfers new memories to
long-term storage in your brain. Great ways to reduce stress and increase
blood flow to your brain include yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises.
Be a life-long learner – Learning new things and
stimulating your brain not only keeps things from getting dull, it also
stimulates new neuron production and cellular communication pathways. So,
break out the crossword puzzles, study the stock market, learn to write with
your other hand, travel to new places -- whatever interests and challenges
you will help keep your brain healthy.
Stay connected – As herd animals, humans thrive on rich
social interactions. Studies have shown that those with a strong support
network of family and friends are less susceptible to stress and show better
cognitive health overall.
Read on for
more on keeping your brain healthy and active.
Phosphatidylserine Supports Brain Function
and Cellular Communication
Neurons are protected by cell membranes, which are composed largely of
phospholipids. Phospholipids hold cell membranes together and coordinate the
activities of enzymes and other brain proteins.
Phosphatidylserine is believed to strengthen cell membranes, thus improving
cellular communication and protecting cells from damage, particularly from the
stress hormone, cortisol.
Phosphatidylserine, your brain’s most common phospholipid, has for over 50 years
proven invaluable in improving
attention, verbal fluency, and memory.
For more on
phosphatidylserine studies, read on in this National Institute of Health
study or this as well as this
summary of studies.
Ginkgo Biloba Supports Circulation to the Brain and
Fights Free Radicals
In addition to being well-known for increasing circulation to the brain,
ginkgo biloba leaf flavonoids also have antioxidant and free radical scavenging
properties, which act to protect brain cells and tissues from oxidative damage.
Brain cells also require lots of energy to function, and when circulation is
restricted, there’s not enough oxygen and glucose for neurons to function
properly.
Brain cells are particularly susceptible to free radical damage
because their membranes, made up of phospholipids, are particularly vulnerable
to oxidation.
Thus, ginkgo’s reputation for increasing circulation to the brain and
protecting against oxidation makes it an age-old favorite for brain health.
Ginkgo also offers support against inflammation and improves blood flow to
capillaries throughout the entire body. Ginkgo, not surprisingly,
may be
heart-helpful in combating atherosclerosis too.
Read on for more on ginkgo biloba,
its uses,
and
research studies.
Health in the News
Are You a Favorite Pets Fan? Take a Look at Our
New Pics!
Big thanks to those fair members who sent in
favorite pet
photos to Tess. We’ve got some good ones. Check ‘em out!
Meanwhile, Cindy’s two Siamese cats are in for an adventure. Two more Siamese cats
arrive next week. They are coming out of a home with a
toddler who became allergic to the 9 year-old meezers.
Ah, let the territory wars and sizing up begin. Should be pure feline entertainment!
That’s it for now.
Still purringly yours,
Guido
Guido Housemouser
Chief Kat and Community Manager
Our Health Co-op
931 Village Blvd
Suite 905-480
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
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