Brain Aging may begin at Age 40
June
15,
2004
A new study in the current online issue of Nature gives evidence
that brain aging really begins to kick in at age 40. Before age
40 the brain tends to age at the same rate for most people, after
age forty there can be a large variation in the rate and extent
of brain aging. In the first 40 years of life accumulating damage
to a set of genes, decrease their activity. The slowing down of
these genes affects the health and performance of the brain. For
some individuals the slow down in brain activity may be greater
and more rapid than in others.
Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph.
It is never too early to start protecting the brain. I make sure
my kids eat fresh fruit, vegetables, beans and salmon, and they
take a multiple-vitamin and polyphenolic antioxidants appropriate
for their age (Fruit and Herb Antioxidant capsules).
Brain Deterioration Slowed Down by Carnosine and Superoxide Dismutase
L-Carnosine had a powerful effect in protecting rat brain cells
from beta-amyloid - the sticky substance that creates the plaque
deposits in the brain of Alzheimer's disease patients. Superoxide
dismutase also helped protect the cells. The study appears in an
issue of Neuroscience Letters.
Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph.
We now have a list of nutrients that help protect the brain and
slow down brain aging and accumulating damage to brain tissue.
These include:
- L-Carnosine with Pyridoxamine
- GliSODin (SOD) with Catalase
- Resveratrol (the trans form)
- Turmeric
- Fish Oil especially the DHA fraction
- Ultimate Detoxification Formula (NAC, Lipoic Acid and other constituents)
- Cognition (Ginkgo biloba [low dose], Acetyl-L-Carnitine, NADH, and Phosphatidylserine
- Vinpocetine
- Piracetam (by prescription)
- Homocysteine Reductase
- Natural E
- Ester Vitamin C
Any and all of these may have ability to help protect brain tissue.
Turmeric Protects the Brain from Deterioration in Many Ways
Turmeric, the most potent natural anti-inflammatory herb increases
levels of heat shock proteins in the brain. Heat shock proteins are
chaperones to your brain cells that protect the cells from various
types of stress and harm The study appears in the Italian Journal of
Biochemistry December 2003.
Commentary - Jerry Hickey, R.Ph.
Various studies show that Turmeric may decrease the risk of
developing Alzheimer's disease and brain degeneration due to
aging. In parts of India where they consume a great deal of
curry rich in Turmeric, scientists correlated a lower incidence
of Alzheimer's disease, In various studies Turmeric protected
animals brains from Alzheimer's type damage. Turmeric has
antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity in the brain in
addition to increasing levels of protective heat shock
proteins.