Wouldn't it be nice if our brain was like a computer? Just load the
programs in and all the information would be there whenever it was needed.
The fact is that our brain is a computer much better than any you can buy
in stores.
Dr. Wilder Penfield, a well known Canadian neurosurgeon, discovered that
all of our memories are recorded by the brain; our problem is that we
don't practise retrieving this information and the memories are lost. We
have to work on memory retrieval because it takes no effort to forget
things. Another difference is that the brain is a living computer which
requires optimal nutrition if we want it to work its best. One of the
first computer phrases I remember learning was "garbage in, garbage out."
This means that if you program your computer with garbage programs, then
you should expect the information coming out to be garbage. Well, the same
applies to your brain; if you feed it garbage, then you can expect the
memory information to be garbage.
The brain also needs physical exercise and mental exercise if we wish to
increase the power of memory. Many research studies have shown that mental
activity keeps the brain healthy and increases the strength of your
memory. These activities include learning new things, keeping active in
social interaction, and doing puzzles or other games which stimulate
thought.
As we age, it is normal to have changes in memory but, just as with every
other organ of the body, the brain can have its capacity to function
rapidly diminished through poor nutrition. We do have the option of
adopting good health habits as outlined in this article and actually
improving brain function and memory.
Two major physiological changes seen in the brain with age and associated
memory loss are the following: first, there is a decrease in the ability
of the nerves to exchange information between each other because of a
decrease in neural synapse. A neural synapse is like a tiny spark which
occurs between nerves when information is transferred. If the nutritional
material is not present, then the spark will not occur or will be
diminished. The second sign of an aging brain is a decrease in blood going
to the brain and circulating through it, which is an action known as
cerebrovascular disease.
The brain requires a large amount of energy to work properly as well as a
good circulatory system to provide glucose, oxygen and nutrients. The
brain also has a protective membrane called the blood-brain barrier which
is designed to deny access to substances which may be harmful to the
brain. If this blood-brain barrier and the arteries which supply the brain
are blocked by a buildup of cholesterol and triglycerides, then the brain
suffers. A good example of how sensitive the brain is to nutritional
changes can be seen by looking at the symptoms of hypoglycemia, which is
defined as a decreased amount of glucose available to the brain. The
symptoms are as follows: fatigue, light headedness, headache,
irritability, depression, anxiety, confusion, mental disturbance, and
insomnia.
Ginkgo Biloba
One of the most studied herbal remedies, Ginkgo Biloba has been through 40
double-blind studies on its effectiveness. Ginkgo Biloba is a registered
drug in Germany and France for the treatment of cerebrovascular disease
which causes the restriction of blood flow which in turn leads to cerebral
deterioration and memory loss. These medical studies showed that Ginkgo
Biloba was specifically indicated for increasing cerebrovascular
circulation and that it caused a reversal in brain deterioration. Studies
show that increased vascular flow occurred within 6 to 8 weeks and that
improvement continued for up to 24 weeks. With increased vascular flow,
previous problems of short term memory loss, lack of concentration and
headaches improved.
Lecithin
Lecithin is the best known of the phosphatides and is essential for normal
brain function. Lecithin also contains choline which is used by the body
to produce the neurotransmitter acetylcholine - one of the chemicals which
allow for the neural synapse to communicate information. Failure to
produce these chemicals results in poor memory. Another function of
choline is to increase the strength of the neural cell membrane and thus
the health of the brain and nerve cells. Lecithin is also known as a
lipotropic factor; this means that it is used for the transport of fatty
material through the blood stream and liver. Without lipotropic factors,
the blood vessels and liver become clogged with fat which prevents the
formation of choline while decreasing circulation to the brain.
Phosphatidyl Serine
This substance is another very important nutrient for maintaining healthy
brain cells because it also helps to produce choline. Decreased blood
serum levels of Phosphatidyl Serine in elderly patients have been linked
to impaired memory function and depression. The body can produce choline
from Phosphatidyl Serine which is then transformed by the body into
acetylcholine which is a very important neurotransmitter and improves
communication between the nerves. Very good results have been shown in
scientific research when Phosphatidyl Serine was used to treat depression,
impaired memory and your mood. As previously discussed, Phosphatidyl
Serine is also responsible for maintaining healthy brain and nerve cells,
and the chemicals that maintain neural synapse. Antioxidants are also
essential for helping the body protect itself from free radical damage
which will lead to neural degeneration.
Closing Thoughts
Adopting the above recommendations to improve the brain and thus memory is
an important step, but there are certain things that you should avoid. The
first is heavy use of alcohol because brain deterioration is well
documented in alcoholics. Secondly, avoid contact with aluminum and lead
such as can be found in, respectively, aluminum cookware and paint. Lead
has a long history of causing neural deterioration. Although the cause of
Alzheimer's Disease is not yet known, a common link in Alzheimer patients
is a high level of aluminum found in the brain. Thirdly, low blood sugar
levels such as those found in hypoglycemia cause starvation of the brain
because it requires large amounts of energy from glucose in order to work.
This starvation of the brain will lead to poor memory. The use of
barbiturates and psychotropic drugs will also cause brain deterioration.
People who suffer from either Diabetes Mellitus or Hypothyroidism should
also take steps to prevent deterioration of memory through proper
nutrition.
By Dr. Daryl Robert Bourke, DC ND
How Do You Improve Your Memory?
