The take home on all
this is pretty clear. Eat your greens
and have a banana. Of course, the global
kale growers association has managed to get their pitch in as well.
What this is really
saying is that old age brings on serious absorption deficiencies for B vitimins
that likely impact the brain. Offset
this with folic acid and the appropriate B vitamins and test. I do not know about reversing damage but
anyone who sustains a weak diet is very much at risk and should take corrective
action but then if you are reading this, you knew that anyway.
I suspect that the
Vegans have it again although folic acid likely needs a lift.
A Promising Alzheimer’s
Treatment for Pennies a Day
October
17, 201
Deane
Alban
Vitamin
B-complex contains 8 different vitamins, and all of them are vital for your
health. But three of them — B6, B12, and folic acid (B9) — are especially
critical for your brain. Studies have shown that these vitamins may prevent
mental decline, dementia,
and even be an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s by reducing levels of
homocysteine.
What
the Heck is “Homocysteine”?
You
may not be familiar with homocysteine as a health risk factor. Homocysteine
levels are rarely discussed and very few doctors will check your levels. Call
me cynical, but perhaps this is because there is no drug (or drug company
incentives) for treating this.
Homocysteine
is a potentially toxic amino acid that is a natural byproduct of protein
digestion. Some is needed to build and maintain tissues. But when there is too
much in the bloodstream, homocysteine damages the lining of the arteries
contributing to increased risk for stroke, cardiovascular disease, kidney
disease, and brain disorders. B6, B12, and folic acid work by breaking
down homocysteine into harmless compounds.
A
Promising Alzheimer’s Treatment
The
results of a new study headed by Oxford University showed that vitamins B6, B12,
and folic acid reduced brain atrophy, improved brain function, and dramatically
reduced brain shrinkage in the part of the brain most affected in Alzheimer’s. (1)
Study participants took 800 mcg of folic acid, 20 mg of B6, and 500 mcg of B12
over a 2-year period.
The
image below shows brain scans from the control group and the group that took B
vitamins. The placebo image shows much more brain atrophy (areas in yellow)
than the vitamin B group.
Here
is what the spokesperson from the UK’s largest Alzheimer’s charity received
this news with a big yawn and said this about the study:
“It’s too
early to put everyone on B vitamins. The evidence for supplementing is
just not there yet. We need bigger studies and more evidence that looks at what
homocysteine is doing and what is actually going on in the brain.”
But the New England
Journal of Medicine reported that high levels of homocysteine doubled the
risk for developing Alzheimer’s in 2002, yet frustratingly little has been
done with this information
since then. (2)
Protect
Your Brain Now
You could wait
for more studies to be done and for this information to be accepted by
mainstream medicine, but frankly, if you wait for that it will be way too
late to help.
So
here is what you can do right now to protect your brain against
homocysteine damage and possibly Alzheimer’s.
Eat
plenty of green leafy vegetables like kale and
collards, fruit, eggs, and organ meat for folic acid. Besides reducing homocysteine
levels, folic acid is needed for the production of the neurotransmitters
dopamine and serotonin.
The
best food sources of vitamin B6 include fish, poultry, bananas, carrots,
spinach, peas, and potatoes. B6 is essential to manufacture the
neurotransmitters serotonin, melatonin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and
GABA.
B12
deficiency can play a role in memory loss, dementia, mood changes, and
depression. Once you reach age 50 or so, it becomes increasingly difficult to
absorb B12 from food. The only reliable food sources of B12 are animal
products — meat, fish, eggs, and dairy. So this is one vitamin vegetarians are
likely to be deficient in.
Consider
getting your homocysteine levels checked. You can ask your doctor to run the
test, but be forewarned, he may try to talk you out of it. You can also order
the test for yourself from an online lab. (I think ordering your own medical
tests is a fantastic idea for anyone who is uninsured, underinsured, or just
likes more control over their own health.) Ideally your levels should be
below 7. If not, you need to take action now.
Vitamin
B Supplementation
Most
people do not eat a diet that supplies enough of the B-complex vitamins or, for
various reasons, they do not absorb
enough from what they eat. For instance, people who are under a lot of
stress are universally low in B-vitamins. So if you suspect you are
deficient in these brain-essential vitamins, you need to take supplements.
Interestingly,
some people absorb folic acid better as a supplement than from food and many
people, especially older folks, benefit from supplements because they don’t
absorb the B12 from the food they eat.
Start
taking a high-quality supplement which contains natural coenzyme
B-vitamins, the most absorbable form. It will cost you only pennies per day to
protect your brain now and possibly prevent Alzheimer’s in the future.
About
the Author
Deane
Alban has taught and written on a wide variety of natural health topics for
over 20 years. She is co-founder of BeBrainFit.com where
she teaches how to keep your brain young, healthy, and fully-functioning for
life. She hosts a weekly podcast and is the author of Brain Gold: The Anti-Aging Guide for your Brain.
Sign up for her newsletter and get a free special report – “Beat Brain Aging: 5 Major Causes, 1 Simple
Solution“.
Disclaimer: This
article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of WakingTimes or its
staff.
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