Our brains are amazingly complex structures. They process huge amounts of information at any given moment, and are also capable of abstract thought and consciousness. Humans have always been fascinated with the way the brain works, and have long sought to maximize cognition to make our brains work faster, work more efficiently, and to retain information for longer periods of time. Cognition is a synonym for thought, reason, and memory. When it comes to a person's total well-being, the health of the mind is of paramount importance. There are many diseases that have a negative impact on a person's cognition, or their ability to effectively use their brain. One of the most well-known and devastating of these cognitive conditions, for both a person and their family, is Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by profound memory lapses and is virtually indistinguishable from dementia without a biopsy of the brain to identify fatty plaques that build up and impede the brain from completing necessary tasks. Dementia is on the severe end of a whole spectrum of cognitive diseases ranging from mild memory loss ("where did I put my keys again?") to the complete loss of long term memory and everyday basic activities such as walking or swallowing. When it comes to taking care of the brain as we age, research shows that every little bit helps and an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise is great for brain health, as are activities such as memory games that help to keep the brain "sharp". Research also suggests that certain side-products of metabolism and key vitamins are important in maintaining brain health as well.

One of the side products of our metabolic processes is the formation of homocysteine. Homocysteine is an amino acid-like molecule that is formed at the cellular level and is implicated in multiple health problems ranging from cardiovascular health to brain health. In a healthy person receiving optimal nutrition homocysteine is quickly modified to methionine, and levels are kept very low by the body to minimize the risks associated with elevated homocysteine levels. The body has different ways of dealing with homocysteine, most of which require plentiful levels of three B vitamins: vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, vitamin B9, or folate; and vitamin B12, or cobalamin. These vitamins are crucial to proper health and function, and true deficiencies of these nutrients are rare in developed countries. A vitamin deficiency is characterized by levels of a vitamin being so low that it produces classic deficiency symptoms that are recognized as a disease. An insufficiency (far more common) is when a person has chronically low levels of certain vitamins, but they are not so low as to produce easily identifiable disease symptoms. A prime example of this concept is the elevation of homocysteine levels.

A new study published in the Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry measured differences in cognition amongst aging adults after two years of taking vitamin B-vitamin supplements. This is an extraordinary follow-up period, and the results after two years are exciting. Not only did patients taking the B-vitamin supplements have significantly reduced homocysteine levels, which alone reduces the risk for chronic disease, but those with higher initial levels of homocysteine also had significantly improved scores on tests of episodic memory, semantic memory and global cognition. B-vitamin supplementation is a simple step we can all take to reduce our homocysteine levels and improve overall health. However, not all B vitamin supplements are created equal. Be sure to check in with Dr. Ross about the highest quality, most bioavailable b-vitamin supplement that you can take to help assure your ongoing brain health. Dr. Ross and his team here at Excellence in Health Chiropractic look forward to serving your healthcare needs and continuing to be a leader in quality healthcare. Take charge of your health and get back to living the life you deserve; and as always, we wish you excellence in health.

Resources:

• De Jager, C. Oulhaj, A. Jacoby, R. Refsum, H. Smith, D. (2012). Cognitive and clinical outcomes of homocysteine-lowering B-vitamin treatment in mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 27: 592-600.

Link to Abstract:

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21780182