Improve Memory with Phosphatidylserine (PS)

Today we’re not only living longer, we’re also looking younger, as millions of Baby Boomers turn back the clock with a little hair coloring, teeth brightening and the services of a good dermatologist. As for failing memory, it may be less obvious than crow’s feet, but far more worrisome. When the first signs of forgetfulness appear, usually sometime in the middle years, many people fear the worst -- the dreaded Alzheimer’s disease. More than likely, the problem is a far more common condition known as age-related cognitive decline (ARCD) or age-associated memory impairment (AAMI).

During the first three decades of life, a healthy brain is like a top-of-the-line computer, effortlessly processing vast amounts of information via a network of 100 billion neurons, some 200 billion brain cells and countless connecting points known as synapses. As we age, though, brain cells die and the number of synapses drops. The result is ARCD, characterized by forgetfulness and/or learning difficulties.

The important thing to remember (no pun intended) about ARCD is that it is not inevitable. One of the best ways to counteract it is with a naturally occurring substance known as phosphatidylserine (PS). Although PS is found in all our cells, the highest concentrations are in our brains. There, PS works as a sort of biochemical “traffic cop,” guiding information across the synapses from one brain cell to another. In fact, a recent review study from the Alzheimer’s Prevention Foundation in Tucson, Arizona, recommended PS as one of the key “brain specific nutrients” essential for enhancing brain longevity. (The others, by the way, are vitamin B complex, vitamin E, co-enzyme Q10 and ginkgo biloba.)

As the experts at the foundation point out, aging is not the only factor that compromises mental functions. Heredity plays a role, too, along with a high-fat diet, heart disease and long-term stress. Obviously, cutting back on “bad” fats (saturated and trans fatty acids) is a smart move, since both the brain and heart benefit. Try adding a small amount of “good” fat, like the omega-3 polyunsaturated fats -- found in grapeseed, flaxseed, walnut and fish oils as well as fresh deepwater fish -- to your diet, too. An animal study conducted in France found that subjects on a diet deficient in these essential fatty acids had reduced amounts of PS in the brain.

Dozens of clinical trials from all over the world have documented the benefits of PS when it comes to improving memory and mental functions. While many of them focused on Alzheimer’s patients, others have tested PS as a remedy for ARCD. Not surprisingly, PS has been shown to result in significant improvements in memory and learning ability for patients without Alzheimer’s, especially those with the most serious difficulties.

Extensive testing has shown that PS is safe as well as effective. So if you’re looking for a way to keep your memory as young as the rest of you, PS could very well be the key.

DOSAGE DETAILS

To improve memory and other mental functions, try 100 mg of PS three times daily. PS can be taken with or without food. Occasionally, people experience nausea when taking PS on an empty stomach. If that happens, try it with meals. Once improvements occur (usually after thirty days), it may be possible to reduce the dosage to 100 mg per day without losing the benefits. (NOTE: The PS product pictured above was randomly chosen. I receive no money from the company and am not endorsing that specific product.)

Sugar and Soft Drinks Are Not Your Friends

If you have a sweet tooth, you might want to tame it before it turns around and bites you. The first bit of bad news about sugar comes from Sweden, where a very large study (80,000 men and women) found that as little as two soft drinks daily increased the risk of developing pancreatic cancer by 90 percent. Adding sugar to food or beverages, such as coffee, was equally risky. Pancreatic cancer is an especially deadly form of the disease, with an extremely low survival rate. Although the exact cause of pancreatic cancer isn’t known, it’s believed to be connected to increased insulin output, which can be caused by feeding the sweet tooth.

And forget about soft drinks. Not only are they loaded with sugar and devoid of nutritional value, a new report published at BeverageDaily.com says that the FDA has dropped the ball on getting manufacturers to remove benzene from sodas, even though the organization has had fifteen years to achieve the goal. Benzene is a cancer-causing agent created by the interaction of citric (or ascorbic acid) and sodium benzoate, two common ingredients in sodas, whether they contain sugar or not. So skip the sodas and put the lid on the sugar bowl.

If you’re really, really desperate for something sweet, try a bit of honey. Sugar is nothing but empty calories, while honey fights viruses, bacteria and fungus. In fact, years ago, before the development of antibiotic ointments, honey was the first choice for dressing wounds, and in many parts of the world it is still used to prevent infections in cuts and burns.

Put Down the Fork and No One Gets Hurt

As we’re heading into the homestretch for Thanksgiving, keep one thing in mind. It’s much easier not to gain weight than to lose weight. By the time January rolls around, losing weight will be at or near the top of most people’s list of resolutions. Bad idea. It can take months to shed the pounds gained during the holidays, which is why so many people never manage to do it. Make yourself a promise right now – leave the gluttony to others during the next six weeks. And if you happen to slip up, you’ll exercise more to make up for it. Seriously, that’s all there is to it. There’s no law that says you have to eat two pieces of pie after a six-course meal. Have a bite of pie. Savor it. Move on. Eat to live, don't live to eat.

Elder Care in Crisis

Don't miss tomorrow night's (November 21) Frontline segment, "Living Old," a look at the growing numbers of elderly people in the U.S. and the lack of resources to help them. If you miss the broadcast, you can watch it online.
One key point seems to be that what we’re seeing happening with our parents now is very likely going to be our future, as well. Right now, the best strategy is to stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible, which, in large part, is what this blog is all about.

CBS Evening News Slams Assisted Living Facilities!

It's so great to see a major news organization tell a story about something you've been wishing they might take on! Last night, CBS Evening News ran a piece entitled "Assisted Living, Erratic Regulation" that really tells it like it is.
The story itself is great, but even more amazing are the comments. It seems that the assisted living industry mobilized members to criticize the story for being unfair, one-sided and inaccurate. NOT! The story was exactly right. But these people have so much to hide, no wonder they're nervous about being exposed. It's just tragic that the elderly, some of the most vulnerable members of our society, are the ones at risk. Bravo, CBS!!

The Trouble with Joe

Although there is no such category as “national beverage,” coffee would likely win the title hands down. A staggering 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed each year worldwide, with Americans downing about 130 billion of them. We are so enamored of coffee that the U.S. imports more than 100 different varieties. In the global marketplace, the only commodity more popular than coffee is petroleum.

Plenty of people rely on coffee to get through the day. That may not be such a great idea for several reasons. First, unless you’re drinking organically grown coffee, be aware that coffee plants may be treated with as many as a dozen different petrochemical pesticides, including DDT and other products that have been banned in the U.S. or other countries. Of those that have not been banned, several are classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as “probable” or “possible” human carcinogens (cancer-causing agents).

Another problem: Here we are up to our spare tires in an obesity crisis and there seems to be a Starbucks or other designer coffee outlet every 500 feet. And now you’ve got the above-mentioned pesticides, plus, if you don’t order judiciously, horrendous amounts of fat and sugar conveniently packed up in a go cup. Don’t take my word for it. Check out this handy website, where you’ll see that a 16 ounce Grande Latte with whole milk contains 260 calories, 14 grams of fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 55 mg of cholesterol, 200 mg of sodium and 19 grams of sugar. Order the same drink with non-fat milk and you shave off 100 calories and the cholesterol drops to 10 mg. But now you’re getting more sodium (220 grams) and more sugar (20 grams).

Of course, you could do worse. There’s something called a Grande Latte with Breve milk. I have to confess my ignorance here; I do not have a clue what Breve milk is. But you might want to have a medical team standing by if you drink one of these bad boys. The same 16 ounce cup supplies a mind-boggling 550 calories, 47 grams of fat, 29 grams of saturated fat, 150 mg of cholesterol and 170 mg of sodium. On the plus side, there’s no sugar in this particular heart-attack in a cup, but that’s hardly a reason to order it. In fact, I can’t think of any reason to order it. A cup of coffee should not contain 550 calories (roughly the same amount as Burger King’s Bacon Double Cheeseburger, which actually has less fat and cholesterol than the latte).

Seriously, people, if you’re hitting the coffee bars on a daily basis and wondering why your pants don’t fit, let me make a suggestion. Maybe it’s time to switch to tea. There is a growing list of health benefits associated with teas of all kinds, including weight loss. (More on tea tomorrow.) Plus, you’ll still get the caffeine rush, although maybe not as big a one. Still, you get to feel virtuous about doing something good for yourself – and the planet.

Saying “Thank You” to Caregivers

If you’re providing care for a family member of any age, you’re far from alone. In fact, according to the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA), there are 50 million of you in the U.S., and the month of November has been declared National Family Caregivers Month in honor of you! To find out more -- and to learn about different ways you can help share the burden for these under-appreciated individuals -- visit the NFCA website, where you’ll also find tons of useful information on related topics.

Got Aches and Pains? Get Cherries!

That’s right, drop that aspirin and head for the nearest store that sells cherries (fresh, canned or dried) or cherry juice. Several recent studies have shown that tart cherries contain pain relievers powerful enough to ease arthritis aches and they can also prevent muscle soreness caused by tough workouts. Better yet, cherries don’t have any of the downsides of prescription or over-the-counter medications, such as the recently discovered tiny bits of metal in some brands of acetaminophen. Plus, they’ve been linked to a number of other health benefits, including fighting cancer. To learn more about cherries, go here.

Cherries aren’t the only fruit that can improve your health. Apples, for example, help lower cholesterol and combat Alzheimer’s disease. Blueberries are loaded with disease-fighting antioxidants. Raspberries contain powerful anti-cancer compounds. Get more juice on the good things in fruits at the Fruit Institute.

Do It Now!

Vote!

Are You Getting the Nutrition You Need?

A varied, plant-based diet is the best source of vitamins and minerals. If you'd like see which foods have the highest levels of nutrients you're looking for, check out this Superfoods Calculator, a handy little gizmo that can help you get the straight facts about what's in your meals.

The Simple Way to Search for a Nursing Home

Thanks to the Internet, it’s easy to get a quick overview of nursing homes. Here are some links, courtesy of the Michigan Dementia Coalition, to get you started:

www.medicare.gov

A free, easy-to-use format based on geographical location and government inspections.

www.ElderCareLink.com

Provides free consumer referral service to help you find care close to home.

www.healthgrades.com

Fee-based service that allows you to instantly compare nursing homes and see detailed rankings, problems and complaints.

Attitude is Everything

When Yale researchers announced the results of a study showing that a good attitude about aging added nearly eight years to subjects’ lives, many people were surprised. But not Barbara Morris. A registered pharmacist and author of Put Old on Hold, Morris is living proof that getting older can also mean getting better. Although she could pass for forty-something, Morris is actually in her 70s. Not only does she look far younger than her actual age, but she is also free of the diseases that so often tarnish the golden years. Morris’s secret? “Take control of your health and your life, starting now.”

Morris’s website – www.putoldonhold.com – is a superb launching pad for anyone who wants to stop – or at least slow – the clock. You can also download a copy of her book there, and sign up for her free monthly newsletter. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Morris for a magazine story about her. Here are a few excerpts:

Q: What’s the most common mistake that people make when it comes to aging?

Barbara Morris: Not thinking for themselves, and accepting our culture’s negative ideas about growing older. The truth is, we have an enormous amount of control over how we age. We don’t have to accept the mental and physical decline that everyone assumes comes with old age. Stop saying, ‘Oh, I’m getting old,’ when you forget something, or ‘I’m too old to do that.’ And don’t listen to your friends when they tell you that either.

Q: What’s the best way for people to start changing their attitudes toward aging?

Barbara Morris: First, decide that this is something you really want to do. After you make the commitment, take charge of your health and educate yourself. You’re going to have to change the way you eat, the way you think about food, and learn what anti-aging nutrition is all about. Get on the internet, look at the excellent publications in health food stores, go to the library and educate yourself.

Q: What about work? Many people can’t wait to retire, but you don’t think it’s such a great idea.

Barbara Morris: Retirement is a contagious, debilitating disease. After about six months of retirement, so many people are just bored to death. And they may have financial problems, too. So I encourage people to stay on the job as long as possible. If you’re unhappy with your situation, start planning an escape route as early as possible. Even if you’re in your sixties, you can go back to school or start a new business or career, as long as you have your health.

Q: What sort of supplements do you recommend?

Barbara Morris: If you take nothing else, at least take a multivitamin every day. You should also take antioxidants, like alpha lipoic acid, vitamins C and E, and DMAE [dimethylaminoethanol] several times a day. And, of course, calcium with vitamin D3 and magnesium for better absorption.

Q: What do you tell people who think supplements are too expensive?

Barbara Morris: I tell them staying healthy costs a lot less than being sick.

Very Scary!

Halloween's over, but here's a statistic that could make anyone's hair stand on end: In the year 2000, annual health care expenditures in the U.S. totaled $1.31 trillion. By the end of the decade, that figure is expected to double, reaching a ghastly $2.6 trillion.

One of the best ways to slow spiraling health care costs is by keeping yourself as healthy as possible. Fitness expert Wayne Westcott has some good ideas on how to do that at MSNBC's Smart Fitness column.