Brain Vitamins: How Do They Prevent Cognitive Decline? By Andrew Stratton At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

The natural foods we ingest contain a lot of ingredients that keep the brain healthy and our memories sharp and lucid. Many of the vitamins we consume have a protective and maintenance function in the brain. Some of these functions include:

Antioxidant effect:

Brain cells are constantly producing free radicals as a byproduct of metabolic processes. Antioxidants like Vitamin E, C, and glutathione get rid of these free radicals before they end up causing too much damage to the brain. Vitamin E has been shown to prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease, when administered in doses of 2000 UI daily for two years. It can be consumed through food sources and other supplements. Vitamins C and E may also prevent dementia by helping the brain recover after a stroke.

Increasing glutathione levels intravenously has been shown to help patients of Parkinsonism improve dramatically. Glutathione levels can also be increased by consuming antioxidants such as N-acetyl-cysteine to boost antioxidant levels in the blood.

Increasing brain circulation:

It has been found that low levels of homocysteine can contribute to development of heart diseases and dementia. Vitamins such as folate can control this drop in homocysteine levels, preventing memory loss relating to dementia.

Vitamin E has also been shown to help prevent atherosclerosis or the buildup of deposits on vessels that supply blood to the brain cells. This can cause poor circulation and blood clots, contributing to strokes and memory loss. Vitamin B6 can also prevent heart disease and strokes, and Vitamin B12 can increase the supply of oxygen to the cells.

Nerve cell development:

The importance of folate on the development of nerve cells has been proved by overwhelming evidence that folate deficiency can damage neural tube development in the fetus. Today all pregnant women are required to take pregnancy vitamins that contain folic acid to prevent birth defects such as spina bifida and cleft palate caused by folate deficiency.

The nerve cells are encased in a myelin sheath, a fatty covering that protects and insulates nerve fibers and allows them to function optimally. Essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 fats, required for proper development and maintenance of this myelin sheath as well as the cell membranes that preserve the integrity of nerve cells.

Improving mood and function:

B complex vitamins play an important role in the manufacture and release of neurotransmitters that transmit nerve impulses. Neurotransmitters help the brain regulate various body functions such as mood, hunger, and sleep B complex vitamins also protect the myelin sheath from damage.

Low levels of B 12 can cause damage to the sheath and prevent the nerves from functioning normally. Vitamin B6 regulates the GABA and serotonin neurotransmitters and has also been found to alleviate depression, anxiety and stress disorders.

Modern diets provide insufficient amounts of these essential nutritional factors, compromising the health of our brain cells and making it difficult for them to recover from strokes and damage. The result is that diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, stress and mood disorders, anxiety and dementia become inevitable as we age.

But although growing older is inevitable, feeling older is not. Taking a multi-vitamin or a well-formulated supplement that compensates for deficiencies in our diets can help to protect and preserve brain function well into your senior years, keeping your memory sharp and promoting clarity in your thought processes.

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