One Fish, Two Fish, Omega-3 Fish Oil

Up to this point, I have only mentioned that eating well, exercising, and keeping the brain actively engaged are the main ways to keep your brain healthy. However, there are also supplements that can be consumed to prevent diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, and repair brain damage by promoting neuronal growth. One of the most beneficial supplements to take to lower mental decline is omega-3 fish oil.

Omega 3-fish oil is a supplement that is known to prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease, boost immune function, decrease inflammation, and, most importantly, slow down the rate of mental decline. The supplement includes the polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which decreases inflammation and has beneficial potential in mental conditions, and docosahexaenoic (DHA), which is derived from EPA. It may also raise levels of an enzyme that protects brain cells from plaque buildup and provide a good supply of DHA which allows for better transport of brain signals.

In a 6-year study by Dr. Martha Clare Morris, 3718 individuals of 65 years and older were analyzed for cognitive change, according to the amount of fish intake in an individual’s diet. According to her study, the rate of mental decline was reduced by 10% for individuals who consumed fish one or more times a week and 13% for individuals who consumed fish two or more times a week. Similarly, the April 2007 Journal of Neuroscience published a study that was done on mice that were genetically modified to have an accumulation of amyloid and tau proteins in the brain. In mice that received a balanced diet of a 1 to 1 ratio of omega-6 and omega-3, there was less accumulation of beta amyloid and tau proteins. From one of my previous blogs, I mentioned that Alzheimer’s disease resulted from a buildup of plaque, which is caused by an accumulation of amyloid and tau proteins. Thus, scientists have concluded that omega-3 fish oil is associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Nutrition is a life-long preventative measure that is not a quick fix. Therefore, in order to get the most out of the benefits of omega-3 fish oil, it is important to make sure that you are consuming enough of it as soon as possible. You can design your diet to integrate omega-3 by eating fish oil supplements, fish, and vegetables, such as boiled cauliflower, boiled cabbage, romaine lettuce, broccoli, and even tofu.

Resources:
1. http://www.stopagingnow.com/news/news_flashes/5621/The-7-Best-Brain-Boosting-Supplements
2. http://www.aboutomega3.com/
3. http://archneur.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/62.12.noc50161v1.pdf
4. http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/content/abstract/27/52/14299

Memory. Control. Now Sight??

Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease are both well-known neurodegenerative disorders, one which affects memory in the hippocampus, and the other which affects muscle control from cell death in the substantia nigra. However, since the brain essentially controls everything in the body, it is important to understand other age-related changes that indirectly affect the brain’s perception, like macular degeneration, which affects vision. I know that discussing all these problems of aging on the brain seems morose, but it is definitely advantageous to discuss the effects of aging on the brain so that symptoms can be detected early on and preventative measures can be taken.

According to Marilyn Haddrill, age-related macular degeneration, also known as AMD, is the leading cause of blindness and loss of vision for Americans who are 65 years or older. In addition, because the number of people in this age group are increasing, the number of individuals facing this problem are increasing.

AMD is a degenerative disorder that results in the death of photoreceptors and supporting epithelial cells in the central part of the retina, or macula. Because of this, central vision is lost and things begin to look blurred and distorted. There are two forms of AMD: dry and wet. Dry AMD occurs usually results from thinning of macular tissues or depositing of pigment in the macula. Wet AMD is the more severe and progressive form of AMD and results from new blood vessel growth under the macula that causes scarring which leaves light-sensitive retinal cells damaged.

Treatment for AMD can slow the progress and slightly improve vision. FDA approved treatments include, Lucentis, Macugen, and photodynamic therapy. In addition, new research is being done to find more ways of treating AMD. The National Eye Institute is studying the possibility of transplanting healthy cells into the retina to take the place of dead cells and also looking into anti-inflammatory treatments for wet AMD. While aging is a risk factor of AMD, like all diseases, an unhealthy lifestyle can also increase the risk of getting AMD.

Resources:

1. http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/amd.htm

2. http://www.brain.ubc.ca/documents/MacularDegeneration.pdf

3. http://www.medicinenet.com/macular_degeneration_age-related_type/page8.htm#research

Serotonin: The New Dopamine

While the most common form of neurodegenerative disorder is Alzheimer’s Disease, the second most common, affecting four to six million individuals in the world, is Parkinson’s Disease (PD). While PD is generally known to be an elderly disease, the Michael J. Fox has noted that 10% of known cases occur before the age of 40. Similar to Alzheimer’s Disease, there are treatments for the symptoms, but on-going research is continued to try to find a cure for this disease.

PD occurs when a group of brain cells in the area of the brain, called the substantia nigra, fail to produce enough dopamine. Dopamine plays an important role in voluntary movement in the brain. Without the neurotransmitter, initiating and sustaining voluntary movement becomes progressively more difficult to the point where swallowing and walking may be heavily affected. When 60-80% of the brain cells in the substantia nigra die, symptoms appear as tremors.

Since dopamine plays such a crucial role in PD, scientists have previously treated PD symptoms by increasing the amount of L-DOPA, a dopamine precursor, in patients’ brains. However, patients grow a tolerance, and the demand of L-DOPA for the same results increases. Thus, many researchers have looked to other angles to try to approach the problem of PD.

Dr. Bjӧrklund and his team target the serotonin system as a possible treatment of PD. According to Dr. Bjӧrklund, “serotonin neurons are capable of converting levodopa to dopamine and can store and release newly synthesized dopamine as dopamine neurons do in a healthy brain.” Thus, the dopamine system becomes more impaired, the serotonin system can be used to assist in the making of dopamine from levodopa, providing the brain with a natural pathway for making dopamine. While clinical trials are still in progress, possibilities for cures such as the one proposed by Dr. Bjӧrklund and researchers under the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Disease Research provide PD patients with hope.

Resources:

1. http://www.michaeljfox.org/docs/2008_Annual_Report.pdf

2. http://www.parkinson.org/

3. http://www.brain.ubc.ca/Neurodegeneration.php#PD