Flaxseed oil is rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid. In the liver, ALA converts to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a crucial component of brain health. Evidence suggests that low DHA levels can impair cognitive function. However, a recent study in older adults found that supplemental flaxseed oil enhances cognitive function, particularly verbal fluency—the ability to retrieve and use words quickly. The study involved 60 cognitively healthy older adults between the ages of 65 and 80. Half of the participants received 3.7 grams of flaxseed oil containing 2.2 grams of ALA daily... brain diet aging omega-3 memory
Read moreThe blood-brain barrier is a collection of membranes that separate the central nervous system from the peripheral circulation, facilitating the passage of nutrients and signaling compounds while excluding harmful substances. Loss of blood-brain barrier integrity increases the risk of many neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia and Alzheimer's. A 2021 study found that having a higher omega-3 index preserves the blood-brain barrier and maintains cognitive function in older adults. Researchers assessed the cognitive performance of 45 healthy older adults. They measured the participants' r... brain omega-3 dementia blood-brain barrier
Read moreA diminished or lost sense of smell is a common feature of the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. But a new study in mice that carry the APOE4 gene variant, the primary genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, shows that DHA – a type of omega-3 fatty acid found in fish – protects against these losses. APOE4-carrying mice that ate a DHA-rich diet retained their sense of smell and the ability to distinguish between objects based on their scent. Researchers fed normal mice and APOE4 carriers a regular diet or one supplemented with DHA. Then, using MRI scans, the... brain alzheimer's aging omega-3 memory genetics
Read moreThe immune system plays important, and sometimes surprising, roles in brain health. A new study in mice found that blocking components of the antiviral immune response may make the brain more resilient to the effects of abnormal tau – potentially preventing Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Tau is a protein found in the brain. Abnormal tau can form aggregates called tau tangles – one of the defining characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease – activating antiviral response pathways and interfering with normal brain function and cognition. Researchers studied the effects of expos... alzheimer's aging immune system virus
Read moreDisrupted fat metabolism drives the link between the APOE4 gene and Alzheimer's disease risk, according to a new study. Choline supplementation helps restore normal fat metabolism, however. Researchers studied the effects of the APOE4 gene on fat metabolism in astrocytes – a type of brain cell. They found that astrocytes that carried the APOE4 gene accumulated unsaturated triglycerides, causing an imbalance in the types of fats in the cells. However, when they applied choline to the cells, the normal balance was restored. Choline is an essential nutrient that participates in the synthesis of... nutrition brain alzheimer's micronutrients dementia
Read moreSaturated fatty acid intake induces inflammation in the hypothalamus that can eventually lead to apoptosis of hypothalamic neurons and subsequent loss of the control of caloric intake and energy expenditure. The overall health of hypothalamic neurons requires their regular renewal, a process known as neurogenesis, which is impaired in obesity (https://www.jci.org/articles/view/43134). Findings from a 2016 study showed that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a type of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), increased hypothalamic neurogenesis in mice. DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid found in the human brain ... brain obesity omega-3 bdnf
Read more[toc position='left'] Salmon roe – sometimes referred to as "salmon caviar" – is the internal egg mass found in female salmon. It is served in a variety of dishes, including sushi and pasta, or as a garnish or condiment to seafood or eggs. Salmon roe is rich in protein, vitamins, astaxanthin, and the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. Omega-3 fatty acids are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. They are considered essential fatty acids because the human body cannot make them. Alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA, an omega-3 fatty acid that serves a... brain aging omega-3 diet mental health dementia alzheimer's
Read moreA supplement containing the active form of vitamin D was shown to prevent autistic-like behaviors in mice that are predisposed to them. The active vitamin D was given to pregnant mice during the first trimester and this prevented deficits in social interaction, basic learning, and stereotyped behaviors. While this study did not find a mechanism, I published a study in 2014 suggesting that low maternal vitamin D may increase the risk of autism because vitamin D controls the production of serotonin. Serotonin acts as a brain morphogen during early brain development and it shapes the structure an... vitamin d serotonin autism vitamin a
Read moreI've talked previously about what I've referred to as the sweet spot: 40-60 ng/ml. Some studies have shown that the lowest all-cause mortality happens in that range. The upper range may be important because vitamin D can be toxic at very ranges. ... vitamin d cancer aging vitamin a
Read moreEvery 5 ng/ml increase in blood vitamin D was associated with a 1% decrease in inflammatory T cells. Note: 10,400 IU is actually a pretty high dose of Vitamin D! Many of these people were severely deficient to start with. In fact, MS has been linked to genetically low vitamin D...meaning a gene that converts vitamin D into active vitamin D hormone does not work well in many MS patients so they need an unusually high dose of vitamin D. While an ideal dose of Vitamin D may be hard to pin down because of individual variation, what IS known is a generally ideal level. Most studies seem to show a r... vitamin d inflammation immune system vitamin a
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