dementia Archives - Your body ~ Your brain ~ Your diet

How Collagen Can Help Protect You From Alzheimer’s

February 26, 2024February 26, 2024 MariaC Alzheimer's disease, autophagy, Blood-brain barrier, bone broth, dementia, fascia

There are more than 20 different types of collagen. Connective tissue contains mainly types I, II and III. Hair and skin contain mainly type 1 collagen, and this is the type used in cosmetic products. Types IV and V are found in internal organs. Type VI is the one that plays a special role in the brain.
Collagen VI, it turns out, is a crucial part of the brain’s defence system. It is found abundantly in, and gives structure to, the blood-brain barrier. This barrier is the membrane that controls the substances that pass from general circulation into the brain, in the same way that the gut barrier controls what passes from gut to circulation. Collagen also has an antioxidant, protective effect against free radicals generated by oxidative stress. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause extensive damage to tissues if not kept in check by antioxidants.

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How Coffee Helps Prevent Dementia

December 7, 2023February 16, 2024 MariaC 0 Comments Alzheimer's, autophagy, dementia

Not your usual detox product, but a good one. Full disclosure: I’m a coffee lover so I’ll say anything good

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Forget Cholesterol. It’s Your Homocysteine Level That Matters

March 14, 2022September 1, 2022 MariaC Alzheimer's, dementia, homocysteine, hyperhomocysteinemia, MTHFR, stroke

While cholesterol remains a contentious issue – for good reason – there’s nothing contentious about homocysteine. A high level is a known risk factor for the development of dementia (especially Alzheimer’s), stroke, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). In most people, homocysteine is easily controlled, without the use of medication. That so few people know about it is nothing short of a scandal.

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How Exercise Changes Your Brain and Your Mood

February 1, 2021September 1, 2022 MariaC BDNF, bipolar, dementia, Depression, schizophrenia

Beyond the runner’s high lies a biochemical process that is part of the brain’s growth and repair system. Central to that process is a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF protects existing brain cells from damage. It strengthens the synapses (a synapse is the structure between nerves, through which messages are transmitted), and helps form new synapses. BDNF is also involved in a process called neurogenesis, the creation of new brain cells.

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Brain on Fire — How Inflammation Damages Mental Health

May 18, 2020September 1, 2022 MariaC amyloid-β, cytokines, dementia, Depression, dysbiosis, lutein, metabolic syndrome, omega-3, omega-6, probiotics

Inflammation is often visible and painful. Red, angry swellings make their presence felt. Yet sometimes inflammation is invisible and painless; you would never know it was there. When inflammation flares in the brain, it does so silently. Chronic, low-grade inflammation in the brain is a factor in the development of many neurodegenerative diseases, including depression and dementia. It is also seen in Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and Huntington’s disease.

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Vitamin B12, memory loss and dementia

February 7, 2020September 1, 2022 MariaC Alzheimer's, dementia, folate, homocysteine, vitamin B12

High homocysteine (Hcy) is an indication of low vitamin B12 status. It is also a risk factor for other serious diseases too, especially cardiovascular disease and stroke, as it can damage the walls of blood vessels. Hcy can easily be lowered. For some people, awareness of this fact could be life changing.

Feed Your Brain General health

The four stages of vitamin B12 deficiency

September 29, 2019September 1, 2022 MariaC cyanocobalamin, dementia, Depression, homocysteine, megaloblastic anemia, myelopathy, neuropathy, subacute combined degeneration, vitamin B12

If you recently switched to a 100% plant-based diet, you can relax for quite some time. The adult liver can store enough vitamin B12 to last 1–5 years. But after that, and without “careful planning”, your health could suffer serious and irreversible damage.

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How your skin colour is linked to your mental health

August 13, 2019September 1, 2022 MariaC ADHD, Alzheimer's Parkinson's, autism, Cheddar Man, dementia, Depression, Homo sapiens, mental health, race, schizophrenia, vitamin D

You probably associate vitamin D with bone health, but that’s just a fraction of the picture. There are receptor sites for this vitamin throughout the brain and deficiency is associated with a range of neurological disorders, including depression, schizophrenia, dementia (including Alzheimer’s) and Parkinson’s disease.

Feed Your Brain

How eating more fat can improve your memory

November 5, 2018September 1, 2022 MariaC Alzheimer's, Cholesterol, cognitive, dementia, DHA, epilepsy, ketogenic diet, ketone, MCTs, medium chain triglycerides, memory

The dry weight of the brain is 60% fat. It’s all there: saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat. There’s also a good deal of cholesterol, a fat-like substance. As well as forming part of the structure of the brain, and providing fuel, these fats play a role in maintaining memory and other aspects of cognitive function.

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How to stop Alzheimer’s before it begins

October 31, 2018June 24, 2019 MariaC 0 Comments advanced glycation end-products, AGEs, Alzheimer's, dementia, DHA, homocysteine, lutein, MCI, mild cognitive impairment, sugar, type 3 diabetes, vitamin B12, zeaxanthin

There is a mistaken but widespread belief that we are all helpless victims of cruel fate and random DNA, marching through our lives towards a preordained conclusion. Instead, the evidence suggests that developing dementia is largely a matter of what you eat and drink. Here are four dietary changes you can make now that can play a significant role in maintaining the health of the ageing brain.

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