Preventing Cognitive Decline

Almost everyone has experienced a relative who has suffered serious deterioration in brain function, sometimes at a relatively early age. As we age, many of us are terrorized by this prospect and think the worst when we can’t remember names or forget things that we’re not supposed to forget. There is no effective therapy once the damage is done, but there’s an enormous amount Of effort in research attempting to understand the mechanism underlying brain deterioration, identify those susceptible and intervene with hopefully preventable measures to slow or possibly even prevent Alzheimer’s.

Recently 70 different genes have been identified which contribute to Alzheimer’s. With this information, there are apparently different mechanisms that contribute to the deterioration via tau protein tangles, inflammation, and amyloid formation.

It is known that atherosclerosis and diabetes accelerate brain dysfunction and we know how to slow these processes. We also know that quality sleep Gives the brain time to clean itself up. We know that exercise, good diet, social interaction, good hearing, and stimulating mental tasks all tend to promote brain health.

Whereas there are no good medicines to treat advanced brain loss, there are many potential interventions to slow brain deterioration This may include manipulating the gut-brain axis, changing the gut Microbiome, omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA, to all sorts of neurotrophic supplements including royal jelly from bees.