Tagged with 'memory-loss'

Noteworthy tips for reducing your risk of Alzheimer's Disease.

Ginkgo biloba is the world’s oldest living species of tree — they can live as long as 1,000 years! The leaves of the tree are used in modern herbal medicine, and with as long as it has been around, no wonder the list of uses for this herb is a mile long.

Although the list of uses for ginkgo biloba is long, there are three health related conditions in which there’s fairly reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a health benefit.

Age-Related Cognitive Decline

Because ginkgo biloba seems to effect the brain, many of its uses involve issues related to memory. If you evaluate the research out there on this subject, it is conflicting whether or not ginkgo may slow down Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or age-related cognitive decline — one large study found it ineffective, but several smaller studies have shown it effective.

When shown effective, taking ginkgo leaf extract by mouth seemed to improve thinking skills in some elderly people with mild to moderate age-related memory loss or thinking problems. Ginkgo leaf extract also modestly improved short-term visual memory and speed of mental processing in non-demented people with age-related memory loss.

Glaucoma

In a particular type of glaucoma called normal tension glaucoma, ginkgo may help improve vision; more specifically it may partially reverse visual field damage. The double-blind study used a supplement of standardized extract ginkgo biloba in the amount of 40 mg three times a day for four weeks.  

Intermittent Claudication

Claudication is muscle pain (ache, cramp, numbness or sense of fatigue) caused by narrowing arteries which results in too little blood flow during exercise. It generally affects the blood vessels in the legs (typically in the calf muscle), but claudication can also affect the arms.  

One research trial that compared dosages of 120 mg and 240 mg of ginkgo demonstrated a substantial therapeutic benefit on pain-free walking distance with the higher dosage. Two placebo-controlled trials,with a total of 190 patients with intermittent claudication, showed improved walking distance and decreased pain in patients with peripheral vascular disease.

It may take longer than three months for ginkgo to have a beneficial effect in people with intermittent claudication.

Bottom Line: As with many supplements, there is promising research taking place, and more time and more research are still needed before coming to a definite conclusion. If you are interested in taking ginkgo biloba, talk to your health care provider.

In Health and Happiness,

Kelly Harrington, MS, RDN

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Healthy Goods

References:

U.S. National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health. Medline Plus. Ginkgo.

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Herbs at a glance; Ginkgo.

Quaranta L, Bettelli S, Uva MG, et al. Effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on preexisting visual field damage in normal tension glaucoma. Ophthalmology 2003;110:359-62.

Schweizer J, Hautmann C. Comparison of two dosages of ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease Fontaine's stage IIb. A randomised, double-blind, multicentric clinical trial. Arzneimit-telforschung. 1999;49:900–4.

Peters H, Kieser M, Holscher U. Demonstration of the efficacy of ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761 on intermittent claudication—a placebo-controlled, double-blind multicenter trial. Vasa. 1998;27:106–10.

Bauer U. 6-Month double-blind randomised clinical trial of Ginkgo biloba extract versus placebo in two parallel groups in patients suffering from peripheral arterial insufficiency. Arzneimittelforschung. 1984;34:716–20.

Nobody wants to hear their brain is rapidly shrinking! Sadly enough, this is one of the diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease. We all lose brain cells as we get older, normally about a half percent per year. If you have mild cognitive impairment that rises to 1% and when Alzheimer’s sets in, the atrophy speeds up to 2½%. 

B-vitamins and Alzheimer's Disease

The cause of Alzheimer’s still remains a mystery, but it’s becoming increasingly clear what you eat, or don’t eat, can influence your risk as well as the rate at which the disease progresses. B-vitamins, especially folic acid, vitamin B₆ and vitamin B₁₂, are once again being talked about for their powerful role in preventing or at least slowing the development of mild memory loss and possibly even Alzheimer’s disease.

High levels of the amino acid homocysteine are linked to brain shrinkage and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s. B-vitamins are known to suppress homocysteine.

In one study, blood levels of folate and vitamin B₁₂, as well as homocysteine, were analyzed in 121 normal patients and 321 patients with either mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease. Results showed homocysteine levels were highest in the patients with both cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s, and homocysteine was highest and folate levels lowest in those with Alzheimer’s. In addition, performance on a series of cognitive tests worsened as levels of vitamin B₁₂ and folate decreased, while those scores were inversely associated with homocysteine levels.

Take This Type of Folic Acid

If you take a B-complex or folic acid supplement, make sure the folic acid is in its biologically active form – L-5-MTHF. This is the form that’s able to cross the blood-brain barrier to give you the brain benefits mentioned above.

Blood Pressure and Mental Decline

Maintaining a normal blood pressure is also important in preventing dementia. Research concludes elevated blood pressure harms blood vessels in the brain associated with damage to the structure of the brain’s white matter and mental decline even in people as young as 40-years-old. Visit this blog post for strategies for reducing blood pressure.

Some good news though – seniors who stay physically active show less brain tissue atrophy and white matter lesions in the brain.

Bottom Line: There is certainly a link between memory loss and a deficiency of specific B-vitamins. However, the question of “how much” folic acid, vitamin B₆ and vitamin B₁₂ still needs to be determined.   

For more information about Alzheimer's Disease, visit the blog "Improve Your Odds Against Alzheimer's Disease."

In Health and Happiness,

Kelly Harrington, MS, RDN

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Healthy Goods

References:

Kim G, Kim H, Kim K, et al: Relationship of cognitive function with B vitamin status, homocysteine, and tissue factor pathway inhibitor in cognitively impaired elderly. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 2012;October 5th.

Maillard P, Seshadri S, Beiser A, et al: Effects of systolic blood pressure on white matter integrity in young adults in the Framingham Heart Study. Lancet neurology 2012;November 1^st.

Gow A, Bastin M, Munoz Maniega S, et al: Neuro-protective lifestyles and the aging brain. Neurology 2012;79:1802-1808.

Verdelho A, Madureira S, Ferro J, et al: Physical activity prevents progression for cognitive impairment and vascular dementia. Stroke 2012;November 1^st.