When we age, one of the things we worry most is our memory. How do we know if we are just having mild forgetfulness of starting to have early signs of Alzheimer’s disease? Here are some of the early signs that we can watch out for:
- Memory loss is the most common symptom
- Reduce the ability to remember new information
- Times and places are confusing
-
Troubling planning
- Losing things by misplacing them
- Daily tasks can become hard to complete
- Difficult thinking of common words
Some nutritional supplements that can help to support cognitive function and memory and are beneficial to brain health:
Omega 3 fatty acids
- Essential to form healthy fat layer of the nerve membranes
- Studies show higher intake of omega 3 fatty acids was significantly associated with lower risk of Alzhemier’s
- Studies also show that oxidative and inflammatory process lead to nerve cell death
Magnesium (Mg)
- Preliminary research suggests a decrease in Alzheimer’s symptoms with increased level of Mg in brain
Vitamin D
- Maintain an optimal level can protect the brain cells
Huperzine A
- Extract from a club moss show to have benefical effects in cognitive function in subjects with AD in a study
- Concomitant use with Aricept (medication for AD) has been shown to enhance the cognitive function test results
Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)
- Facilitates nerve regeneration and protect nerve cells
Ginkgo biloba
Enhances blood flow and supports healthy brain function, memory and cognition
Reference:
J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2008 Jan; 42(1): 29–34.
www.webmd.com
www.alzheimers.org
Eur J Neurol. 2009 Sep; 16(Suppl 1): 1–7.