Protect Your Brain Naturally
A study released by the Society for Neuroscience, shows that when it comes to the brain, it’s a question of “use it or lose it.”
Until recently, scientists thought that no new neurons grew in the brains of adults and that over time the number of brain cells you had just withered away and diminished. Over the last ten years or so, those same scientists have come to realize that the brain is constantly producing new brain cells. It’s just that in most people, those cells never fully develop, and just die off – thus no benefit. The new study shows us how we can keep those new cells, and keep “growing our brains” throughout our entire lives.
In the study, a number of rats had their “new” brain cells tagged with a chemical marker. One group was given a stimulating “learning exercise” to master over two weeks. The other group was kept in a dull, un-stimulating environment. After one week, both groups showed about 5,000 new cells formed in the hippocampus of their brains. The two groups were then re-examined one week later. In the un-stimulated group, all 5,000 cells had died; but in the “learning” group, the 5,000 cells had not only survived but had matured into functionally wired neurons. Even better, the more difficult the tasks the rats learned, the more cells that matured and became functional neurons.
Bottom line: keeping mentally active protects against dementia. Do crossword puzzles; listen to classical music; learn a new language; go back to school – whatever it takes. The more you do, the more brain you get to keep.
But it gets even better.
A five-year study of more than 2,200 adults, also recently released, found a link between obesity and a decline in cognitive function. The researchers found that people with a body mass index (a measure of body fat) of 20 or less could recall 56 percent of words in a vocabulary test, but those who were obese, with a BMI of 30 or higher, could remember only 44 percent. The fatter subjects also showed a higher rate of cognitive decline when they were retested five years later – their recall had dropped even further, to 37.5 percent, but those with a healthy weight had retained their higher level of recall.
And beyond that, regular exercise has been shown to protect against diseases of the brain such as Parkinson’s.
Bottom line: If you want to slow down or eliminate brain rot, you need to exercise – both your mind and your body.
I have just read Jon’s comments on ageing and using your brain. My mother had a small stroke some years ago. Her memory had been poor before – but gradually her condition developed into dementia.
I live with her – and have always had a close bond. At one time she was hallucinating – but I found that after giving her Jon’s genuine Ageless product some years ago, on a regular basis, this greatly reduced the hallucinations.
Talking to her and stimulating interest in things, having a little dog come to visit, getting her to come out and walk the dog – see the sites and discussing everything that was happening has definitely helped to keep the dementia from galloping ahead. I was told by the professionals that `it was all downhill from now on’…..this was about 7 years ago. Liz is now 91 – and we have again been told `it is downhill’ – and as it appears that she is having difficulty digesting food and is breathless – it finally appears that the race is coming to an end. However I am writing this to you in grateful acknowledgement for the genuine Jon Barron products which have been invaluable to us over the years. The newsletters have also served to keep us focused on the positive.
The brain is absolutely vital and definitely does renew itself – I don’t give a stuff what `official’ people may think. You are what you say you are. If you believe you are a rich powerful brilliant person that is what you are!! There are some things which we have to tolerate in life……one of the things we don’t have to tolerate is negative people. If you would live a good life and a long life – stay away from negative [well meaning but negative people], draw on your inner strength – and be bold and courageous. The choice is the individuals, you can live as a superwoman or superman – believing that you can accomplish anything – or you can choose to be a victim of what other people say. As we sometimes say in the UK `Tommyrot’ – I choose to believe the good stuff – and remain grateful to Jon and Kirsten for their stirling stuff.
Where and how can I get your products in UK – I am so impressed with the integrity of what I have read – I lived in Salt Lake City, Utah, for 16 years, but am now retired to Birmingham in England.