Showing posts with label promotes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label promotes. Show all posts
Chronic Stress Promotes Protein Brain Tangles and Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by an initial loss of short term memory and the ability to form rational and permanent thoughts. Protein tangles known as tau aggregates strangle neural synapses, blocking the vital flow of neurotransmitter and electrical signals necessary to form memories and personality. Once considered a disease of the aging, this form of dementia is increasing at a startling rate in younger individuals, largely due to a processed and ined food diet, environmental factors and long-term chronic stress.
Researchers from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have published the result of a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, explaining the mechanism behind continual exposure to stressors so common in our rapid-paced lifestyle, and the unnatural accumulation of insoluble tau protein aggregates in brain tissue. They explain that neurofibrillary tangles are one of the physical hallmark signs of Alzheimer’s disease, and have been shown to contribute to disease progression in people under chronic stress conditions during the course of past studies.
Chronic Stress is Positively Linked to Physical Brain Changes Leading to Alzheimer’s Dementia
The study team, using a mouse-based model, noted “we found that repeated episodes of emotional stress, which has been demonstrated to be comparable to what humans might experience in ordinary life, resulted in the phosphorylation and altered solubility of tau proteins in neurons… these events are critical in the development of NFT pathology in Alzheimers disease.” Researchers determined that the effect was most pronounced in the hippocampus of the brain, an area linked to the formation, organization and storage of memories.
The study team, using a mouse-based model, noted “we found that repeated episodes of emotional stress, which has been demonstrated to be comparable to what humans might experience in ordinary life, resulted in the phosphorylation and altered solubility of tau proteins in neurons… these events are critical in the development of NFT pathology in Alzheimers disease.” Researchers determined that the effect was most pronounced in the hippocampus of the brain, an area linked to the formation, organization and storage of memories.
The scientists are quick to note that the type of stress that is associated with the development of tangles in the brain is not acute stress, defined as a single, passing episode. They determined that chronic, long term stress that never ceases is far more threatening to the brain and promotes tau protein aggregates to accumulate. Acute stress is actually considered useful for brain plasticity and helps to facilitate learning.
Engage in Stress Reduction Techniques to Reduce Stress and Disease Risk
Chronic stress continually stimulates and activates stress pathways in the brain that lead to pathological alteration of stress circuitry in the brain. The researchers describe chronic stress as too much of a good thing gone bad. Lead study author, Dr. Robert Rissman commented on their findings “As people age, perhaps their neuronal circuits do too, becoming less robust and perhaps less capable of completely rebounding from the effects of stress.”
Chronic stress continually stimulates and activates stress pathways in the brain that lead to pathological alteration of stress circuitry in the brain. The researchers describe chronic stress as too much of a good thing gone bad. Lead study author, Dr. Robert Rissman commented on their findings “As people age, perhaps their neuronal circuits do too, becoming less robust and perhaps less capable of completely rebounding from the effects of stress.”
Certainly we cannot entirely eliminate stress from our daily lives, and the results of this study conclude that small amounts of acute stress are important to maintain brain plasticity and for the formation of new memories. The problem arises when the level of stress never abates, and our brain is unable to recover from the massive amount of new stimuli we experience from chronic stress. Reduce your stress level to a minimum, as this will provide yet another crucial lifestyle modification that can help prevent chronic illness and ward off Alzheimer’s disease.
Erik Chopin Winner of The Biggest Loser Promotes New Diabetes Campaign
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
At the end of last year, 36-year-old Erik Chopin walked away the winner of NBCs reality television show, The Biggest Loser. He lost 214 pounds in 8 months, dropping from 407 pounds to 193 pounds at his final weigh-in.One of Eriks motivations to lose weight was his discovery at the start of the competition (on-air no less) that he had type 2 diabetes:
"The doctor told Erik, right there on television, that he had very high blood pressure, high cholesterol, dangerously high triglycerides - and type 2 diabetes. “I also had sleep apnea,” [Erik] says, “and my knees and back always hurt, but diabetes? I mean, diabetes? It was a shocker. So, I went from wanting to look good to where the whole thing was about surviving. ... The good news is that after I lost 50 or 60 pounds, I no longer had those high blood sugars. I’ll always be a diabetic. But with the exercise, diet and weight loss, the blood sugars corrected themselves.”
- Diabetes Focus, Second Quarter, 2007, Win By Losing
Erik has chosen to capitalize on his win by helping others to cope with their diabetes. Hes promoting the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) new"Diabetes and You: Step It Up to Get It Down" campaign. The program was developed by a team of diabetes experts along with Bob Harper, the life and fitness coach from The Biggest Loser. It promotes 6.5 Steps Towards Better Blood Sugar Control.
Last week, Erik weighed in on his post-show activities. You can read about whether hes gained back any weight (a little), how his exercise routine has changed (its no longer the grueling 5 hours a day), and whether he still runs his deli, on RealityWanted.nets blog post, Where Are They Now - Erik Chopin.
Erik also has a page on myspace.com. You can visit him there at www.myspace.com/erikbl3.
Low Fat Diet Promotes Cognitive Decline Brain Nutrients Provide Protection
Monday, January 27, 2014
Forward thinking nutritional researchers believe that some of the blame for this trend can be placed firmly on the fat-phobic diet pushed by many physicians and dieticians for the past half century that deprives delicate brain cells of essential nutrients. It`s important to include a healthy source of serine and choline to nourish the brain and improve memory and mental cognition to prevent brain aging.
Low Fat Diet Linked With Cognitive Decline
The exclusion of dietary fat typically causes a shortage of the nutrients choline and serine that are used by the brain to manufacture memory-related neurotransmitters and lipids used in cell membranes. Over the course of decades, consuming a processed diet with limited healthy fats can lead to cognitive decline and may be a causative factor in the dramatic rise in Alzheimer`s disease cases. Including choline and serine from diet or supplemental sources can improve memory and help to prevent age-related dementia.
Choline is Necessary to Form New Memories
The results of a study published in the journal Clinical Therapeutics shows that participants with mild to moderate cognitive impairment experienced significant improvement to memory and learning capabilities when provided with choline supplementation over a 6 month period. The study authors remarked that the improvements seen with choline supplementation were superior to pharmacological interventions.
Serine Fights Brain Aging, Maintain Plasticity
Serine (phosphatidylserine) is a naturally occurring orthomolecular compound found naturally in the brain to help maintain memory function and to assist the replacement of damaged neurons (neuroplasticity). The critical communication between neurons in the brain is dependent on a steady supply of nutrients such as serine to enhance learning skills and the formation of new memories.
The results of a study published in the journal Neurology showed that serine supplementation could “provide significant benefits for cognitive functions that typically decline with age, including concentration, learning, memory and vocabulary skills.”
The loss of cognition as we age is not normal. A wealth of research explains that loss of memory and cognitive resources is the result of decades of nutrient depletion that take an ultimate toll on the brain. Choline and serine are brain-specific nutrients that may be depleted due to poor diet. Improved diet and supplementation if necessary are shown to prevent the typical symptoms of brain aging and prevent dementia.
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