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The Three Best Supplements for
Keeping Your Memory Sharp...
Would you like to triple your odds of keeping your brain focused and clear as you age?
If so, a recent 2-year study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry shows the way to do this. The study was done in the U.S. and watched for the progression of dementia in 518 people. Everyone in the study was over 65.
In addition to testing for dementia, they also checked blood levels of folate, B-12 and homocysteine. You may remember from previous Balance Point articles that homocysteine is a blood marker for inflammation and it's presence is strongly correlated to the likelihood of a stroke or heart attack. The study was designed to see if homocysteine levels also affect dementia.
You may also remember from those previous articles that high enough blood levels of folate (folic acid), B-6 and B-12 generally keep homocysteine at healthy levels. And this study confirmed that fact. People with higher levels of folate and B-12 had lower levels of homocysteine.
Even more interesting is the fact that they found a direct relationship between higher folate levels, lower homocysteine levels and a lower incidence of any form of dementia, especially Alzheimer's Disease. In fact, the people with higher homocysteine levels had almost a 3.5 times greater chance of experiencing dementia than those with low homocysteine and high blood folate levels.
This means that the supplements you take for lowering homocysteine levels and protecting yourself from cardio-vascular problems (folic acid, B-6 and B-12), will also go a long way towards protecting you from Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia.
If you aren't already taking a supplement with these three vitamins in it, start today. If you are already taking all three, make sure you're getting sufficient amounts. For many people, a daily intake of 800 mcg of folic acid, 100 mg of vitamin B6, and 1000 mcg of vitamin B12 will keep homocysteine levels in a safe range. You should never take over 200-300 mg of B6 daily.
For extra protection you can also take 500 mg of TMG (trimethyl glycine), 250 mg of choline, 250 mg of inositol, and 30 mg of zinc, all of which support the homocysteine-lowering effects of the main 3 supplements.
Of course, since everyone is different, you should have your homocysteine levels checked periodically to make sure what you're doing is helping. It's the only way to be sure. Ideally you want your level to be below 7. If the above regimen doesn't handle that, you should consult a health practitioner knowledgeable about nutrition, and particularly nutrition related to homocysteine levels.
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