Grade: mixed
Carbohydrates come in simple and complex form. Complex carbs are generally ok (e.g. most vegetables). Simple carbs (e.g. white rice, corn chips, pretzels) are quickly converted into sugar which is problematic.
For a more in depth article on carbs and glucose try this page from the American Diabetes Association.
...researchers concluded that “very low carbohydrate consumption, even in the short term, can improve memory function in older adults with increased risk for Alzheimer's disease.”
When Quinolinic acid increases to pathological levels it becomes an exitotoxin that over-activates NMDA receptors. This causes a rapid inflow of calcium into the neuron and the resulting chaos leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, ATP exhaustion, free radical formation, oxidative damage, and cell death signaling.
The NAD/Sirtuin combination influences a wide range of cellular processes such as aging, rRNA transcription, mitochondrial biogenesis, apoptosis, inflammation, stress resistance, and insulin sensitivity.
Those participants in the study with the lowest levels of vitamin D in their blood had a substantially higher risk of developing Alzheimer's and all other forms of dementia.
The positive effects of exercise, sleep, and moderate alcohol consumption on our brains and on cognition is real and measurable. The exact mechanisms for these positive effects is less clear, but the connection to the glymphatic system gives us at least some explanation for why they work.
Omega-3 fatty acids are the basis of compounds that regulate inflammation, protect neurons, and promote neurite growth. Omega-6 fatty acids promote inflammation before they eventually get around to regulating inflammation.
Known primarily as the beneficial component of fish oil, Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) come in different varieties and sources. I don’t know about the stuffed shirts, but I like to say “poof-a.” I will probably work poof-a into conversation a number of times this week. Anywho, the PUFAs we call omega-3 have shown a lot of promise for neuroprotection, which we will look at in future articles. Here and now, we try to better understand something we’ve been hearing about for years.
Let’s Talk About Fat
Triglycerides. Our body fat is made of triglycerides. Triglycerides are also found floating in our blood. Triglycerides are made from a backbone of glycerol (also called glycerin) and 3 to 4 fatty acids. Glycerol is a colorless, odorless, sweet, and non-toxic liquid. Fatty acids are where all the variety comes in.
Fatty acids are usually 16, 18, or 20 carbon atoms long and most importantly fatty acids are either saturated or unsaturated.
Saturated. Imagine 16 people (carbon atoms really) holding hands as a chain. Each person is touching the person next to them only once (hand in hand). Each person in this chain is […]
Compared to placebo, the curcumin group showed significant improvement for primary verbal memory, primary visual memory and measure of attention. PET scans showed strong evidence that amyloid beta deposits and tau tangles in the amygdala declined significantly in the curcumin group. Furthermore, deposits and tangles in the hypothalmus of the placebo group showed a significant increase after 18 months, but the curcumin group was spared this unfortunate result.
Chronic and even acute inflammation may be responsible for dementia. A look at the research certainly points towards a connection.