Brain, memory and concentration

An exciting new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that coffee drinking may add years to your life span. Evidence is rapidly accumulating about the ability of coffee to reduce vascular disease, slash cancer risk, preserve cognition, and mitigate diabetes/obesity.

Researchers have found that a new highly absorbable form of magnesium called magnesium-L-threonate concentrates more efficiently in the brain, rebuilds ruptured synapses, and restores the degraded neuronal connections observed in Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of memory loss.

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and is essential to good health. Approximately 50% of total body magnesium is found in bone. The other half is found predominantly inside cells of body tissues and organs. Only 1% of magnesium is found in blood, but the body works very hard to keep blood levels of magnesium constant.

An inevitable consequence of aging is a rapid decline in our cellular energy levels. The outward effects often manifest as a sense of overall fatigue, depression, and sexual dysfunction. The internal effect of a cellular energy deficit is a greater vulnerability to a host of degenerative diseases.

Burnout is real. In May 2019, the World Health Organization officially included it in its International Classification of Diseases. This recognition confirmed that burnout was not a figment of the imagination, or something suffered only by “weak” or “unmotivated” people.1 Medical treatments are limited. The Mayo Clinic recommends sleep and relaxation.2 But now there’s hope for the 30% to 72% of working people who suffer from burnout syndrome.3,4

In year 2001, Life Extension® researchers actively sought a method to boost levels of a coenzyme in aging people. We knew this was critical to achieving healthy longevity. Consumers had to wait until 2014 for a validated method to become available. This coenzyme is called NAD+ and is vital for energizing cells and supporting youthful cellular processes.

As we age, our cognitive abilities decline. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Scientists have identified specific nutrients that protect the aging brain.1-10 One of these is a sage extract that has demonstrated remarkable cognitive-enhancing activities.11 In clinical studies, this sage extract increased memory performance in older adults by nearly 60%.

Ashwagandha, an exotic Indian herb, has remarkable stress-relieving properties comparable to those of powerful drugs used to treat depression and anxiety. In addition to its excellent protective effects on the nervous system, ashwagandha may be a promising alternative treatment for a variety of degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Nootropics are compounds that enhance cognition and facilitate learning. They differ from nutrients that protect against brain aging. Nootropics are for people seeking to improve brain processing speed and mental alertness. Nutrients with nootropic properties have become popular for people of all ages to improve thinking speed and accuracy.

Pesticides are absorbed through our air, food, and water. These chemicals can lead to neurodegeneration, cancer, and other disorders. Researchers have found that the flavonoid quercetin offers protection against some of the dangers inflicted by pesticides.

Two active forms of vitamin B12 offer support to the aging brain. Preclinical data shows one of the forms protects dopamine levels. People with vitamin B12 deficiencies frequently suffer anemia, weakness, and fatigue. But there are more dangerous effects. Low vitamin B12 levels have been associated with progressive brain atrophy (shrinkage). One study found an astounding 517% greater rate of brain volume loss in people with lower vitamin B12 than those with higher B12 levels.

Low-level inflammation is an underlying factor for six of the ten leading causes of death. Studies have shown that Boswellia extract significantly improved arthritis patients’ pain and function in just seven days while suppressing causative agents involved in chronic inflammation.