| Figuring out how to concentrate and retain memory | | | | that those who have diets high in antioxidants which |
| as we age doesn't have to be a difficult problem to | | | | protect against free radicals seem to have less issues |
| tackle. Much of what we've learned about the brain | | | | with these types of brain disorders. While not the |
| and aging in recent years has shed some new light | | | | only reason for these diseases, it may be a huge |
| on this old problem. Some surprising solutions have | | | | factor in them. Again, this is something that we |
| come from those discoveries. | | | | control right now by how we eat. |
| We probably all know someone (or perhaps are that | | | | Figuring out how to concentrate and remain sharp as |
| someone) who has problems remembering things and | | | | we age may also be related to how we exercise our |
| finds they can't concentrate as they get older. It is | | | | brains. Just as our bodies require exercise to remain |
| not uncommon. We also probably think that to a | | | | healthy and fight off aging so do our brains. Scientists |
| certain extent it is also inevitable...just a part of aging. | | | | who have studied aging and its effect on the brain |
| However, science is finding that this may not | | | | have noted that those who retain function into their |
| necessarily be just a by-product of getting older, but | | | | later years tend to be those who also actively work |
| may have other root causes....causes that are actually | | | | their brains. |
| in our control. | | | | They found that people who pushed their brains by |
| One of the causes of why people can't concentrate | | | | doing crosswords, brain teasers or other puzzles as |
| and retain memory function as they age is due to a | | | | well as those who frequently took on learning new |
| decrease in blood flow to the brain. The brain uses | | | | skills or hobbies tended to keep their mental abilities |
| more oxygen than any other organ so any reduction | | | | longer than those who were less active mentally. The |
| in blood flow "starves" the brain of oxygen and | | | | point was that people need to push their minds |
| decreases its ability to function properly. | | | | beyond the ordinary routine. You need to make your |
| If we want to look at how to concentrate and | | | | brain work at recall and critical thinking in order to |
| protect memory as we age then we need to look at | | | | strengthen those functions. This allows those |
| how we eat. Taking steps now to reduce "bad fats" | | | | functions to stay stronger longer. |
| and increase "good fats" as well as increasing | | | | Using herbal supplements in addition to Ginkgo may |
| nutrients that help remove bad fat from our bodies | | | | also be an effective tool in dealing with the puzzle of |
| will help ensure clean arteries and good blood flow as | | | | how to concentrate as we get older. For example, |
| we age. | | | | supplements using Siberian Ginseng and Gotu Kola |
| Using herbs like Ginkgo Biloba which helps increase | | | | also showed an impact on recall and mental |
| cerebral blood flow may also help answer this | | | | functioning in recent studies. The key to protecting |
| question of how to concentrate and remember as | | | | our minds may be in making good use of the natural |
| we age. Many studies have been done on Ginkgo and | | | | substances found in some of these plants. The more |
| have supported its effect on helping the brain | | | | scientists study them the more they are embracing |
| function better. | | | | them as a viable way of helping delay age related |
| Studies are also suggesting that those who can't | | | | decline. With all these tools at our disposal we have |
| concentrate and remember due to age related | | | | more control of the aging process than many have |
| decline, Alzheimer's or dementia may have damage to | | | | realized. The point is that the sooner we start doing |
| brain cells caused by free radicals. They are finding | | | | something the better off our brains will be. |