There is increasing focus on longevity and anti-aging in our society—but what if these could be improved simply by living? Instead of investing in therapies to prevent or even reverse aging, what if we lived a lifestyle that resulted in longevity and slowed the aging process in our body and especially our brain?
A key to longevity and anti-aging is an active lifestyle that incorporates normal body movement. Our bodies are not designed to sit and/or stay indoors all day—we are designed for movement. When movement decreases, organ tissue and body tissue degenerate and break down.
Movement Is Medicine
When we cultivate a lifestyle of movement, our bodies respond with slower aging and healthier tissue and organ function, including brain function. The brain is like a muscle—the more we use it, challenge it, and train it, the longer it will remain healthy.
Preventing tissue degeneration is easier than trying to reverse it. Research shows that we can decrease the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s—and, in some cases, prevent it—by living a lifestyle that facilitates healthy brain tissue and reduces the risk of brain tissue degeneration. This includes eating healthy, staying active and social, limiting alcohol consumption, not smoking, exercising your brain, and limiting environmental exposure to pollutants.
Movement and prevention are key. If you are already experiencing signs and symptoms of cognitive decline, there are ways to support your body’s regenerative processes through nutrition, targeted nutrients, and lifestyle adjustments.
What Can I Do if I’m Experiencing Cognitive Decline?
Nutrition
- Avoid refined sugar and processed foods: Saturated and trans fats increase oxidative stress in the body, which causes inflammation. The inflammatory process in the body contributes to the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s, among other diseases. This includes heavy dairy, fast foods, junk foods, sweets, high sodium, and anything that comes in a cellophane bag or box.
- Foods to include into your daily diet: Fish, poultry, beans, nuts, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, and non-starchy vegetables—such as foods you would find in a Mediterranean diet.
Targeted Nutrients (not an exhaustive list)
- Alpha lipoic acid: May relieve age-related cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative disease, improving memory and mood.
- Bocopa: Improves cognitive function and
lowers rates of anxiety and depression. - Boswellia: Supports a healthy
inflammatory response. - Carnitine: Slows cognitive decline.
- Choline: Improves cognitive function.
- Citrulline: Improves memory in early-stage Alzheimer’s and improves cognitive function.
- Grape seed extract: Reduces neurotoxicity and improves memory and cognitive function.
Treatments
- Hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatment: Increases cognitive function and slows the progression of dementia and Alzheimer’s by providing increased oxygen to the brain tissue.
- IV glutathione: Glutathione is depleted in the hippocampus in people with Alzheimer’s and decreased cognitive function, hence the need for supplementation.
Lifestyle
- Movement is medicine. Cultivate a lifestyle of movement by using stairs when possible; maintain a small garden either outside or inside in containers.
- Socialize in ways that incorporate movement. Try bowling, dancing, hiking, kayaking, or anything else that connects you with other people that involves the exercise of natural movement. Exercise does not have to be at a gym five days a week—unless that’s what you enjoy!
Dr. Korene Varano is a board certified and licensed Naturopathic Doctor (ND) and Registered Nurse (RN) in the state of Connecticut. She specializes in oncology and alternative cancer therapeutics. Her care focuses on building hope, strength, and courage with each patient and family member she encounters.
For more information, please contact Dr. Varano at Roots Natural Medical Center, 106 Rt 66, Columbia, CT 06237, call 860.471.1434, or visit us on our website at: www.rootsmedicalcenter.com.