Give Your Brain A Boost For A Brighter Summer

Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience
Article Date: 02 Jun 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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New research has revealed that old age could start as young as 27 when mental powers start to dwindle, after peaking at 22.

Professor Timothy Salthouse, of the University of Virginia, found reasoning, spatial visualisation and speed of thought all decline in our late 20s.Therapies designed to stall or reverse the ageing process may need to start much earlier, he suggested.

If you find yourself walking into a room and asking "what did I come in here for?", regularly forgetting to turn off the iron or you're just worried about losing the edge, there are a few simple steps you can take to help keep your brain in shape.

"Passing the age of 27 doesn't mean you have missed the chance to stave off the "brain drain" effects of ageing," said Samar Tarabay, nutritionist at Holland & Barrett.

"Try to fit in a crossword or Sudoku puzzle a day to give your brain a bit of a challenge. Sports like tennis and badminton also give your brain a good workout. You should avoid foods such as saturated fats, trans fats, sugar, caffeine and alcohol, which deplete brain supporting nutrients, and eat plenty of fish, a mixture of different coloured fruits and vegetables, nuts, fibre and olive oil. Taking a daily dose of natural supplement Neuro PS could help boost thinking, focus the memory and improve mental sharpness."

Neuro PS contains Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a phospholipid which helps provide structural, physiological and biochemical support to cell membranes. Phospholipids provide support to brain, memory and learning functions. Studies have shown that elderly patients, particularly those suffering from Alzheimer's, have seen significant improvement in memory function after taking PS.[1]

[1] Tabaton M, Schenone A, Mancardi GL. Cognitive decline in the elderly: a double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre study on efficacy of phosphatidylserine administration. Aging (Milano) 5(2):123-133, 1993

Source
University of Virginia