The 7 Best Brain Boosting Supplements

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Aging may be inevitable, but memory loss and Alzheimer’s are not. That’s the conclusion of the Alzheimer’s Prevention and Research Foundation in Tucson, Arizona. More and more research is pointing to ways your lifestyle can prevent Alzheimer’s. By exercising and following a healthy diet — one low in saturated and trans-fats, refined sugars and white flour products, and rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fresh fruits and vegetables — you can reduce the inflammation that can play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s.

These same lifestyle changes protect you from heart disease and diabetes. Avoiding the ravages of these two 21st century killers also protects your brain. It seems that even if your brain has been inundated with the plaque that signals Alzheimer’s, you may function just fine if you remain heart healthy and free of diabetes because your brain is able to create supplementary circulation to replace what is lost! In some cases, loss of circulation from mini strokes may be what sets dementia in motion — not the plaques themselves.

In the 10-year Nun Study, conducted by David Snowden, MD, 678 nuns donated their brains to science when they died. Researches who examined the brains found that some that were loaded with plaque belonged to women who showed no evidence of dementia, while some with lesser amounts of plaque showed a crippling level of cognitive impairment. Because such complete records had been kept on these women, researchers were able to attribute some of the differences to exercise, eating habits, education and continued learning.

While TV commercials may have you believing that the prescription drug Aricept is the only pill you can turn to to combat Alzheimer’s, that has more to do with the money drug companies have to throw around than the research available on alternative or nutritional treatments. In addition to healthy lifestyle practices, certain supplements can help sustain and help promote good brain function as we age.

The supplements recommended by the Alzheimer’s Prevention and Research Foundation, founded by Dharma Singh Khalsa, MD, author of Brain Longevity, are the same as many of the supplements covered extensively in Jean Carper’s book, Your Miracle Brain. If you’re concerned about brain function as you age, (and who isn’t?) talk to a knowledgeable doctor or other health practitioner who’s nutrition-oriented to help you make decisions about what to take.

Here’s a list of the major helpful supplements and some of the reasons they’re helpful. For more detailed information read our special report, Natural Ways to Prevent Alzheimer’s (free online).

1. A Comprehensive Multivitamin (Make sure it contains at least 400 mcg of folic acid and 500 mg of vitamin C.)

Reason: Folic acid reduces homocysteine, a known risk factor for heart disease and strokes. Dr. Snowdon discovered that the greatest brain damage was associated with the lowest blood levels of folic acid and the least brain damage with the highest levels. 400 – 1,000 mcg is the suggested dosage. Folic acid should be taken with vitamin B12.

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant and promotes the transmission of messages through the brain. Adequate vitamin C is associated with a 20% reduction in risk of Alzheimer’s. 500 – 1,000 mg is suggested.

2. CoEnzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

Reason: CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant and energy booster within all cells, particularly in the heart and brain. Aging is accompanied by a loss of CoQ10 and without it, your brain can’t work at full power. We recommend 100 – 200 milligrams. CoQ10 supplementation is extremely well researched and has been proven to both effective and safe.

3. Alpha Lipoic Acid

Reason: This potent antioxidant has many positive effects, including preventing stroke damage and protecting the nerve cells of diabetics. But alpha lipoic acid is also one of the few nutrients you can take orally that raises levels of the antioxidant glutathione in brain cells. Low levels of glutathione predict chronic diseases, including degenerative brain disorders and early death. We recommend 50-200 mg a day. Diabetics may need 200 – 600 mg.

4. Gingko Biloba

Reason: Ginkgo biloba has long been associated with stabilization or improvement in memory and reasoning even with Alzheimer’s patients. Scientists think it’s because it may have a blood thinning effect. A recent study showed that ginkgo biloba has a protective effect during a stroke — it can help prevent or diminish stroke related brain damage. 120 mg a day is the recommended dosage. In general, it seems to help about one out of two people. If you haven’t seen an improvement after using ginkgo for 4 – 6 weeks, you could try a double dosage. If that doesn’t help, you may not be a responder to ginkgo.

5. Phosphatidyl Serine

Reason: Investigators in one study determined that phosphatidyl serine shaved 12 years off the normal expected decline in specific aspects of memory performance. Those who took 100 mg of phosphatidyl serine three times a day, with meals for 12 weeks scored 30% higher on memory and learning tests. Many other studies have corroborated these types of findings. In another study it worked just as well for people with mild to severe cognitive impairment. With advanced Alzheimer’s patients, it has not proven very effective. It works best when taken at the first signs of the disease. We recommend 100 mg of phosphatidyl serine twice a day.

6. DHA (an omega-3 fatty acid)

Reason: In a study at Tufts University, reported in 2007, DHA was identified as the component in fish oil that protects brains from dementia and Alzheimer’s. Among a big group of elderly Americans, those with the highest blood levels of DHA were about half as apt to develop dementia and 39% as apt to develop Alzheimer’s as those with lower blood levels of DHA over a nine-year period. The top 25% of those with the highest blood DHA got about 180 mg DHA a day, or three servings of fish a week, researchers said. In this study, the other major fatty acid in fish oil, EPA, had no effect.

7. Acetyl-L-Carnitine

Reason: Acetyl-L-carnitine can protect the brain from neurotoxicity and oxygen deprivation, preserve cells energy-producing mitochondria and rejuvenate mental and physical function. It appears to be effective in mild cognitive impairment, which may be an early signal of Alzheimer’s, as well as early stages of Alzheimer’s. Dosages for studies have been in the 1,500 – 4,000 mg range, divided into two or three doses. However, we recommend no more than 1,000 mg of acetyl-L-carnitine a day without medical supervision.

The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: It is estimated that 1 in 8 Americans over the age of 65 suffer from Alzheimer’s, but this devastating disease is not a normal part of aging and can be prevented! Act now to protect your brain with exercise, a healthy diet and brain boosting supplements!

Tags: acetyl-l-carnitine, alpha lipoic acid, alternative healing, alternative health, brain health, cognitive health, folic acid, ginkgo, medium-chain fatty acids, natural healing, natural health, omega 3