By contrast, one 2006 study of 2,800 seniors, published
National Academy of Science in 2007, found that a combi-
in The Journal of the American Medical Association, found nation of sulforophane and curcumin reduced skin cancer
that those who engaged in a 10-session cognitive training in mice.
program, with a four-session booster training at 11 and 35 Meanwhile, researchers are exploring another com-
months, had less difficulty with daily living than the control pound, resveretrol, contained in the skins of red grapes, ber-
group. More, they still showed heightened cognitive abilities ries and dark beans, for its ability to slow aging by activating
five years later. genes called sirtuins.
A 2009 study, published in the Journal of the American One 2008 study by the National Institute on Aging
Geriatrics Society, showed that 487 seniors who spent an hour found that mice fed resveretrol had better balance and motor
a day, for eight weeks, using Posit’s brain fitness program per- coordination, plus bone, heart and eye health. Human trials
formed better on mental acuity tests than the control group. have been scarce, but several are ongoing. In the meantime,
Just which game is best remains a matter of debate. hundreds of resveratrol supplements have hit the market, and
Current options are on the table at Dakim.com, GamesForTh- some doctors say they are confident in its safety and already
eBrain.com, PositScience.com and VigorousMind.com. taking it themselves.
“We still haven’t had a study comparing this $500 brain “Based on the science, I don’t
game to this $100 brain game to having someone who never think there is a down side,” says Pitts-
did crossword puzzles start doing crossword puzzles,” relates burgh neuroscientist and physician
Carle. His advice: Find a new intellectual challenge that we Joseph Maroon, author of The Longev-
enjoy enough to do regularly. ity Factor, published this year.
“Probably the best single factor in
all of this is the extent to which the
Healthy Skin
games get used,” he adds.
Dr. Valorie Treloar, a Massachu-
setts dermatologist, says the antioxidant
Anti-aging Supplements theory has spurred a host of new topical products, made with
When it comes to the aging of or-
everything from marine pine bark and green tea to acai or
gans, much research in recent years has
gogi berry, all potent antioxidants. “One of the advantages
focused around the free radical theory.
to using it topically is that you can get a higher quantity of
In essence, as our body is exposed to
the active molecule in the skin, assuming it is in a form that
food, air and sun, it throws off toxic byproducts, called free
penetrates through the epidermis,” she explains.
radicals, that eat away at cell walls, causing disease. In our
Also, keep an eye out for new topical omega-3 fatty acid
youth, we have a built-in system of antioxidants that mop up
and topical probiotics aimed at maintaining a proper micro-
free radicals.
bial balance on the skin.
In other words, “Like a new car, we have
“To age gracefully
One of the most radical topical skin care
this remarkable array of catalytic converters to
breakthroughs, from NuSkin, is a line of AgeLoc
means to let nature
clean up the byproducts of burning fuel,” ex-
products that not only triple collagen production
plains Joe McCord, Ph.D., a pioneer in antioxi-
take its course while
while dramatically decreasing an age-causing
dant research from the University of Colorado- doing everything in
enzyme, but now also act on targeted groups of
Denver. “But as we age, our catalytic converters
our power to delay
genes that regulate how we age. In effect, it resets
wear out.”
the genes to youthful activity.
and prevent disease.”
Initially, test tube studies showed that
Numerous companies are also exploring the
simple, nutritional antioxidants like vitamins C ~ Dr. Andrew Weil
“beauty from the inside-out” concept, crafting
and E could neutralize free radicals. This led to
everything from antioxidant-rich skin health
a 21st century boom in single-antioxidant supplements. But it
shakes to candy chews made with cocoa antioxidants. One
turns out that their effect is minimal, “like a firefighter with one
recent study in the Journal of European Nutrition found that
bucket, trying to put out a house fire,” McCord says.
when women ingested 329 milligrams of cocoa daily, the flow
Instead, he and others contend, we need to prompt the
of blood and oxygen to the skin nearly doubled.
body to produce more of its own antioxidants. Several nutri-
“In the past few years, we have seen some really good,
ents, including sulforaphane from broccoli, curcumin from
well-designed trials showing that internal nutrients can make
turmeric, anthocyanins from berries, licorice and shallots, and
a difference, too,” remarks Alan Logan, a doctor of naturopa-
the herbs milk thistle and ashwaghanda, have been shown to
thy and author of Your Skin, Younger.
do that. Now, supplement companies are rolling out an array
Weil says he sees the wealth of new anti-aging innova-
of new products, including Protandim by Life Vantage, a prod-
tions as intriguing, but notes that one other critical factor for
uct that came out of McCord’s work, and GliSodin, by Isocell,
healthy aging often eludes people: To accept growing older
aimed at boosting internal antioxidant production.
and all the wisdom and experience it brings, with optimism,
One 2006 trial conducted at the University of Colorado
rather than dread.
showed that when 29 people took Protandim, biochemical
“The denial of aging is counterproductive,” he says. “To
markers of oxidative stress declined by 40 percent after one
age gracefully means to let nature take its course while doing
month. Another study, published in the Proceedings of the
everything in our power to delay and prevent disease.”
natural awakenings January 2010 27
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