Medical Minute
Keeping the Brain Healthy W
by Zbigniew “Tony” Chmielewski, M.D., AFAARM
e are living in a very exciting time. New medical developments are continuously on the horizon and medical knowledge doubles every few years.
Additionally, people are living longer. In the last 100 years, the life expectancy has jumped from 47 to 84 years old. Unfortunately, the aging process cannot be prevented and our organs age as we age. Our brain is no exception – it decreases in size as we age and this manifests itself in a grad- ual loss of function. At our later age, brain imaging shows atrophy which is a fancy way of saying shrinkage. The longer that we live, the more cognitive dysfunction we develop. It is a definite fact that we all want to retain our mental capacity for as long as possible and that is why a large interest of Anti-aging Medicine is this very topic. It has been proven that a healthy body weight has a positive effect on brain func- tion. As a result of this, many elderly people today make a great effort to stay physically active and thus mentally healthy. Our diet plays a critical role in keeping our mental
health. We should limit saturated fats in our diet and use polyunsaturated oils which are very beneficial for cell mem- brane function. Blueberries specifically, were found to be one of the best foods for our brains. A new branch of science has recently arisen called Nutrogenomics which studies the effects of foods on our genes. At MyVita we have seen a growing interest in our patients regarding bio-identical hormones and specifically via pellet therapy. Testosterone, Estradiol, Progesterone and Human Growth Hormone are the key hormones that must be at nor- mal levels in our bodies in order to prevent memory loss. Recent studies have shown a beneficial effect of progesterone use after stroke. This is just one example of how regulating our hormone levels can impact morbidity and mortality after brain damage.
Supplements are another way to
improve brain health. It has been known for a long time that Ginkgo Biloba, Acetyl-L-carnitine, Phos- phatidylserine, Omega-3 fatty acids, and Alpha glycerylphosphorilcholine have a positive impact on cognitive function. Other supplements with this benefit include vitamin C, Lipoic acid, and Resveratrol. A recent sup- plement, magnesium-L-treonate, was found to have a positive impact on the function of the central nervous system. In ani- mal models, this compound was able to improve spatial short- and long-term memory. Learning ability improved as well.
For the last few years we have seen our soldiers coming
home from Iraq and Afghanistan, some of whom have devel- oped traumatic brain injury during the war. This condition is associated with a profound hormonal deficiency which fortu- nately can improve after the hormone levels are restored. The brain is the most complicated organ in the human
body and it is the most difficult one to study. Despite these obstacles, we have made significant progress in the past 50 years. Today we are aware of brain stem cells and their ability to regenerate. We are living in an exciting time and the future looks even brighter. For longer and better life,
Zbigniew “Tony” Chmielewski, M.D. is the Chief Medical offi- cer of MyVita Hormone Treatment Center in Bellaire, TX. Dr. Tony has developed a more preventative and holistic medical mindset. He believes that many signs of aging can be counter- acted with Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy in which MyVita and Dr. Tony specialize. Our goal is to support your youth and vitality from the inside out. Call 713-661-9995 for your free consultation or see our ad on page 22. i
LadyArts Gifts for the Soul
16 Houston
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