No matter how hard you work to maintain your youthful vitality, the aging process can begin to take its toll on both your body and your brain. While aging is an inevitable part of living, there are many proactive measures you can take to protect yourself from premature aging and even reverse some of its manifestations, particularly in your brain.
An alarming rise in the incidence and increasingly early onset of dementia and brain disorders in aging adults has prompted researchers to identify potential causes of brain disease and seek interventions to slow and reverse it. High levels of the amino acid homocysteine have been linked with dementia, brain atrophy, and Alzheimer’s disease. Vitamins B6, B12 and Folic Acid help suppress homocysteine and convert it into methionine, a building block for proteins.
Nutrition and Your Aging Brain
Nutritional deficiencies have been pinpointed as catalysts for brain dysfunction and mental decline, in particular deficiencies in Vitamins B6, B12 and Folic Acid, along with low levels of Omega 3 fatty acids. Several studies have produced evidence that Vitamin B therapy is effective in slowing mental decline in older adults.
A 2010 study based on the presumption that controlling homocysteine levels would reduce brain shrinkage gave senior study participants either high doses of B6, B12 and Folic Acid, or a placebo. Two years after treatment, participants in the B-Vitamin group, with the highest levels of homocysteine at the beginning of the study, experienced half the rate of brain shrinkage, compared to those taking a placebo
In a 2015 study, Korean researchers treated 168 older adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment with either a placebo, or with high doses of vitamins B6, B12 and Folic Acid. Those who received the B-Vitamin treatment slowed brain shrinkage by 40 percent.
A 2013 study looked more closely at areas of the brain known to be most severely affected by brain disease. Once again high doses of B6, B12 and Folate were administered, and this time they found that shrinkage in the most severely affected regions was reduced seven-fold!
The Miracle of B12
Sometimes called the energy vitamin, B12 performs many vital functions in your body, including:
- Formation of red blood cells
- Energy production
- Production of myelin that insulates nerve endings
- DNA synthesis
Symptoms of B12 Deficiency
Common symptoms of B12 deficiency include:
- Depression
- Mental fog
- Impaired memory
- Mood swings
- Apathy
- Lethargy
- Low motivation
- Fatigue
- Muscle weakness
- Tingling in extremities
- Dementia
Dietary Sources of B12
Dietary B12 is found only in animal sources such as these foods:
- Beef and beef liver
- Lamb
- Venison
- Poultry
- Eggs
- Salmon
- Snapper
- Shrimp
- Scallops
If you are vegetarian, there is a high likelihood you are B12 deficient. Even if you eat meat, you may not be getting enough B12 to protect your brain. Also, older adults tend to have digestive disorders that inhibit absorption of B12 via the digestive tract. B12 deficiency can lead to serious health problems, including nervous system disorders and blindness.
Best Solutions for Boosting B12
One of the best ways to get an adequate dose of B12 is via injection or intravenous drip. By this method, you bypass your digestive tract and send B12 via your circulatory system directly to your brain, where it can begin to work its magic in combatting the effects of aging. The trained clinicians at Advanced Cryo NYC can help you boost your brain with B12 through injections or IV drip in a safe, comfortable and minimally invasive way.
