In April, 2005 the FDA asked manufacturers of anti-psychotic drugs that they were not designed to treat dementia in the elderly. Drugs included in the warning are Risperdal, Abilify, Seroquel, Zyprexa, Clozaril and Geodon; these are drugs that are used for treating schizophrenia and mania. Another drug that is used for the treatment of depression Read More …
Author: DocKaren.com
Diet Can Improve Your Mind as You Age
Some scientists believe that a diet high in antioxidants can help protect your brain from injury or stroke, or help an individual have good memory and cognition into old age. Antioxidants are nutrients that protect against free radicals. Free radicals are like chemical “bullets” that damage tissue. Antioxidants are like chemical “bullet-proof vests”. They include Read More …
Amino Acid Supplementation in the Elderly
Amino acid supplementation may be one way to improve muscle function and exercise endurance in the elderly, according to research appearing in the American Journal of Cardiology (Volume 101, Issue 11, Supplement 1, 2 June 2008, Pages S104-S110). The subjects of the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study were 95 senior citizens (aged 65-74) with chronic heart Read More …
Can Vitamin D Slow Aging?
Research appearing in the November 2007 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked at vitamin D levels and aging. Specifically, the researchers measured telomeres in 2,160 women between the ages of 18 and 79, and measured vitamin D levels. Telomeres are part of a chromosome; they tend to shorten with age. Longer telomeres Read More …
Acne and Vitamins A & E
In general, traditional medicine does not recognize that dietary factors can have anything to do with acne. Recent research appearing in Clinical & Experimental Dermatology (2006; 31(3): 430-3) may show that there is a nutrient connection. In the study, 100 subjects who were recently diagnosed with acne were compared to 100 healthy controls. The subjects Read More …
TV Viewing May Deter From Learning
Research appearing in July, 2005 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine shows that watching television can harm a child’s ability to learn. Several studies were looked at. One study looked at 400 Californian students in the third grad. It found that the students with televisions in their bedrooms scored an average of Read More …
Poor Diabetes Control Can Lead to Cognitive Difficulty
According to research appearing in Diabetes Care(August, 2006; 29: 1794-1799), elderly diabetics with poor blood sugar control may lead to cognitive dysfunction. Sixty patients, over the age of 70 were evaluated for cognitive dysfunction, using the Mini Mental State Examination and a clock-drawing test. The researchers found an inverse relationship between poor glycemic (blood sugar) Read More …
Poor Attention Span Caused by Hypoglycemia
According to the journal Diabetes Care (October 2001;24:1745-1750),low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia can create a poor attention span. Healthy people can become hypoglycemic (transiently) by skipping a meal. The brain uses glucose (sugar) as its main source of fuel. Denying yourself food can lower glucose levels and make it hard for the brain to pay Read More …
Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Depression in Children
Twenty children took part in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in theAmerican Journal of Psychiatry (2006; 163(6): 1098-100). The subjects were divided into two groups; one group was given omega-3 supplementation (a combination of EPA and DHA) and the second group was given a placebo. The children were evaluated using the Children’s Depression Scale, Children’s Read More …
Nutrition Learning and Behavior
The Appleton Central Alternative High School in Appleton, Wisconsin was established in 1996 for “problem” students that did not fit well into a traditional high school setting. Students were described as “rude, obnoxious, and ill-mannered” by their own dean of students. Problems with discipline were severe enough that a policeman had to be on campus Read More …