Seniors: How to Boost Your Memory - New Medical Research for 2012   by Kathleen Falken

Memory loss is the most common problem in men and women over 60.

Improving and even reversing memory loss in seniors has become the focus of a number of important research projects and clinical trials worldwide. These projects are part of the Anti Aging research being conducted in over twenty nations.

The result has been a critical new Study, reported as "Memory Boosters for Seniors - vitamin B12 and Folic Acid!"

Medical researchers looking into common supplements that will improve memory in seniors have found that taking oral supplements of folic acid (FA) and vitamin B12 can prevent memory loss in people over sixty.

Daily supplementation with folic acid and vitamin B12 improved cognitive functioning, particularly in immediate and delayed memory performance, according to the new study from the Australian National University Centre for Mental Health Research (CMHR), and published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition."

The team of Australian researchers were first seeking a prevention for mental depression rather than cognitive decline. They wanted to know whether folate - the naturally occurring version of folic acid - could help reduce levels of depression.

Over a two-year time period, the research group studied about 900 men and women aged between 60 and 74, in Sydney, Canberra and communities in Australia's interior. The researchers investigated "the effectiveness of three non-drug based approaches: encouraging physical activity, folate and vitamin B12 supplements, and reading about mental health and depression."

The research team monitored cognitive decline "because some changes to memory function occur in people once they reach the age of 60. Participants in the study were given a dose of 400 micrograms of folic acid and 100 micrograms of Vitamin B12 per day."

"Folate had no effect on whether people were more or less depressed," said one of the study's authors, Helen Christensen, professor of Mental Health Research at the University of New South Wales. However, there was an effect on cognitive decline. "We found that those people who were taking folate did not seem to show the same level of cognitive change as those that were not taking folate," she stated.

Professor Christensen said using folate and Vitamin B12 was an inexpensive way for people to improve memory function. "I didn't expect that such a small dose of folate supplement would have such an effect on cognitive levels."

Real results emerged after people took folate for at least 12 months. And the improvement was specific to memory decline rather than other cognitive changes, such as speed or processing of ideas. Professor Christensen stressed more study was needed.

"We would really think it was a great idea to replicate this with another group of people before we can be running around stridently suggesting that people should be making sure they have the folate in their food." However, she was encouraged that a definite link has been made between taking the supplements and preventing memory loss.

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Dr Janine G Walker, lead author of the study, stated that taking vitamin B12 "may have an important role in promoting healthy ageing and mental wellbeing, as well as sustaining good cognitive functioning for longer on a community-wide scale."

"The study suggests that mental health literacy interventions may have a role in lowering the risk for depression," explained Dr Walker.

"That's good news because evidence-based written material about mental health is inexpensive to deliver, can be easily accessed, and its ability to prevent depression may be considerable if provided to large numbers of older people already experiencing some depressive symptoms."

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Folate and folic acid are both vitamins in the B group. They are closely related but are not the same. Folate occurs naturally in food whereas folic acid is a synthetic form of the vitamin usually found in fortified foods such as cereals and vitamin supplements.

Dietary vitamins B12 and Folic Acid have also been shown to be liver-protective against liver-toxins. Studies have shown that people with MS have a higher rate of vitamin B12 deficiency.

Folic acid and B12 supplements are readily available over the counter at low cost. Medical experts suggest that B12 is most effectively taken as a liquid supplement, held under the tongue. It is important to have a blood test to measure your B12 level.

Seniors with low B12 levels (and no intrinsic factor) may need to be given B12 by injection. Symptoms of B12 deficiency include anaemia, constant fatigue, exhaustion, heart disease, menstrual problems, araesthesia (known as "pins & needles"), diarrhea, depression, low libido and erectile dysfunction (ED).

Symptoms of Folic Acid deficiency include glossitis (inflammation of the tongue), diarrhea, depression, confusion, anemia, brain defects, low libido and inability to achieve orgasm.

Commenting on the study, American neurologist Dr Francis Stone concluded, "This is a good news, good news discovery. Since depression in seniors is caused to a large degree by worry about loss of mental and physical facilities, as well as loss of things such as sexual prowess and energy -- that is, a drop in libido and ability to perform sexually -- the improvements shown by taking so easilly obtained supplements as B12 and Folic Acid are going to make a positive change in many senior's lifestyles."

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As a therapist and relationship expert, I have seen a sea change in the way body image is perceived in modern society. Big Beautiful Women, Supersize Women and Big Handsome Men are increasingly accepted.

The greatest increase in online dating in 2012 is the Seniors Dating and Christian Relationships categories. As the folks at http://www.wuving.com well know.

- Kate

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Sources:

1. Walker JG, Batterham PJ, Mackinnon AJ, et al. Oral folic acid and vitamin B-12 supplementation to prevent cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults with depressive symptoms -- the Beyond Ageing Project: a randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. January, 2012, 95(1):194-203

2. Clinical Trials: A Service of the U. S. National Institutes of Health. Beyond Ageing Project: A Study for the Prevention of Depression. January 19, 2012. Online at //clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00214682

3. The Royal College of Psychiatrists. Mental health literacy, folic acid and vitamin B12, and physical activity for the prevention of depression in older adults: randomised controlled trial: online at //bjp.rcpsych.org/content/197/1/45

4. Natural Standard Research Collaboration: The Authority on Integrative Medicine, online at naturalstandard.com

5. Neurology, printed by the American Medical Association, and published online before print Dec. 28, 2011, at //neurology.org/content/early/2011/12/28/WNL.0b013e3182436598.abstract.

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Health: Anti Aging

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Copyright© 2012 by Kathleen Falken. This Article may be freely emailed, copied and distributed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice and active links.

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