What Causes Mental Decline and How Can You Reverse It?

Unfortunately, there are many things that can adversely affect our brain, mood, and memory. These include food additives, sweeteners, poor circulation, head trauma, infections, air pollution, pesticides, lack of mental activity, and more. But what do these all have in common? Inflammation.

Each of these can damage cells and activate an immune response resulting in inflammation. You can observe the inflammation process any time you get a simple scratch on your hand. Soon after, the tissues around the scratch may become red or inflamed as our repair system goes to work. When cells are damaged in our brain, a similar response will occur. However, even though we cannot see or feel these, in time, if these inflammation fires are not fully extinguished, they will disrupt normal cell function and cause additional damage.

If you are over the age of 65 or feel at times as though your brain is not working as well as it should, the experts say it’s quite likely you have chronic inflammation in your brain. It could be from a blow to the head, periodontal disease, a urinary tract infection, or one of the items or conditions noted above. Inflammation is a natural part of our immune response, but as with arthritis, if not kept under control, it can cause serious damage.

So how can you extinguish or control this flame in your brain? It’s not easy, but here are four things that researchers have found may help.

First, eat vegetables and fresh fruit. Eat a mixture of leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale, collard greens, parsley, celery, Brussels sprouts, as well as asparagus, avocados, purple cabbage, cauliflower, bell peppers, the orange meat of melons, squash, yams, oranges, and tangerines. These foods provide folate, which works in conjunction with B-12 in eggs, meat, and dairy products to help control inflammation linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, red, blue, and purple berries, including cocoa, contain a variety of powerful antioxidants, like carotenoids and flavonoids, that quench the sparks from inflamed tissues called free radicals. They also contain other vitamins and minerals like magnesium that can help to reduce the effects of inflammation and promote mental health.

This is one reason why a recent study in England found eating seven or more servings of vegetables and fruit daily promoted a sense of well-being better than money, employment, or even exercise. (Although, exercise is also very important.)

Second, stay physically and mentally active. We know physical activity can improve circulation and reduce inflammation. And just as physical activity reduces inflammation in joints, mental activities like reading, writing, teaching or sharing in conversations, doing crossword and other puzzles, or searching the Internet can all help to reduce inflammation in the brain. The brain was made for learning, and it does best when kept active.

Caution: Vigorous physical activity causes a natural increase in free radicals, so when you exercise it’s also wise to take antioxidant supplements. See below.

Third, add some spice to your life. Research at UCLA has shown one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory agents in nature is curcumin, found in the spice turmeric, used in curry and mustard. High use of this spice is one reason seniors in India have less than a quarter of the incidents of Alzheimer’s that we have in America. Another reason is they consume far less sugar, and sugar can also evoke an inflammation. Other spices like rosemary, sage, cloves, and frankincense have also been found to help reduce the flames within and promote good mental health and memory. 

Finally, consider supplements that reduce inflammation or boost antioxidants in your body. The complex of B vitamins is a basic, helpful supplement. But perhaps the most helpful is an inexpensive protein called NAC f (N-acetyl-cysteine). This protein enables our body to produce its most powerful antioxidant—glutathione, which is one thousand times more powerful than vitamin C. In fact, vitamin C’s most important role might be to help regenerate glutathione. Other helpful antioxidant supplements include curcumin, quercetin, vitamin E, alpha lipoic acid, L-carnitine, selenium, and CoQ10.

Inflammation underlies most of our physical and mental ills associated with aging, but by following the suggestions noted above, we can do much to quench these flames within and promote greater physical and mental health

If you have questions, you can email the author at DavidRJL@aol.com.

By David R. Larsen, MFHD