Advances in Cognitive Health
The traditional medicine view of neurodegeneration (the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons) has been that it is irreversible and that adults cannot grow back lost or damaged neurons. However, more and more research is showing that this is not true, and experts in the field of functional and integrative medicine have been making leaps and bounds in methods to prevent and even reverse cognitive decline.
For instance, one study conducted at Yale Medical School by Tamas Horvath and colleagues showed that mice who were injected with extra ghrelin—a hormone produced in the stomach that stimulates appetite and is also known to interact with the hippocampus, a part of the brain that plays an active role in memory and learning—were found to consistently outperform normal mice in standard laboratory tests for memory and learning. “Ghrelin improved the animals’ performance by 30 to 40 percent,” says Horvath.
Post-mortem reviews also revealed that the mice injected with extra ghrelin had more advanced development in their brain structure, with approximately 30 percent more brain cell connections. In contrast, a second study shows that mice who lacked the gene for ghrelin routinely came up short in the tests. When they were injected with the hormone, their performance became normal.
Manage Your Mind
This study and others like it suggest that there are ways to actually enhance cognition by promoting the growth of new brain cells and protecting them from the effects of aging. One treatment—available in the form of a nasal spray—is called RG3, a component of Panax ginseng that may help with brain fog and difficulty concentrating.
RG3 can support healthy brain function in adults while protecting sensitive neurons from damage. By decreasing inflammation and oxidative stress within the brain, RG3 has been found to enhance memory and mental focus in adults, as well as help with the induction of neurogenesis—the creation and development of neurons in the body. This treatment has also been known to help people living with brain trauma, adrenal insufficiencies, and energy issues such as chronic fatigue syndrome.
Seeking help from an expert with advanced training that goes beyond mainstream medicine can give you access to the most up-to-date medical information and care. The physicians of the BodyLogicMD network complete extensive training in the field of integrative and metabolic medicine while keeping up with current research to deliver a comprehensive treatment approach to health concerns such as brain fog, difficulty focusing, and more. Contact a BodyLogicMD physician near you today to schedule a consultation.