Memory is an essential part of our existence. Without the ability to learn new tasks, remember basic things or put events into correct perspective, you cannot live a normal or productive life. Stress, aging and various viruses harm brain health, often leading to mental illness and diseases like Alzheimer’s. Researchers are now working towards creating a pill to fight these undesirable changes, while in the meantime, a change of diet may provide some help.
Scientists at Baylor University believe a so-called “memory pill” and perhaps even a cure for Alzheimer’s may be achievable in the near future. A recent study has identified a specific gene in mice, called Protein Kinase R (PKR), which plays a role in memory function as well as a stress response that is triggered at the onset of Alzheimer’s. Blocking or genetically suppressing PKR not only prevents but also reverses degenerative mental illnesses, while also allowing the brain to go into super memory mode. Utilizing PKR-deficient mice, the research team sought to find an inhibitor, molecule or drug that would specifically block PKR in humans. Their findings demonstrated that when PKR is blocked or genetically suppressed, an immune molecule called gamma interferon improves brain function by increasing communication between neurons, improving memory and making brain function more efficient.
While researchers are working on a pill to block PKR, there is a natural method you can follow to support life longevity and brain health: simply limit your food portions. Italian scientists have discovered that eating less food keeps the mind young, and a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA found that a calorie-restricted diet triggers CREB1, a protein molecule that activates a number of genes that play essential roles in brain function and longevity. The connection between gaining weight and losing brain power has been known for some time, as demonstrated by the strong correlation between middle-age obesity and later-age cognitive impairment. These findings identify an important mediator of the effects of diet on the brain, which could help to develop future therapies to prevent brain degeneration and the aging process.
These findings are significant in indicating the direct relationship among stress, aging and caloric intake on cognitive function. However, future medicines developed from these early-stage studies should not be considered panaceas, as they may allow you to maintain an unhealthy lifestyle while feeling better, but at the expense of being dependent on drugs. Since researchers know that stress and excess food both increase the risk of poor cognitive function and diseases like Alzheimer’s in later life, it makes sense to put that preventive information to use now.
By changing the way we eat, reducing our portion sizes and increasing the consumption of whole foods, we can help increase our life expectancy while avoiding a preventable trigger of poor memory and mental dysfunction. Coupling these changes with easy stress-relief methods, like meditation and yoga, will not only help us feel better now, but also put in place a defense against poor brain health later in life. Taking these simple steps now can lead us to avoid the need for a super memory pill and CREB1 therapies when they become available or help us take smaller doses to enjoy mentally clear golden years.
