Supplements to Boost your Memory and the Alzheimer’s Dementia test to monitor it

Memory is one of the fascinating aspects of the human brain, and everyone wants to have a great memory.

Unfortunately, as you age, you tend to lose some brain function which may cause a gradual decline in your memory.

Although there is no magic potion that will suddenly improve your memory, there are some vital nutrients that can help your brain function at its optimum level.

There are hundreds of supplements on the market that claim to boost your memory, but are they worth the hype?

Can supplements make your memory sharper? Let’s find out if these can help and what to do if it isn’t working.

Do supplements for boosting your memory work?

There are hundreds of supplements in the market that claim to boost your memory and prevent it from deteriorating.

While there is no ‘magic potion’ that can miraculously improve your memory, some of the supplements contain vital nutrients that can boost your memory and improve your cognitive function.

Before we get into the details of the nutrients that make some of the supplements great for memory loss, there is one thing that you should always keep in mind while using supplements.

No dietary supplements should be taken without letting your doctor know first. It would be best to start taking the supplements only once the doctor gives you the green signal.

With that out of the way, let’s focus on the nutrients that most supplements contain and how they can boost your memory.

1. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

Numerous studies have proven the various health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, and DHA is one of the most potent omega-3 fatty acids out there.

It is the primary ingredient of fish oil and is known to have a very strong antioxidant effect. It has been shown to improve various health conditions, including hypertension and even cancer.

The antioxidant effect of the DHA can also help your brain and neuronal health. DHA is thought to help your neurons fight off the free radicals generated, thereby prolonging the life of neurons. The result is improvement in cognitive function and memory.

For instance, a large study conducted at Tufts University found that DHA can have a potent anti-inflammatory effect and reduce mental and cognitive decline in older people by as much as 47%.

There are a lot of fish oil supplements out there. Most of them contain a good amount of DHA or a combination of DHA and another omega-3 fatty acid called Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

2. Choline

Choline is yet another nutrient that is often credited with having memory-boosting and cognitive-enhancing effects on humans.

Choline is a molecule that is neither categorized as a mineral nor a vitamin. It is often grouped with B-complex vitamins due to their chemistry with B vitamins.

It is essential for the proper functioning of various vital organs, including the liver and brain. It is required in the diet in adequate amounts to have these organs functioning properly.

Choline has several cytoprotective properties, including:

• Involvement in cell structure: Choline is used by your body to synthesize fats that are essential for cell integrity.
• Fat transport and metabolism: Choline is also an important constituent of lipoproteins that carry the cholesterol away from the liver. In a deficiency of choline, cholesterol buildup can happen in the liver resulting in liver damage.
• Used to make neurotransmitters in the brain: Choline is also a raw material for making an important neurotransmitter called Acetylcholine (Ach). The neurotransmitter is involved in memory and regulating various vital functions of the body.

Although you can get enough choline from eggs, you can opt for choline supplements if you are a vegan or a vegetarian.

Several brands of choline supplements can boost your memory and prevent progressive memory loss as you age.

3. Minerals (Zinc and Magnesium)

Minerals play an important role in regulating the metabolism of neurons. Both magnesium (Mg) and Zinc (Zn) can help improve memory by stimulating the process of new neuron formation- neurogenesis.

As you age, the neurons become progressively weaker, and stimulation of neurogenesis can help your brain replace them with newer, functioning neurons. What it results in is a sharper brain with no memory issues.

Zinc has also been shown to be vital in developing short-term memory and recall. This mineral is essential for the formation of new links between neurons that can improve your memory.

4. Ginkgo Biloba

Another contender on this list of great nutritional supplements is the Chinese herb called Ginkgo. It contains hundreds of phytochemicals that have a variety of actions, from neuroprotection to cancer protection.

Most of the active ingredients of the herb are known to have a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect.

These ingredients are thought to reduce injury to brain cells and allow them to recuperate. Many people find that Ginkgo supplements also make them more alert and active.

A study also found that Ginkgo supplements can help people with Alzheimer’s disease by preventing the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques- the hallmark of the disease.

5. Vitamin D

Vitamin D is one of the essential vitamins that play a crucial role in protecting your body from oxidative stress. The deficiency of this critical vitamin can cause a host of health effects, including depression and memory loss.

Supplements containing vitamin D can help you improve your cognitive abilities and reduce the risk of accelerated neurodegeneration.

Although your body can synthesize this vitamin by itself with the help of sunlight, in colder countries, where there is a lack of sun, people need to obtain it through their diet.

Several fruits, veggies, and red meat can provide you with vitamin D, but if you need additional doses, there are a ton of supplements out there that contain vitamin D in combination with DHA and Choline.

What to do if supplements and other measures aren’t helping your memory

There are a number of reasons why supplements and other measures might not be helping your memory.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI)

MCI is a milder form of cognitive decline that can precede dementia.

If you have MCI, you may notice some mild memory problems, but you can still carry out your normal activities.

Get further evaluation

If you’re concerned that you may have MCI, it’s important to talk to your doctor.

They will ask about your medical history, perform a physical examination, and order diagnostic tests which will help in detecting cognitive impairment.

They may also recommend some brain-training exercises or suggest changes to your diet and lifestyle.

The dementia test to monitor your memory

Neuropsychological testing can be an important tool in diagnosing and monitoring dementia.

The test assesses a variety of cognitive abilities, including memory, attention, language, and executive function. It can also help to identify which areas of the brain are affected by the disease.

The test is usually administered by a trained psychologist or neurologist. It typically takes about two hours to complete.

While there is no single test that can definitively diagnose dementia, neuropsychological testing can provide valuable information about a person’s cognitive abilities.

In combination with other tests and evaluations, it can help to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of dementia.

It can be helpful to rule out underlying mood issues in normal patients or in Alzheimer’s disease-diagnosed patients.

So if supplements and other measures aren’t helping as much as you’d like, don’t despair. Talk to your doctor and explore other options.

How Prime MD Plus can help

Memory loss can be frustrating and even frightening, but there are steps you can take to help manage the problem.

One option is to visit a memory clinic, such as Prime MD Plus.

At Prime MD Plus, we specialize in memory disorders and can offer early detection and treatment of memory problems.

We use a variety of medical tests (blood tests and imaging tests) to diagnose memory disorders and develop personalized treatment plans.

Whether you’re dealing with memory loss or are concerned about your risk of developing a memory disorder, we can help detect early signs of dementia with a variety of imaging and laboratory tests.

Contact us today to learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment.

Conclusion

Nutrients play an important role in maintaining the health of your neurons. Supplementing with the right nutrients can help you improve the function of your brain and boost your memory.

However, remember that supplements alone can’t help enough if you don’t have a healthy lifestyle. To get the most out of your supplements, ensure that you pair them with physical exercise and healthy lifestyle choices.

A memory doctor can help if you are having issues with your memory. They can help to diagnose dementia or MCI, help to coordinate care with family members, and refer you to other needed specialists or clinical trials.

Consult a specialized doctor for any kind of memory issues with Prime MD Plus, where you can connect with a board-certified geriatrician in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to help diagnose and manage any memory problems you may have.

Check out primemdplus.com for more information.