You’ve seen both sides of the coin. Some folks who are north of 90 are “Cognition Kings,” and nothing gets by them. While others suffer “senior moments” before they’re even eligible to apply for an AARP card.
But most people are somewhere in the middle. They get to experience a little of each, depending on the day.
Some days, you’re sharp, focused, and as “with it” as ever. And others? Well, cognitive hiccups can make it a struggle to just to finish your sentences.
Now, new research reveals a simple trick that can help you stay “with it” no matter how many birthdays you have under your belt. But as bizarre as it sounds, this approach doesn’t start in your brain.
In fact, it takes place about 18 inches lower.
A stronger heart can STOP ‘senior moments’
So much of the research on brain health focuses on folks with dementia or those on the verge of getting it. And that’s great. Studies that try to unravel MAJOR cognition issues are needed.
But what about the rest of us? There’s simply not a lot out there.
That’s why this new study is so important. Because it finally helps fill in that gap. It focused on mostly healthy seniors, except that they’re just not quite as sharp as they should be all the time.
The difference? In many cases, it’s not something in the brain causing cognition trouble. It’s in the heart. As the study finds that overall cardiac function holds the key to good cognition in seniors.
The volunteers in the study were given MRIs to test the heart. Plus, they took cognition tests to measure how fast the brain can process information and how efficiently it can use it to solve problems.
It turns out the folks with better heart function did much better on the cognitive tests.
While this is believed to be the first study of its kind – primarily because it was done on healthier people – the results match what we already know. Your brain needs oxygen and key nutrients to function, which it pulls out of the bloodstream.
If your heart is functioning at anything other than peak levels, your brain may not be able to soak up everything it needs. This causes it to sputter, leading to those frustrating cognition problems. And, later on, it could put you on the path toward cognitive decline and dementia, too.
In fact, I had a loved one battle this very issue recently. And I can tell you, when we finally got the heart function and oxygen issues resolved, watching his cognitive struggles melt away was almost like seeing a miracle.
Supporting your heart helps preserve cognition
Now, obviously, you want a healthier heart. We ALL do. No one’s trying to get heart disease, right? But if you’re generally healthy, it might not be something you spend too much time thinking about.
But, as the study shows, it’s time for all of us to change that approach. And thankfully, there are some simple ways to do it that you can get started on right away.
In fact, there are some double-duty nutrients known to help the heart and brain alike:
- fish oil
- B vitamins (especially B12).
- magnesium
- coenzyme Q10
- acetyl-L-carnitine
And don’t forget the natural health superstar, resveratrol. In one study, this age-defying compound was able to reverse the damage of 10 years of aging in the brains of older women.
Resveratrol is also great for ensuring good cardiovascular health. In another study, this nutritional powerhouse increased flow-mediated dilation, a key marker of circulation and blood vessel health, by an impressive 23 percent.
For MORE on the remarkable benefits of resveratrol see my earlier report, “How to turn your brain 10 years younger.”
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