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New Research about Maintaining Brain Function

Dr. Scott Fuller

There is some new research that is very encouraging regarding improving and retaining the function of your brain. I have known about these issues and have been discussing them with my patients for many years, but it is nice to see the mainstream press now distributing this information.

The first article is titled The Brain is Like a Muscle. This research illustrates that exercising the brain can lead to better function and retain this function for a longer period of time. Researchers recommend specific activities that improve brain function and activity. I have discussed these in previous newsletters as well, when discussing ADD, ADHD, hyperactivity, and learning disorders.

Nerve cells of your brain are kept at optimum health from two major resources. The first thing that nerve cells need is called activation. Activation is a term that describes stimulation, power, and electricity that originates from special nerve endings called receptors that are spread all throughout your body. These receptors are concentrated in the joints and muscles of your body. Therefore, physical exercise helps keep the brain healthy (still another reason to exercise!). However, the highest concentration of receptors exists in your spinal soft tissues, including the discs, joints, and muscles of your spine. The spine is loaded with many joints, discs, and muscles, and these tissues have a higher concentration of receptors as compared to other tissues around your body. Therefore, spinal health and flexibility is paramount when it comes to dealing with optimal brain function and nerve cell health. The article you will read will be deficient in explaining this to you, but this is well documented in the medical literature. Obviously, spinal health and flexibility can be accomplished with chiropractic examination, treatment, and following through with all of your chiropractic spinal homework, including exercises, posture habits, and proper ergonomics.

The second thing that this article will mention is how nutrition is related to brain cell health. As I have described in my newsletter, ?Essential Fatty Acids and Brain Function,? brain cells need essential fatty acids for optimum health. These fatty acids come from whole grains, vegetables, and some fish. Other foods contain saturated fat, which actually decrease brain cell function (beef, chicken, eggs, all dairy products, and processed foods with trans-fats). Most people agree we all need to take in more vegetables, especially fresh, and most people agree that we are deficient in whole grain foods. Now you have further motivation to consume more of these foods because it has been related to optimum brain function, and possible prevention of Alzheimer?s and other brain-related disorders.

The second article (printed on the back of the first to save trees) is titled Vegetables High in Antioxidants May Reduce Risk of Alzheimer?s Disease. This report confirms again how important it is to consume vegetables regularly to increase the health of your brain. Vegetables have a double benefit because they contain antioxidants that help clear out free radicals, and essential fatty acids for nerve cell health.

Please share this information with your loved ones, family, friends, and co-workers. We all need to be reminded that the majority of disease and suffering is preventable. Physical activity will drive receptors to stimulate brain cell health and healthy food choices will provide brain cells with building blocks to stay healthy. Continuing mental exercises and cognitive stimulation will keep brain cells healthier, and ongoing chiropractic care will help provide the brain with proper receptor stimulation from the richest source of receptors, which exist in the soft tissues in around your spine.

References: THE BRAIN IS LIKE A MUSCLE, 07/24/00, Scientists Urge Mental Exercise By LAURAN NEERGAARD, Medical Writer, WASHINGTON (AP) and VEGETABLES HIGH IN ANTIOXIDANTS MAY REDUCE RISK OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, By M. Mary Pennell, WASHINGTON, July 13 (Reuters Health)

Created by: Dr. Scott Fuller, D.C., C.C.S.T. (7-27-00)
Fuller Chiropractic
576 Main Street
Woburn, MA 01801

(781) 933-3332

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