The Neuro-Protective Lifestyle

Who guessed that the second law of thermodynamics† would be invoked to explain the neurobiology of aging. Rather than one master mechanism to explain the gradual failing of complex neurochemical processes, a shroud of dysregulation slowly, (mostly), yet inexorably engulfs our delicate brain mitochondrial DNA. Since brain mitochondrial DNA is especially sensitive to oxidative damage the result is, profound neurodegeneration and death.

A veritable laundry list of antioxidants capable of quenching singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen species exists. As a former believer in the “free-radical theory of aging” I have taken most of them at one time or another. As it turns out, impaired insulin signaling, caused by free-radical damage and the progressive imbalance of a family seven super-enzymes known as “sirtuins” best explains brain aging and cognitive decline. Who’d ah thunk?

So what’s so super about the sirtuin super-enzymes you ask? Only that they more than double the lifespan of simple yeast cells and ultimately are responsible for the regulation of metabolism, gene expression and aging!

So what sirtuin activating compounds do we know about already? You met one not long ago…resveratrol and the whole family of polyphenols. Low-calorie diets increase longevity by activating sirtuin. Exercise increases sirtuin activity.

Without question commercially viable, small molecule activators of sirtuin subtypes will be available for the taking.

Just ask the folks at Sirtris Pharmaceuticals.

In the meantime, train and eat like a buddhist monk.

†In physics entropy signifies the amount of energy in a closed system that is unavailable to do work. Simply put, over time, all things tend toward increasing randomness and decay…our universe included.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Alas, the idea that the brain represents an untouchable, unfathomable unchangeable inner sanctum is finally dead!

The brain as it turns out is fully touchable, understandable (within limits) and most importantly subject to change. So touchable and changeable that your response to psychological stressors and whether you have an appetite for blueberries will influence the rate of neurocognitive decline over your lifetime.

A variety of mechanisms have been proposed to explain the cellular changes associated with brain aging.

None has had any real clinical significance until now.

Recent experimental studies suggest that inflammation accelerates brain aging and may even contribute to the development of Alzheimers. In short, inflammatory proteins such as C-reative protein and proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 and TNF-alpha interfere with synaptic transmission and thus brain function.

This theory was put to the test with a select group of Alzheimer’s patients and reported in the Journal of Neuroinflammation.

In this study, a substance with known anti-inflammatory properties was administered to patients with a specially developed “direct-to-the-central-nervous-system” delivery system.
Within minutes memory recall and object naming improved. Patients also appeared calmer and more composed. While this treatment does not yet constitute a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, it does illustrate several important points:

1. the brain is imminently changeable
2. neuroinflammation is at least partly responsible for accelerated brain aging
3. the effects of inflammation can be ameliorated and ideally prevented

The Neuroprotective Lifestyle is all about the practical application of cutting edge neuroscience. Why accept end-of-life senescence as an inevitability when you have the power to change your brain and we have the tools to help you do it!

Even now as I merrily blog along, I am listening to Dr. Rick Collingwood’s amazing alpha-wave generator, generously layered with positive subliminal messaging. All designed to increase retention and enhance interhemispheric communication (more on that later).

Remember—- where the brain leads, the body will follow!

Join me in my inner journey to nourish the “bodhi brain” and beyond!

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!