Why It's More Difficult To Remember New Information, Especially As We Get Older...

Information Overload...
The older we get, the more difficulty we seem to have remembering things. We can leave our cars in the same parking lot each morning, but unless we park in the same space each and every day, it's a challenge eight hours later to recall where we left the vehicle.

Another common example... We can be introduced to new people at a meeting and will have forgotten their names before the initial handshake. Typically, we reassure ourselves that our brains are just too full to handle the overload of new information that comes in daily.

According to a team of Johns Hopkins neuro-scientists, the real difficulty is that our aging brains are unable to process this information as "new" because the brain pathways leading to the specific area of the brain that stores memories called the hippocampus become degraded over time. As a result of hippocampus degradation, our brains cannot accurately "file" new information (like the names of new people we meet and where we left the car in the parking garage), and we experience confusion.

"Our research uses brain imaging techniques that investigate both the brain's functional and structural integrity to demonstrate that age is associated with a reduction in the hippocampus's ability to do its job, and this is related to the reduced input it is getting from the rest of the brain," said researchers of psychological and brain sciences in Johns Hopkins' Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. "As we get older, we are much more susceptible to "interference" from older memories than we are when we are younger."

When faced with an experience similar to what it has encountered before, such as parking the car, our brain tends to recall old information it already has stored instead of filing new information and being able to retrieve that. Thus, you can't find your car immediately and find yourself wandering the parking lot."Maybe this is also why we tend to reminisce so much more as we get older: because it is easier to recall old memories than make new ones," the researchers explained.

The study appears in the May 9 online edition of the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences"
The Johns Hopkins team used MRI scans to observe the brains of 40 healthy young college students and older adults, ages 60 to 80, while these participants viewed pictures of common, everyday objects and classified each (by pressing a button) as either "indoor" or "outdoor." (The team used three kinds of MRI scans in the study: structural MRI scans, which detect structural abnormalities; functional MRI scans, which
document how hard various regions of the brain work during tasks; and diffusion MRIs, which monitor how well different regions of the brain communicate by tracking the movement of water molecules along pathways.)

Some of the pictures were similar but not identical, and others were markedly different. The team used functional MRI to watch the hippocampus when participants saw items that were exactly the same or slightly different to ascertain how this region of the brain classified that item: as familiar or not.

"Pictures had to be very distinct from each other for an older person's hippocampus to correctly classify them as new. The more similar the pictures were, the more the older person's hippocampus struggled to do this. A young person's hippocampus, on the other hand, treated all of these similar pictures as new," they explained.

Later, the participants viewed a series of completely new pictures and again were asked to classify them as
either "indoor" or "outdoor." A few minutes later, the researchers presented the participants with the new set
of pictures and asked whether each item was "old," "new" or "similar.""The 'similar' response was the critical response for us, because it let us know that participants could distinguish between similar items and knew that they're not identical to the ones they had seen before," they said. "We found that older adults tended to have fewer 'similar' responses and more 'old' responses instead, indicating that they could not distinguish between similar items."

The inability among older adults to recognize information as "similar" to something they had seen recently is linked to what is known as the "perforant pathway," which directs input from the rest of the brain into the hippocampus. The more degraded the pathway, the less likely the hippocampus is to store similar memories as distinct from old memories.

"We are now closer to understanding some of the mechanisms that underlie memory loss with increasing age," according to the researchers. "These results have possible practical ramifications in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, because the hippocampus is one of the places that deteriorate very early in the course of that disease."

The team's next step would be to conduct clinical trials in early Alzheimer's disease patients using the mechanisms that they have isolated as a way to measure the efficacy of therapeutic medications.

"Basically, we will now be able to investigate the effect of a drug on hippocampal function and pathway integrity," they noted. "If the drug slows down pathway degradation and hippocampal dysfunction, it's possible that it could delay the onset of Alzheimer's by five to 10 years, which may be enough for a large proportion of older adults to not get the disease at all. This would be a huge breakthrough in the field."

The study was funded by the National Institute on Aging.

Story Source: Johns Hopkins University (2011, May 13).

Journal Reference:
Age-related memory deficits linked to circuit-specific disruptions in the hippocampus. Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences, 2011;
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Fructose again linked to fat build-up: study

Fructose again linked to fat build-up: study

By Stephen Daniells
7/25/2008- Fat build-up from fructose consumption may be greater than what occurs when we eat other types of sugars, such as glucose and sucrose, according to a new study.

Researchers from the University of Texas recruited six young, healthy, lean people to take part in their study, which compared the formation of fat (lipogenesis) following consumption of pure glucose, or combinations of glucose and fructose.

The results are published in the Journal of Nutrition.

"Our study shows for the first time the surprising speed with which humans make body fat from fructose," said Elizabeth Parks from the UT's Southwestern Medical Center.

"[Fructose, glucose and sucrose] can be made into triglycerides, a form of body fat; however, once you start the process of fat synthesis from fructose, it's hard to slow it down," she added.

However, Dr Parks was quick to point out that it is misleading to suggest the consumption of a specific food or food ingredient was the cause of obesity and the rise of type-2 diabetes.

"There are lots of people out there who want to demonize fructose as the cause of the obesity epidemic," she said. "I think it may be a contributor, but it's not the only problem. Americans are eating too many calories for their activity level. We're overeating fat, we're overeating protein; and we're over-eating all sugars," she said.

Study details

Parks and co-workers recruited four men and two women with an average age of 28, and an average BMI of 24.3 kg per sq. m. The volunteers consumed three soft drinks on three separate occasions; one was sweetened with 100 per cent glucose, the second with 50 per cent glucose and 50 per cent fructose, and the third with 25 per cent glucose and 75 per cent fructose. The tests were random and blinded.

The UT researchers report that lipogenesis increased from 7.8 per cent for the glucose beverage, to 15.9 per cent after the 50:50 beverage and 16.9 per cent after the 25:75 beverage.

Moreover, blood triglyceride levels were between 11 and 29 per cent higher after consumption of the 50:50 and 25:75 beverage, compared to the 100 per cent glucose drink.

"The message from this study is powerful because body fat synthesis was measured immediately after the sweet drinks were consumed," said Dr. Parks said. "The carbohydrates came into the body as sugars, the liver took the molecules apart like tinker toys, and put them back together to build fats. All this happened within four hours after the fructose drink. As a result, when the next meal was eaten, the lunch fat was more likely to be stored than burned.

"This is an underestimate of the effect of fructose because these individuals consumed the drinks while fasting and because the subjects were healthy, lean and could presumably process the fructose pretty quickly. Fat synthesis from sugars may be worse in people who are overweight or obese because this process may be already revved up," she added.

Metabolism of fructose

The metabolism of glucose and fructose is different, said the researchers. In humans, triglycerides are predominantly formed in the liver. This organ decides what to do when it encounters glucose. The sugar is either stored as glycogen, burnt for energy or turn the glucose into triglycerides.

On the other hand, fructose bypassing the liver and floods the metabolic pathway, said the researchers.

"It's a less-controlled movement of fructose through these pathways that causes it to contribute to greater triglyceride synthesis," said Parks. "The bottom line of this study is that fructose very quickly gets made into fat in the body."

The work was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Cargill Higher Education Fund and the Sugar Association.

Well studied

Research from the University of Florida in 2005 reported similar results. In that instance the research implicated a rise in uric acid in the bloodstream that occurs after fructose is consumed. That temporary spike blocks the action of insulin, which typically regulates how body cells use and store sugar and other food nutrients for energy.

If uric acid levels are frequently elevated, over time features of metabolic syndrome may develop, including high blood pressure, obesity and elevated blood cholesterol levels.

"We cannot definitively state that fructose is driving the obesity epidemic," said researcher Richard Johnson, from UF's College of Medicine Johnson, in 2005. "But we can say that there is evidence supporting the possibility that it could have a contributory role - if not a major role."

Source: Journal of Nutrition
June 2008, Volume 138, Pages 1039-1046
"Dietary Sugars Stimulate Fatty Acid Synthesis in Adults"
Authors: E.J. Parks, L.E. Skokan, M.T. Timlin, C.S. Dingfelder

Jeremy Hawkins

Another great reason to drink Focus Up Energy Think Drink / ACT Energy!

Energy drinks are a large emerging trend in our society today with global sales of $5 billion dollars in the last year. With our fast paced lifestyles, people are looking for that “something” that will give them that all-important "get up and go" mentality. Sadly, the majority of today’s energy drinks are packed full of sugar, artificial colors and flavors and unhealthy stimulants.

As you will see in the article below, a study now shows that consumers have another worry when drinking beverages such as soda and energy drinks - tooth erosion. The breakdown of tooth enamel is caused by the effect of sugar and acid on the teeth that leads to decay.

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Popular Energy Drinks Cause Tooth Erosion, Study Shows

ScienceDaily (Mar. 16, 2008) — For more than 10 years, energy drinks in the United States have been on the rise, promising consumers more "oomph" in their day. In fact, it is estimated that the energy drink market will hit $10 billion by 2010. While that may be great news for energy drink companies, it could mean a different story for the oral health of consumers who sometimes daily rely on these drinks for that extra boost.

Previous scientific research findings have helped to warn consumers that the pH (potential of hydrogen) levels in beverages such as soda could lead to tooth erosion, the breakdown of tooth structure caused by the effect of acid on the teeth that leads to decay. The studies revealed that, whether diet or regular, ice tea or root beer, the acidity level in popular beverages that consumers drink every day contributes to the erosion of enamel.

However, in a recent study that appears in the November/December 2007 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) clinical, peer reviewed journal, the pH level of soft drinks isn't the only factor that causes dental erosion. A beverage's "buffering capacity," or the ability to neutralize acid, plays a significant role in the cause of dental erosion.

The study examined the acidity levels of five popular beverages on the market. The results proved that popular "high energy" and sports drinks had the highest mean buffering capacity, resulting in the strongest potential for erosion of enamel.

According to the study, the popularity of energy drinks is on the rise, especially among adolescents and young adults. Their permanent teeth are more susceptible to attack from the acids found in soft drinks, due to the porous quality of their immature tooth enamel. As a result, there is high potential for erosion among this age demographic to increase.

In fact, Raymond Martin, DDS, MAGD, AGD spokesperson, says he treats more patients in their teens to 20s for tooth erosion. "They drink a great deal more sodas, sports drinks, and energy drinks," he says. "The results, if not treated early and if extensive, can lead to very severe dental issues that would require full mouth rehabilitation to correct," says Dr. Martin.

Rhodiola For Increased Mental Energy And Concentration: This Herb Just May Be The Perfect Focus-Factor!

Rhodiola for whatever ails you? The Book “Rhodiola Revolution” says that this one European herb is scientifically proven to: “maximize energy; fight the effects of stress and aging; sharpen memory and concentration; ease anxiety and depression; and enhance physical performance.” How in the world can one herb do all this you ask? Well, the good news is like many botanical ingredients today, there is a scientific explanation that shed’s a bright light on the benefits of this fascinating herb.

Rhodiola rosea (R. rosea or rhodiola) has been utilized medicinally for centuries in many European and Asian countries, where it grows in the unusually harsh environment of polar, Arctic, and high-altitude alpine regions.1 Between 1725 and 1960, various medicinal applications of rhodiola appeared in the scientific literature of many countries, including Sweden, Norway, France, Germany, the Soviet Union, and Iceland.2 Since 1960, more than 180 modern pharmacological, phytochemical, and clinical studies have been published.2

Although rhodiola has been extensively studied in other countries and shown to exhibit multiple health-promoting effects, its properties are largely unknown in the United States. In part, this is likely due to the fact that the bulk of research has been published in Slavic and Scandinavian languages.2 During the Cold War, a strict wall of separation – in communication, politics, and science – was maintained by the Soviet Union. Research regarding rhodiola was one of the casualties of this information roadblock, as much of the research occurred in Russia and appeared in Russian medical journals. The data from many of these studies have been under wraps until recently, when they began to appear in limited venues.3,4

As you are no-doubt aware, the past 10 to 20 years have witnessed an explosion in the scientific study of herbal and nutritional supplement formulations. You have also probably noticed that until very recently, much of this research took place in western Europe — particularly in Germany, where their unique medical system evaluates the safety and indications of herbs that are prescription items, sold or dispensed in pharmacies.3 Other countries involved in extensive herbal and nutritional research include Sweden, Italy, China, Japan, India, and Russia.3

Early on, Soviet researchers identified rhodiola as an adaptogen1 – an agent that increases one’s resistance to biological, chemical, and physical stressors. Rhodiola was studied extensively to evaluate its potential benefits for military personnel, cosmonauts, and athletes participating in international competition. Today, an impressive body of scientific literature supports the traditional and modern applications of this herb.

Rhodiola has demonstrated a remarkable ability to enhance cellular energy metabolism. The studies published thus far show the herb to be highly beneficial for both physical and mental performance under stress. The herb provides significant enhancement of mental energy and eliminates fatigue. It stimulates norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin, and has cholinergic effects in the central nervous system. Rhodiola also supports and enhances the effects of these neurotransmitters by increasing the delivery of precursors (building blocks) that can be utilized to produce dopamine and serotonin.2,5-9

Much like ginkgo biloba, rhodiola is supported by centuries of documented medicinal uses. Decades of accumulated scientific studies validate rhodiola’s usefulness for improving mental performance, energy, and stamina.

Rhodiola rosea:


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* Protects the nervous system against oxidative damage by free radicals through its antioxidant activity.2,10,11

* Enhances learning and memory in animal models and increases serotonin levels in the frontal cerebral cortex.2,7-9,12

* Promotes release of norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin in ascending pathways that activate the cerebral cortex and the limbic system. Consequently, the cognitive (thinking, analyzing, evaluating, calculating, and planning) functions of the cerebral cortex and the attention, memory, and learning functions of the prefrontal and frontal cortex are enhanced.2

* Optimizes the release of acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter associated with learning, attention and memory.2

* May prevent or ameliorate some age-related dysfunction in neurotransmitter systems that tend to deteriorate with aging.2,13

* Has been found, in animal studies, to improve long-term memory when administered in low doses over a period of 10 days.8

* Has been found to positively influence the central nervous system by increasing ability to concentrate and by improving cellular resistance to outside influences.14

Rhodiola Rosea, Stress, And Mental Performance
Stress interferes with memory functions. Over time, stress causes deterioration in memory systems. Rhodiola rosea (R. rosea or rhodiola) appears to exert positive effects on memory and cognition by improving resistance to physical and emotional stress.

This dual action of cognitive stimulation and emotional calming creates benefits for immediate cognitive and memory performance, as well as for the long-term preservation of brain function.2 Calm and alert – you can’t be in a better mental state than that!


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* Several studies have shown that rhodiola (again specifically: R. rosea) can dramatically reduce stress and simultaneously increase mental performance. One study found that a 170 mg/day dose of rhodiola countered the fatigue and stress experienced by young, healthy physicians on night duty.15 In this randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial, researchers measured rhodiola’s effect on five different measures of mental acuity: associative thinking, short-term memory, calculation, concentration, and speed of audiovisual perception. They found statistically significant improvements in all five of these mental performance parameters in the physicians who took rhodiola for two weeks.15

* In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted at a medical academy, young, healthy students were supplemented with either rhodiola (100mg/day) or a placebo for 20 days. The group that consumed the rhodiola extract experienced significant improvements in physical work capacity, coordination, and general well-being, along with decreased mental fatigue and situational anxiety. The supplemented students also scored higher on final exams!16

* A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical study was performed to measure the effect of a single dose of rhodiola extract on capacity for mental work against a background of fatigue and stress. Researchers administered a single dose of rhodiola to healthy young individuals (19 to 21 years of age) and measured the beneficial results using an anti-fatigue index. The study showed a pronounced anti-fatigue effect from that single dose that was statistically highly significant (p < 0.001).17

In summary: based on centuries of use – going back almost 2,000 years to its documented tradition as a remedy in classic Greek medicine, all the way to the many animal and human clinical studies mounted by modern scientists – we know that rhodiola has a wide array of documented health benefits. In fact, rhodiola is likely to become the next herbal superstar.

Rhodiola’s ability to increase mental energy points to tremendous potential for counteracting the mental fatigue so common with the aging process. And studies show that rhodiola can favorably support our minds and bodies as we deal with the stresses that seem omnipresent in our modern lives. Rhodiolais a valuable addition to any supplement program designed to boost mental performance and slow the aging process.


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Richard P. Brown and Patricia L. Gerbarg, astute researchers who have worked tirelessly in bringing the science behind this unique herb to Western medicine, had this to say:

In the course of evolution, R. rosea has adapted to the harsh conditions of high altitude (extreme cold, low oxygen, little rainfall, and intense irradiation from the sun) by producing a group of powerful protective compounds that have diverse beneficial effects in animals and humans. One is struck by the versatility of R. rosea, from its description in Greek medicine, 2000 years ago to its use by 20th century cosmonauts. It is time for modern research, using controlled clinical trials, to develop the potential medical applications of this unique phyto-adaptogen.3,4

In their exhaustive review of the medical and scientific literature exploring the benefits of this wonderful herb, the authors go on to say that

…[m]ore scientific research is needed to confirm the preventive and curative benefits of R. rosea. Controlled studies are warranted to explore its use in antidepressant augmentation, disorders of memory and cognition, attention deficit disorder, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, protection against arrhythmias, sports performance, aviation and space medicine (enhancing physical and mental performance while reducing stress reactions), endocrine disorders (infertility, premenstrual disorder, menopause), sexual dysfunction, disorders of the stress response system (fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and post traumatic stress disorder), and enhancement of chemotherapy/radiation with amelioration of toxicity.2

How To Take Rhodiola

Rhodiola rosea root extract is commonly available as an individual supplement and in combination products. If you choose a combination product, take as directed on the label. For the individual herb, typical doses are 150 to 300 mg/day of extract, taken in two divided doses on an empty stomach. For example: 150 mg before breakfast and 150 mg before lunch, for a total of 300 mg/day.2
It’s most important to look for a Rhodiola rosea root extract standardized to contain a minimum of three percent rosavins and one percent salidroside. This matches the extract concentrations used in clinical trials.

Be sure to specifically look for Rosea. Products called just "Rhodiola,” “Tibetan Rhodiola,” or “Indian Rhodiola” are NOT equivalant to Rhodiola rosea root extract. In fact, because of significant species-dependent variations in phytochemistry, the use of "Rhodiola" alone as a general term may be inaccurate and could be misleading on product packaging. Of all the species tested, Rhodiola rosea has been the predominant subject of phytochemical, animal, and human studies.2

While clinical studies have shown a benefit in taking doses higher than 300 mg/day of Rhodiola rosea root extract, studies frequently demonstrated that lower doses performed better than higher doses.

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Daily Nutritional Support with Rhodiola Rosea

Use/Indication

Age


Daily Dosage

Improve cellular energy and mental performance


18-30


150-300 mg

Improve cellular energy and mental performance


31-40


150-300 mg

Improve cellular energy and mental performance


50+


150-300 mg
Contraindications

First and foremost, Rhodiola rosea is extremely safe, and has very few side effects. Most users find that it improves their mood, energy level, and mental clarity. Some individuals, particularly those who tend to be anxious, may feel overly activated, jittery, or agitated. If this occurs, try a smaller dose with very gradual increases.2
Rhodiola rosea should be taken early in the day. If taken late in the day or evening, it can interfere with sleep or cause vivid dreams (not nightmares) during the first few weeks of use. It is contraindicated in excited states.2
Because Rhodiola rosea has an activating, antidepressant effect, it should not be used in individuals with bipolar disorder who are vulnerable to becoming manic when given antidepressants or stimulants.2

* Oliff H. Optimum Dosage of Rhodiola rosea Extract for Antifatigue Effects and Improved Mental Performance HerbalGram. 2004;63:20-21. American Botanical Council.
* Brown R, Gerbarg P, Ramazanov Z. Rhodiola rosea: A Phytomedicinal Overview View HerbalGram. 2002;56:40-52. American Botanical Council.
* Blumenthal M. The Rhodiola Revolution by Richard P. Brown and Patricia L. Gerbarg with Barbara Graham HerbalGram. 2005;66:70-71. American Botanical Council.
* The Rhodiola Revolution by Richard P. Brown and Patricia L. Gerbarg with Barbara Graham. New York, NY: Rodale; 2004. 260 pp. ISBN# 1-57954-924-1.
* Kurkin V, Zapesochnaya G. Chemical composition and pharmacological properties of Rhodiola rosea. Chemical and Pharmaceutical Journal (Moscow) 1986;20(10):1231-44.
* Petkov V, Stancheva S, et al. Changes in brain biogenic monoamines induced by the nootropic drugs adafenoxate and meclofenoxate and by citicholine (experiments on rats). Gen Pharmacol 1990;21(1):71-5.
* Lazarova M, Petkov V, et al. Effects of meclofenoxate and extr. Rhodiolae rosea L. on electroconvulsive shock-impaired learning and memory in rats. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 1986;8(9):547-52.
* Petkov V, Yonkov D, et al. Effects of alcohol aqueous extract from Rhodiola rosea L. roots on learning and memory. Acta Physiol Pharmacol Bulg 1986;12(1):3-16.
* Saratikov A, Marina T, Fisanova L. Effect of golden root extract on processes of serotonin synthesis in CNS. Journal of Biological Sciences 1978;6:142.
* Furmanowa M, Skopinska-Rozewska E, Rogala E, Malgorzata H. Rhodiola rosea in vitro culture: phytochemical analysis and antioxidant action. Acta Societis Botanicorum Poloniae 1998;76(1):69-73.
* Durany N, Munch G, Michel T, Riederer P. Investigations on oxidative stress and therapeutical implications in dementia. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 1999;249 Suppl 3:68-73.
* Marina TF, Alekseeva LP. Effect of Rhodiola rosea extract on electroencephalograms in rabbit. In. Saratikov AS, editor. Stimulants of the Central Nervous System. Tomsk, Russia: Tomsk State University Press; 1968. p. 22-6.
* Lupien S, De Leon M, et al. Cortisol levels during human aging predict hippocampal atrophy and memory deficits. Nat Neurosci 1998;1(1):69-73.
* Kucinskaite A, Briedis V, Savickas A. Experimental analysis of therapeutic properties of Rhodiola rosea L. and its possible application in medicine. Medicina (Kaunas.). 2004;40(7):614-9.
* Darbinyan V, Kteyan A, Panossian A, et al. Rhodiola rosea in stress induced fatigue—a double blind cross-over study of a standardized extract SHR-5 with a repeated low-dose regimen on the mental performance of healthy physicians during night duty. Phytomedicine. 2000 Oct;7(5):365-71.
* Spasov AA, Wikman GK, Mandrikov VB, Mironova IA, Neumoin VV. A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of the stimulating and adaptogenic effect of Rhodiola rosea SHR-5 extract on the fatigue of students caused by stress during an examination period with a repeated low-dose regimen. Phytomedicine. 2000 Apr;7(2):85-9.
* Shevtsov VA, Zholus BI, Shervarly VI, et al. A randomized trial of two different doses of a SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea extract versus placebo and control of capacity for mental work. Phytomedicine. 2003 Mar;10(2-3):95-105.