Do follow the anti-parasitic diet, eat whole foods rich in Vitamin C , A and E and get sufficient night time sleep. Avoid and run away from toxic people. Stay with nature and meet new friends. Make someone happy. In nursing facilities, some seniors are suffering from sundowning syndrome, a state of acute mental confusion and behavioral change that takes place at the end of the day and into the night. Since we synthesize cholesterol at night, eat a healthy fat food at night and use ways to calm the body for a good night sleep (dim the lights , except for a hallway night light) and stay with the seniors until he goes to sleep.
Connie
Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Vitamin E, Curcumin, and Caffeine
A number of studies point to the healthy effects of dietary factors on the brain. For example, fish-derived omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to improve cognition, plasticity, and recovery of neurons after traumatic brain injury. One of the most important forms of omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), has been found to be a key component of neuronal membranes at sites of signal transduction at the synapse, suggesting that its action is vital to brain structure and function [10]. Evidence suggests that DHA serves to improve neuronal function by supporting synaptic membrane fluidity and function, and regulating gene expression and cell signaling [19]. Because the human body is not capable of producing its own DHA, supplementation of diet with foods rich in DHA is important in insuring proper function of neurons and in facilitating neuronal recovery after injury [25]. An additional benefit of omega-3 fatty acids which we observed in our studies is that they appear to reduce oxidative stress damage that results from trauma, indicating at the possibility of their application in assisting the recovery process [25, 26].
Another dietary supplement that has shown promise in protecting neurons is Vitamin E, found in certain oils, nuts, and spinach. Vitamin E functions as an antioxidant, reducing free radicals in the brain which would otherwise impede optimal function of neurons. Vitamin E has shown positive effects on memory performance in older people [17], indicating its ability to maintain neuronal health. A different study similarly revealed the benefits of Vitamin E by showing a correlation between the amount of ingested Vitamin E and improved neurological performance, survival, and brain mitochondrial function in aging mice [16].
Curcumin, a yellow curry spice, has also been suggested to enhance recovery events after brain trauma, displaying particular potency in preserving cognition. Curcumin was found to improve neuronal function in individuals afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease by reducing oxidative stress and amyloid pathology [5]. In addition, it was found to protect the brain from lipid peroxidation [20] and nitric oxide-based radicals [21]. In accordance with these observations, our own studies have showed that the supplementation of curcumin into the diets of rats reduced the effects of experimental concussive injury on cognitive function tasks [27].
Studies observing the effects of caffeine on neuronal regeneration and function are recently emerging. A new study shows that chronic, but not acute, treatment with caffeine protects the brain against injury in animal models of Parkinson’s disease and stroke by increasing glutamate release and inflammatory cytokine production [12].
Caloric Intake
Cognition and plasticity of the brain have also been shown to be affected by caloric intake and the frequency of food consumption. Restriction of calories seems to increase levels of BDNF, resulting in improved neuronal function. Fasting every other day has been shown to protect neurons in the hippocampus against excitotoxicity-induced death [2]. In the study, rats put on an every-other-day-fasting diet for 2-4 months had hippocampus neurons that were much more resistant to degeneration induced by kainic acid, and greater preserved memory than rats fed ad lib.
Saturated-Fat Diet
While certain foods seem to contribute positively to neuronal health, diets that are rich in saturated fats appear to decrease levels of BDNF in the brain and lead in poorer neuronal performance. Molteni and colleagues have shown that rats fed a diet high in saturated fats and refined sugars (similar in content to the “junk food” that has become popular today) for a period of 1-2 months, performed significantly worse on the spatial learning mater maze test than rats fed a healthier diet that was low in fat and contained complex carbohydrates [13].