The brain is so intimately dependent on the blood in the body for nourishment and sustenance that it is irrigated by approximately 100,000 miles of blood vessels. Even though we can’t feel it, every minute the heart pumps almost 1 liter of blood to the brain, which is the only way for brain cells to get all the nutrients and oxygen they need. We are only as old as our arteries – and as old as our brain arteries, in particular.
It is important to keep our blood vessels as clean as possible as an effective measure to prevent brain aging and disease. Cardiovascular disease is a major risk factor for dementia, and many people don’t realize that it is largely not only controllable, but preventable. There are many ways to take care of our hearts and many have to do with a healthy lifestyle. For example, we can engage in regular physical activity that helps our heart stay strong, eat a diet rich in nutrient-dense vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole seeds, limit our consumption of animal products and added sugar, which are known to harm metabolism, for increasing cholesterol and for clogging arteries, let’s drink a lot of water, quit smoking and avoid passive smoking as much as possible, and if we need to lose weight, lose weight according to the doctor’s instructions.
The heart not only pumps oxygen and nutrients to the brain, but it turns out that it has a much bigger impact on aging than ever thought. In fact, the heart secretly helps us stay young both mentally and physically despite the passage of time.
A number of studies have shown that when older mice were given blood from their younger counterparts, impressive new neuronal development occurred in the memory centers of the brain. This improved learning, memory and endurance in older animals. Similar results were obtained by injecting blood from young people into old animals, suggesting that a dose of blood could be the elixir of youth, a method that will be increasingly successful in the future.
These findings have spurred further attempts to gain a better understanding of the recently discovered ‘brain rejuvenation’. While we don’t yet know for sure how and why these transformations occur, initial studies indicate that stem cells may be involved. Stem cells are “stem cells.” They are unique in that they are capable of developing into any type of cell in the body. Because of this ability, they are essential for repairing all types of tissue—including brain tissue.
These stem cells are constantly floating around in our circulatory system. Researchers have found that as people age, their stem cells are still present in the blood, they just start to lose their strength. This happens because our blood, in addition to holding precious stem cells, also contains proteins that are responsible for their activation. These blood proteins—one in particular called growth differentiation factor GDF11—become less effective as we age, slowing cell regeneration and likely contributing to memory decline and neurological damage.
These findings offer a potential rejuvenation strategy. Replenishment of these proteins with young blood may act as a health booster, thereby improving the chance of new brain cells. Clinical trials are underway to test whether blood from young donors can actually turn back the clock in older people. In the meantime, however, there are some pressing questions that accompany these experiments. Is it really necessary to go through the effort of having a blood transfusion to keep our brains healthy? Wouldn’t it be best to slow down our blood from aging in the first place?
One thing is clear. The proteins that abound in young blood—essential for restoring the vigor of an aging brain—are influenced by many factors, not least of which is, of course, our diet. Several nutrients are thought to increase the power of these revitalizing proteins. These include flavonoids from fruits and vegetables; antioxidants like vitamins C and E, which are also found in fruits, vegetables and seeds; a number of other vitamins, especially vitamin D, which is found in fatty fish, eggs and milk; vitamin K, which is found in abundance in organs, fermented soy foods, and greens like dandelion greens.
Psychologist Mihai Moisoiu
Tel. 0753 937 223
www.mihaimoisoiu.ro
E-mail: [email protected]
2023-05-01 06:01:16
#Healthy #heart #healthy #brain
