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High Homocysteine Tied To Memory Loss

.....A prospective study of elderly British individuals shows that risk of memory loss increases over time with increasing levels of total blood homocysteine and decreasing folate levels.
..... Homocysteine is an amino acid in the blood. Too much of it ups the risk for coronary heart disease, stroke and fatty deposits in peripheral arteries. High circulating levels of homocysteine, especially with advancing age, have also been associated with cognitive impairment. Homocysteine levels in the blood are strongly influenced by diet and genetics.
..... Folic acid and other B vitamins help break down homocysteine in the body.
..... The study examined more than 2,100 subjects aged 65 to 67 years at baseline who lived in the community. The investigators measured total plasma homocysteine levels, folate, vitamin B12 and memory at baseline between 1992 and 1993 and then again six years later.
..... The study reported that subjects showing a memory deficit on a standard test had higher total plasma homocysteine and lower folate levels at follow-up than subjects who did not.
..... The researchers note that clinical trials on memory loss with total homocysteine-reducing therapies and vitamin supplements should be forthcoming and hopefully yield promising results.
...

V I T A M I N bD
The Vitamin For Your Bones

..... Vitamin D is an important vitamin that can be manufactured by the body (formed in the skin following exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun) and is not technically classified as an essential nutrient at all. Regular sunlight exposure is the primary way that most of us get our vitamin D. Food sources of vitamin D include only a few such as cod liver oil, fatty fish such as salmon and small amounts are found in egg yolks and liver.
..... The primary effect of vitamin D is to maintain calcium levels in the blood. To do this, vitamin D promotes both the absorption of calcium from the intestines into the blood and the removal of calcium from the bones into the blood. In most cases, the increased calcium absorption results in an increase in bone density and bone strength, which can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
..... Vitamin D is essential for older individuals where Vitamin D absorption is more difficult; bedridden patients; or those who must avoid the sun because of a melanoma condition.

WINTER ALLERGIES
.....Wintertime allergies are most commonly triggered by the allergens in the home environment. Allergens are always present in the home, but during the winter months they tend to multiply. Homes are kept warm in the winter and are well-insulated against cold air reducing houshold ventilation.
.....With furnaces being used around the clock, airborne dust, fabric fiber, bacteria, food material and animal dander are all circulated by the forced-air furnaces. Poorly ventilated and warm surroundings are a haven for dust mites, fleas, ticks, and even molds, which can be allergy triggers.
Preventative tips:
• Replace or clean the furnace filter
• Ventilate the kitchen and bathrooms
• Keep the humidity level in the home below 40 percent.
• Wash bedding frequently
• Clean and dust house on a weekly basis

 

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