Guest guest Posted April 16, 2003 Report Share Posted April 16, 2003 http://www.mercola.com/2003/feb/15/sugar_memory.htm Sugar May Hold the Key to Memory Problems E-mail to a friend People with an inability to quickly bring down high blood sugar levels--a pre-diabetic condition--are more likely to suffer from memory loss. This may help explain why memory loss occurs as we age. For every Alzheimer's patient, there are eight elderly people who do not have dementia but whose quality of life is harmed by memory loss. Blood sugar has been thought to play a role, as diabetics have a greater risk of memory problems, possibly because diabetes harms blood vessels that supply the brain and other organs. The study of 30 non-diabetic middle-aged and elderly people raises the possibility that exercise and weight loss, which help control blood sugar levels, may be able to reverse some of the memory loss that is associated with aging. Various factors were measured in the study including how participants performed on several memory tests, how quickly they metabolized blood sugar after a meal, and, through the use of MRI scans, the size of the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for learning and recent memory. Results indicated that people who metabolized blood sugar slowly had a smaller hippocampus and scored worse on tests for recent memory. The brain gets most of its energy from blood sugar, so if glucose stays in the bloodstream rather than being metabolized into body tissues, the brain has less fuel available to store memories. The study is the first to show an association between the size of the hippocampus and the ability to control blood sugar levels in the body. Though further research is needed, this association suggests that delivery of glucose may influence hippocampal structure and function, researchers said. Further, if confirmed the results indicate that controlling blood sugar levels through exercising and eating a healthy diet may help to protect the brain from memory loss associated with aging. Science Blog Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences February 5, 2003 DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT: E-mail to a friend Memory impairment is a major challenge for many of my patients, especially after the age of 40. It seems to be a nearly universal problem for all those who are not following an optimized eating program. I first learned of the importance of insulin in 1995 after I attended a lecture by Dr. Ron Rosedale, who is likely one of the top natural medicine experts in the country on this topic. My editor has recently revised his magnificent lecture on insulin and its metabolic effects, which he gave a few years ago, to make it even more readable. If you haven’t read his article recently I would strongly recommend it. Exercise has long been known to be beneficial in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s. One of the most profound beneficial effects of exercise is in lowering insulin levels. This is an effect that is largely unappreciated, even by many exercise experts. I have tested fasting insulin levels on well over 1,000 patients now and it is quite clear that many people can’t control their insulin levels with an excellent diet alone. They require regular cardiovascular exercise to sensitize their insulin receptors and lower the amount of insulin that the body requires to control elevated blood sugar. Related Articles: Insulin and Its Metabolic Effects Insulin Gene May Affect Longevity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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