by Dr Margaret Aranda
"Immunonutrition, Age Management Medicine, and Inner Beauty."
"Using God's great earth to eat foods that heal from the INSIDE, OUT" ~ and that's what we're all about!
We are so pleased to bring Dr. Heidi McNulty in as a Power Girl for you!
She is President and Medical Director of Pure Bulk, which can be found at: Pure Bulk Website.
I'll tackle the medical aspect first, then Dr. McNulty will delve into the Supplements. Before committing to a Supplement, it is important to determine the "differential diagnosis".
(Medical Disclaimer: Not intended as medical advice for any one patient. Please see your personal doctor to gain an individual plan and treatment.)
For significant cognitive issues, an examination by a Neurologist could be indicated. Also, a Neuropsychological Assessment may be carried out to pinpoint deficits. This serves as a baseline value in time, as well as a characterization of issues besides memory. A fine grasp of the scope of this Assessment can be viewed here:
http://www.ccjm.org/content/70/9/785.full.pdf
Blood tests may include the B Vitamins, folate, a CBC, thryoid function tests, LH, FSH, estradiol, testosterone, growth hormone, and more. If a woman is hypothyroid or has other endocrine problems, these should be corrected.
The National Institutes of Health has Clinical Trials to study The Effects of Aging and Estrogen on Cortical Function in Menopausal women. One such study can be found here:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01268046
Seems like a lot of evaluation is indicated? You bet. Seems like the NIH is searching for answers? Indeed.
Hillary, Thank you for asking! This is something that almost everyone is interested in!
Diifferent supplements may be indicated for a given individual’s unique needs. However, there is something that is beneficial across a wide variety of conditions: Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids are essential fatty acids meaning they cannot be made by the body. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) are so critical for brain development that they are now added to infant formula. In adults DHA and EPA may help to protect against the cognitive effects of aging.
Fish oil is the most abundantly available source of EPA and DHA. Commonly recommended servings sizes for DHA and EPA are 400 mg and 250 mg respectively. This is a good starting amount for most, although some people may need significantly more.
Mazereeuw G, Lanctôt KL, Chau SA, Swardfager W, Herrmann N (2012). "Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on cognitive performance: a meta-analysis.". Neurobiol Aging 33 (7): e17-29. PMID 22305186
*You must discuss supplementing with fish oil with your doctor if you have any bleeding tendency or if you are on blood thinners.
Thank you so much, Dr. Aranda and Dr. McNulty. I really appreciate your advice and feedback. I will implement these tips into my health regimen and let you know the results! Thank you both for your commitment to this site - it's so great to see women helping women stay healthy and empowered!
Hello Dr. Aranda and now Dr. McNulty (excited to learn from you!),
ReplyDeleteWhat supplements would you recommend to help improve one's concentration, focus, and cognitive function?
Thank you for your input!
Best Regards,
Hillary
Fondest Hellos, Hillary (nice to see you here),
ReplyDeleteI'll tackle the medical aspect first, then Dr. McNulty will delve into the Supplements. Before committing to a Supplement, it is important to determine the "differential diagnosis".
(Medical Disclaimer: Not intended as medical advice for any one patient. Please see your personal doctor to gain an individual plan and treatment.)
For significant cognitive issues, an examination by a Neurologist could be indicated. Also, a Neuropsychological Assessment may be carried out to pinpoint deficits. This serves as a baseline value in time, as well as a characterization of issues besides memory. A fine grasp of the scope of this Assessment can be viewed here:
http://www.ccjm.org/content/70/9/785.full.pdf
Blood tests may include the B Vitamins, folate, a CBC, thryoid function tests, LH, FSH, estradiol, testosterone, growth hormone, and more. If a woman is hypothyroid or has other endocrine problems, these should be corrected.
The National Institutes of Health has Clinical Trials to study The Effects of Aging and Estrogen on Cortical Function in Menopausal women. One such study can be found here:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01268046
Seems like a lot of evaluation is indicated? You bet.
Seems like the NIH is searching for answers? Indeed.
We think you are worth it.
Hillary, Thank you for asking! This is something that almost everyone is interested in!
ReplyDeleteDiifferent supplements may be indicated for a given individual’s unique needs. However, there is something that is beneficial across a wide variety of conditions: Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids are essential fatty acids meaning they cannot be made by the body. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) are so critical for brain development that they are now added to infant formula. In adults DHA and EPA may help to protect against the cognitive effects of aging.
Fish oil is the most abundantly available source of EPA and DHA. Commonly recommended servings sizes for DHA and EPA are 400 mg and 250 mg respectively. This is a good starting amount for most, although some people may need significantly more.
Mazereeuw G, Lanctôt KL, Chau SA, Swardfager W, Herrmann N (2012). "Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on cognitive performance: a meta-analysis.". Neurobiol Aging 33 (7): e17-29. PMID 22305186
*You must discuss supplementing with fish oil with your doctor if you have any bleeding tendency or if you are on blood thinners.
Thank you so much, Dr. Aranda and Dr. McNulty. I really appreciate your advice and feedback. I will implement these tips into my health regimen and let you know the results! Thank you both for your commitment to this site - it's so great to see women helping women stay healthy and empowered!
ReplyDeleteHighest Regards,
Hillary
Please be sure to check with your doctor first, ok? We want to make sure your doctor is tuned in to this issue for your benefit, too.
ReplyDelete