Just ran unto this new study, you might want to check it out!


Here is the startling bottom line: Heavy people's brains may age faster.

If you're overweight or obese in middle age, it can have a devastating effect on your health by causing you to age far faster than normal. According to a study from the San Francisco VA Medical Center, being overweight in your 40s and 50s causes a lower level of certain brain chemicals that signal good brain health and function. Without these chemicals, the brain's aging process speeds up, putting you at a significantly higher risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

The study: Led by Dr. Stefan Gazdzinski, the researchers examined magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans from 50 healthy middle-aged men and women, measuring amounts of a variety of chemicals in the white and gray matter of the brain, reports Reuters. Bodies of nerve cells make up the gray matter, while connections between these cells make up the white matter. Of the 50 participants, five were obese, 15 were overweight and 30 were of normal weight.

The results: The higher a person's body mass index (BMI), the ratio of body height to weight, the lower the concentration of N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), a brain chemical that serves several functions and also acts as a marker for overall brain health, in the white matter of the brain's frontal, temporal and parietal regions, reports Reuters. In addition, overweight and obese people had less NAA in their frontal gray matter, as well as smaller concentrations of choline-containing metabolite, which are substances that are key to the formation of cell membranes, in their frontal white matter.

The strongest relationship between BMI and brain chemistry was seen in the white matter of the frontal region, which is believed to be particularly vulnerable to aging-related damage, reports Reuters.

http://www.aolhealth.com/condition-center/alzheimers/weight-age-brain?icid=100214839x1204511304x1200189432


Another reason why we need to maintain our physique.

You may not like it, but memory loss is a normal part of aging. When it comes to accelerated and permanent memory loss however, these frequent senior moments interrupt with daily functioning. According to the Alzheimer's Association, as many as five million Americans live with this disease and 500,000 of this population is under the age of 65. Unfortunately, there's no surefire way to prevent the onset of this disease. However, you can reduce your risks with diet, exercise, environment and more.

one way to reduce your risk is to implement a heart healthy diet that's low in fat and high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. She explains, "What's good for your heart is also good for your head." Evidence suggests a healthy diet makes a difference in preventing the onset of this disease.


"Red wine has anti-oxidants so we mention it as one of the many things you can do to reduce your risk of Alzheimer's," says Dr. Coleman. While she emphasizes it's alright to have one to two glasses on most days, this alone will not help prevent the onset of the disease. "We tell people to look at the range of things to do along with the other things such as eating a low fat diet, eating fruits and vegetables, watching your cholesterol, remaining physically active and socially active in general."

T[b]aking your brain out of the comfort zone is one way to make connections and remain stimulated[/b]. According to Christopher Calapai, D.O. and board certified in anti-aging medicine, this notion of brain tasking, such as doing crossword puzzles, creates a multi-dimensional connection. "It integrates your brain in a variety of ways," he says. For instance, if a clue is asking you to spell Mozart, it's very likely you're making a connection and thinking about listening to the music, the composer, etc.

Dr. Calapai explains, "There's evidence that exercise brings more oxygen to your brain, it helps burn excess sugar, it enhances hormones and is good for blood flow." The recommendation is to move your body several times a week for at least for thirty minutes doing some kind of aerobic activity such as walking.

According to Dr. Calapai, while eating fish is a high source of protein and rich with omega-3 fatty acids it could also be a high source of mercury, too. As for his recommendation? Stay away from shrimp and shellfish. Plus, he emphasizes the importance of staying away from exposure to aluminum in general. "Don't use aluminum foil, pots and pans or deodorant with aluminum as an ingredient."

"Stimulate your brain," says Dr. Coleman. "It's just like your muscle lifting a weight; stimulating your brain keeps it healthy." Whether you engage in community activities, attend a religious service, volunteer, go to museums or the movie theater, remaining interactive is all good. As for her advice? Continue to challenge yourself and engage in social activities.






This study is actually intersting, if you want to read more abt it, check the link above or visit www.emedicine.com

Yes, being Big and beautiful is wonderful to some at a young age , but as you grow older it becomes a health risk. So it's important to kind of trim it down.

As you've read it, exercise gives oxygen to the brain, try to eat less fish and less fatty food, be active and stimulate your brains to make the connections b/w your neurons stronger, and who said a lil music here and there does not help anyone?

Plz abeg, dnt kill the messenger or!