My dear mother (who passed away in 2015 at age 94) used to smile and say to me, “I might hurt from head to toe with arthritis, but it’s OK, Sher. At least I still know who you are.”

How true!

Although it’s the subject of many jokes, age-related memory loss (dementia) is a painfully sad and frightening condition, both for the sufferer and their loved ones.

But the good news is there are several measures you can take to slash your risk of dementia!

Here’s the scoop on dementia and how you can help keep it far away from you.

What’s going on in there?

Our brain weight drops by about 10 percent by age 80.  In addition, blood flow to the brain diminishes, neurons and connections die and nerve functions slow down.

But on the plus side, the human brain has great reserve capacity and our brain cells can not only regenerate, but they can grow new dendrites (finger-like connections to other cells that form little electrical “pathways” for brain function).

Signs of dementia

Common signs of dementia include:

• Memory loss
• Impaired judgment
• Difficulties with abstract thinking
• Faulty reasoning
• Inappropriate behavior
• Loss of communication skills
• Disorientation as to time and place
• Gait, motor and balance problems
• Neglect of personal care and safety
• Hallucinations, paranoia, agitation

The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease—accounting for 80 percent of all dementia cases. 

It’s not just a matter of old age!

Dementia is typically found in people over age 60, but there’s been a recent surge in the number of people with early-onset cases. 

That’s because there are other little-known causes of dementia that can affect people at all ages.

Here are 6 of the most common:

Heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure

Heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure are all linked to dementia.

Decreased blood flow to the brain from these conditions is linked to the formation of the classic plaques and tangles that disrupt brain activity in Alzheimer’s.

And considering that even young children and teens are on high blood pressure medication, that’s providing a long opportunity for dementia to be created.   

Type 2 diabetes

Your brain needs glucose to function properly, and when there is impaired glucose function with Type 2 diabetes, it can damage brain cells.  Plus high blood sugar causes inflammation which is harmful to brain cells.

And heaven knows we are in a diabetes epidemic at all ages! 

Use of acid reducers

Studies have shown that regular users of PPIs (like Nexium) had a 44 percent increased risk of dementia compared with those not using the medications.

It’s easy to see why. 

Acid reducers impair your body’s absorption of Vitamin B12, and since B12 is crucial to proper brain function, these medications play a role in the development of dementia.

Lack of exercise

Regular exercise improves blood flow throughout the body, including the brain.

Unfortunately, many people wouldn’t know exercise if it jumped up and bit them in the derriere. Being sedentary is the worst thing you can do for SO many reasons, including increasing your risk of dementia.

Aluminum exposure

Aluminum is neurotoxic to the brain, and it’s probably only second to mercury in terms of harm and toxicity.

Well, for over 30 years, it has been observed that high levels of aluminum have been found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s.

Aluminum is used as an adjuvant in many vaccines.  And unlike aluminum that is ingested into the GI tract (via foods prepared with aluminum cookware), aluminum that is injected into the muscle tissue can easily get into the bloodstream and have a clear path to the brain.

Aspartame

Aspartame (Equal and NutraSweet) has been linked to Alzheimer’s as well as a variety of other neurological conditions. 

As a matter of fact, a recent study by Boston University researchers showed drinking just one diet soda a day triples your risk of dementia!

Fight back at dementia!

Now that you’ve seen all the possible factors behind the development of dementia, it’s time to do all you can to keep this dreaded disease far away from you.

Here are 5 Sharp Brain Strategies that can help prevent, slow or in some cases even reverse cognitive decline:

Sharp Brain Strategy #1- Omega-3 essential fatty acids

A deficiency of Omega-3 EFAs makes it impossible for your cell membranes to perform their vital functions, and your brain is heavily dependent on the Omega-3 EFA Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Unfortunately, our typical diets are severely deficient in Omega-3 EFAs, so daily supplementation with these nutrients is essential! 

Pharmaceutical-grade VitalMega-3 fish oil formula is just what you need for promoting great brain health.

VitalMega-3 provides an impressive 1,200 mg of Omega-3s in every daily two-capsule serving, including 600 mg of EPA and 400 mg of DHA--two of the very best Omega-3 EFAs for sharp brain functioning.

Sharp Brain Strategy #2- Electrolytes and antioxidants

The ability of your nerves to fire off messages and impulses depends on the presence of the electrolytes--sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride and magnesium.

Plus your brain cells are very vulnerable to free radical damage, so the protection of the antioxidant Vitamins C and E is extremely important. 

The trouble is, many of us have WAAAY too much sodium in our diets and far too few of the other electrolytes.

In addition, considering most of us still don't eat an appreciable amount of fruits and vegetables, there is clearly a lot of people lacking Vitamins C and E. 

But both of these issues can be helped simply by having a diet that concentrates on nutrient-rich REAL foods AND making sure your digestion is efficient so you can absorb the nutrients you need.

The Great Taste No Pain system can help you achieve both of those goals.

Great Taste No Pain gives you recipes and ideas for preparing nutritious real foods that taste positively out of this world.  Plus you’ll learn what foods to pair together to support efficient digestion and maximum nutrient absorption. 

And here’s an added bonus—if you improve your digestion with Great Taste No Pain, you’re far less likely to need acid reducers, which will further lower your dementia risk!

Sharp Brain Strategy #3- Regular exercise

A recent Swedish study has shown that highly fit women are 88 percent less likely to develop dementia later in life!

Enough said--get your doctor’s OK and get moving. 

Sharp Brain Strategy #4- Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 helps your brain use carbohydrates and proteins, and it works with folic acid to make neurotransmitters. 

It’s also essential to produce acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter which allows the nerves and brain to communicate and can help you maintain clear-thinking abilities for a LIFETIME.

But getting enough B12 can be tricky, especially if you’re prone to digestion problems or have had gastric surgery.  To ensure you get enough of this vital nutrient, Hydroxaden 2.5 is your ticket.

Hydroxaden 2.5 is an easy-to-use vitamin B12 spray that you spritz under your tongue so it can be absorbed by the mucus membranes in your mouth. 

Sharp Brain Strategy #5- Rethink vaccination

You can go a long way in naturally counteracting viruses by pampering your immune system with a healthy diet and supplementing with Super Shield multi-strain probiotic formula. 

Super Shield’s 13 strains of well-studied, friendly bacteria help to support a healthy gut microbiome, which in turn encourages strong immune function (since 70 percent of your immune system is in your gut!). 

You CAN make a difference in your brain’s sharpness and make tremendous strides toward keeping it strong and disease-free for many years to come!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia