Is Someone You Love Becoming More Forgetful?

Memory Loss
There are three main variants of memory loss: Alzheimer's disease, mild dementia and "normal" memory loss in healthy people age 40 and over.  We will be discussing the supplements you can take to help “normal” memory loss.  There are vitamins and other supplements to select from.

Supplement Options
One of the easiest supplements to take is a multi-vitamin.  Look for antioxidant supplements containing  Vitamin E and C, alpha lipoic acid, grape seed extract and Coenzyme-Q10.  Omega-3’s, which are found in the oil of tuna, salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, oysters, walnuts, and flax seed, are believed to assist with brain function as well.  Then there are the B vitamins.  People with low levels of vitamin B-6 and B-12 have been found to have a poor memory.  Other B vitamins include Niacin, Thiamine and Choline.  All of these B vitamins should be in your daily supplement to help boost your memory.

Clinical trials are ongoing in the United States to understand Huperzine A.  It is widely used in China for memory problems and dementia.  The Chinese have used ginkgo biloba for thousands of years in their medicine cabinets and it has gained popularity in the U.S. as a supplement that will help improve memory, your ability to think and to help the overall function of the brain.

There is also Phosphatidylserine, which is a naturally occurring nutrient found in higher concentrations in our brains.  Conclusions made from clinical trials administered in the United State attest that diets which are supplemented with Phosphatidylserine might assist in keeping your memory well maintained and hopefully help in restoring your memory.

Vinpocetine is a man-made drug, like Huperzine.  It is sold as a dietary supplement to aide in memory loss.  Researchers suggest that it may be an affective memory booster.  A low dose is all that is needed.  Because it is a blood thinner, patients that are on aspirin or a prescription blood thinner should not take Vinpocetine without talking to their physicians first.

Studies show that the amino acid Acetyl-L-Carnitine can help improve memory problems.  It can be bought as a supplemental pill and it is also found in red meat and dairy foods.  Another supplement that can help with memory problems is CDP choline which contains a natural nutrient found in the body called Citicoline.  Creatine is a nutritional supplement that studies have proved to build muscle.  It is being researched on possibly increasing intelligence, which means improved memory.

A full fledged memory pill would be a monumental invention.  But for now, vitamins and other supplements are showing an encouraging effect on memory.