Have you lost your keys lately? When is the last time you could have swore you put that thing right there, but it’s nowhere to be found? Raise your hand if you’ve hit your car alarm in a crowded parking lot recently because your car was “lost!” These scenarios lead me to a question that I hear pretty regularly… “Dr. Phil, what can I do to improve my memory?
I’ve even had some patients tell me that they can feel their memory fading. That can be a scary feeling. Their next question, most of the time, is if I have any good supplement recommendations that can help them. I know a lot of people this day and time are scared of developing Alzheimer’s or dementia. I understand their concern about these conditions as it hits home with me as well. I’m not fearful of it, but I am fully aware of what it can do to a person, because I watched my grandfather suffer and die from the complications of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Therefore, I personally take a lot of preventative measures to keep myself from following the same path that my grandfather did. So today I want to share some of those with you.
Tweet ThisTake These Preventive Measures Now…
The easiest and most essential way to prevent memory loss is to keep your brain active, or in other words exercising your brain. One of the best things you can do is to read daily. I suggest you read things that challenge your thinking and stimulate your brain. There are all different types of things that you can read out there, but be selective in what you choose to read because you want something that will stimulate your brain. Another thing you can do to keep your brain active is to have some type of hobby where you have to use your brain skills. Crosswords, sudoku, word puzzles, strategy games, and I can go on and on with these types of suggestions, but I think you get the point here. Stay active and keep your brain active!
Secondly, in contrast to exercising your brain, you must also rest your brain daily. Just like your body, you push it and work it, but at the end of the day you have to rest your body! In other words, you have to get sleep, not just any kind of sleep, but restful sleep. There was a recent study done at the University of California at Berkley that tied Alzheimer’s to lack of sleep. Scientists at UC Berkley found compelling evidence that poor sleep, particularly a deficit of the deep restorative sleep, causes a buildup of the beta amyloid protein which is believed to trigger Alzheimer’s Disease attacks the brain’s longterm memory.
Let me tell you that proper sleep and quality sleep are topics that I have talked about in previous episodes of The Feeling Good Podcast and I have also blogged about, as well. If you want to learn more about the importance of sleep in connection to your overall health, then check out this blog and listen to episode 19 of The Feeling Good Podcast.
3 of My Favorite Supplements…..
I have also devoted a whole chapter to the subject of sleep in my new book that will be coming out later this year. Be on the lookout for updates about that!
Thirdly, there are some wonderful supplements that studies have shown to be helpful in improving our memory and keeping our brains healthy. There are 3 particular supplements that I use personally.
One of those is phosphatidylserine or phosphatidyl complex. This particular supplement, for some people, can have a two-fold action. The first thing it can help improve is short-term memory and the second is to our ability to get to sleep, as well as improving the quality of our sleep.
The second supplement I take is called Pro DHA. It is a Nordic natural fish oil supplement that has a high concentration of DHA. DHA is necessary for brain support and brain health, as well as brain development. As a pharmacist, I have noticed that now all prenatal manufactures are now adding DHA to the prenatal supplements because all the studies coming out showing the importance of the fetus and mother getting this DHA for brain development. I highly recommend DHA to patients of all ages because of the importance of brain development, unless you are eating fish 3-4 times a week.
The third supplement I take is Co-Enzyme Q10. This supplement is important for heart health. There have been quite a few studies done with this supplement that show that it is very healthy for brain health and memory. Co-Enzyme Q10 is needed for our muscle cells, but is also helpful for our brain cells. According to these studies, I think it’s a good idea to take Co-Enzyme Q10 if you are having any kind of memory problems!
You can find all of these supplements on our website, and if someone you know is having memory issues, then please share this information with them. If you have any other questions regarding memory and brain health please get in touch with me by emailing [email protected]!
Healthy Blessings,
Dr. Phil
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