Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt August/September, 20122

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DISCLAIMERThe information provided in this magazine, such as text, graphics,images, is for informational purposes only. It is not to be construed asmedical care or medical advice and is not a replacement for medicalcare given by physicians or trained medical personnel unless statedotherwise. Health and Fitness writers do not directly or indirectlypractice medicine, nor do we dispense medical advice, diagnosis,treatment or any other medical service. Research is provided throughvarious sources including medical professional. Always seek the adviceof your physician or other qualified healthcare provider(s) whenexperiencing symptoms or health problems, or before starting any newtreatment. Health and Fitness Magazine is not to be held responsiblefor any inaccuracies, omissions, or editorial errors, or for anyconsequences resulting from the information provided. It is yourresponsibility to evaluate the information we provide. If you are aconsumer, you should evaluate the information together with yourphysician or another qualified health care professional.

If you are a health care professional, you should exercise yourprofessional judgment in evaluating any information, and weencourage you to confirm the information contained in our magazinewith other sources before undertaking any treatment or action basedon it. If you are interested in contributing to this magazine, kindly emailus at spu1@guardian.co.tt.

SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS UNIT (SPU)SPU Producer: Tracey AlonzoHead of Design: Marketing/SPU: Denise BaptisteAssociate Editors: SPU: Lisa Jessamy, Halcian PierreContributors: Akiela Hope, Bavina Sookdeo, Christy De Souza

Rodney Granado and Kaelanne JordanDesign/Layout: Sean Simon, Sean Farrell, Psyche MitchellSpecial Publications enquiries: spu1 @guardian.co.tt

SalesSales Manager: George Elias

george.elias@guardian.co.ttBusiness Development Manager SPU: Sonja Romany

sonja.romany@guardian.co.ttHealth and Fitness Account Executive: Carmen Little

carmslittle@gmail.com

Editor’s Note

The Human bodyPhysiology of the BrainThe Brain Up Close P4The Medicine CabinetGingko for Memory P6Workout Tips and TacticsWhen we Keep forgetting... P8Nutrition and dietBrain Foods P10Energy Vibe Brain Games P12Being WellThe Distress of Dementia P13What Does That Do?TRX Fitness P14Trivia P15

I N S I D E

Quote of the Day:

Hello my dear readers, and welcome to anotherinstallation of Health and Fitness.

I must say that I had no idea what I was gettinginto when I decided to make the human brain thismonth’s focus, simply because it’s an organ that’s notso readily understood. However, given its many com-plexities, it definitely makes for some interestingreading, which I hope that you will enjoy.

Thus, we are tackling the brain from all corners, be-ginning with its physiology and ending with a shortquiz. In between you’re sure to learn about what food-stuffs constitute “brain food”, find out about ginkgobiloba and what fun methods exist to keep your brainactive and sharp. (I know I certainly will be taking lotsof advice from here!)

So relax and enjoy this month’s issue, my friends –it’s literally ‘good for the brain’!

Halcian N. PierreAssociate Editor

Special Publications Unit

— Innovative Medical, Inc. along with MedCort, Inc. Partners REN-TON, WA August 17, 2012

As hospitals and patients struggle to reduce hospi-tal acquired infections (HAI’s) and infections at home,one company has introduced an innovative productcalled LiquaShield (www.LiquaShield.com) to addressthis need. 

MedCort Inc. is a design and manufacturing companyspecialising in innovative products for the healthcare andconsumer market. MedCort’s flagship product Li-quaShield provides water resistant protection for show-ering. Patients that have a PICC line, central line, dialysiscatheter or a port will be able to safely shower withoutrisking infection from waterborne pathogens.

The product is a waterproof, latex free clear film witha medical grade adhesive tape aroundthe perimeter that is water resistant when in contactwith the skin.

Because the adhesive tape is on the outside perimeterof the film, it will not compromise or adhere to thecatheter, PICC line or primary dressing.

Patients or nurses can apply the product in less than aminute; enjoying the freedom and comfort in the abilityto shower safely, with reduced risk of infection.

MedCort is pleased to announce that it has partneredwith innovative Medical, Inc.(www.innovativemedicalinc.com) to bring LiquaShield intothe Caribbean, Central American and South Americanmarkets where this need is not being met.

Being overweight is not just bad for waistlines butfor brains too, say researchers who have linked obesityto declining mental performance.

Experts are not sure why this might be, but say meta-bolic changes such as high blood sugar and raised choles-terol are likely to be involved.

Obesity has already been tipped as a risk factor for de-mentia.

The work, published in Neurology, tracked the health ofmore than 6,000 British people over a decade.

The participants, who were aged between 35 and 55,took tests on memory and other cognitive skills threetimes over a 10-year period. People who were both obeseand who had unhealthy metabolic changes showed amuch faster decline on their cognitive test scores com-pared to others in the study.

Delving deeperThe experts stress that they only looked at cognitive

function, not dementia.The boundary between normal ageing, mild cognitive

impairment and dementia is blurred - not all impairment

leads to dementia. All of the study participants camefrom one group of civil service workers, which may meanthe findings may not apply more generally to other popu-lations.

They said: "More research is needed to look at the ef-fects of genetic factors and also to take into account howlong people have been obese and how long they have hadthese metabolic risk factors and also to look at cognitivetest scores spanning adulthood to give us a better under-standing of the link between obesity and cognitive func-tion, such as thinking, reasoning and memory."

Shirley Cramer of the Alzheimer's Research UK said:"We do not yet know why obesity and metabolic abnor-mality are linked to poorer brain performance, but withobesity levels on the rise, it will be important to delve a lit-tle deeper into this association.

"While the study itself focuses on cognitive decline,previous research suggests that a healthy diet, regularexercise, not smoking and controlling blood pressure andcholesterol in midlife can also help stave off dementia.With dementia figures spiralling towards a million, thefindings suggest we should be conscious of our generalhealth throughout life."

Pour some water into a tub and stir it up. Now try as hard as you can towater with your hands; you will succeed in agitating it further. Let it ?turbed a while, and it will calm down by itself. The human brain works m

same way.

New Health Innovations Come to T&Tto Address Un-Met Healthcare Needs and Lower Infection Rates

Health News:

Obesity ‘bad for brain' by hastening cognitive decline

4

Christy De Souza

The brain is the most complex organof the human body and perhaps themost remarkable. Weighing in ataround three pounds (1.5kg), this jelly-like mass of tissue is larger than ex-pected on the basis of body size whencompared to other primates and con-tains a whopping 100 billion nerve cellsor neurons. The brain is responsible fora wide range of mental faculties andbodily functions all of which involvecomplicated connections, receptorsand chemical messengers which dic-tate that which we do, think, believeand feel.

With regards to mental functions,neurons play a vital role, in that theirconnectivity through structures calledsynapses is constantly changing forevery second of our lives and therefore,no two brains are alike. It is in thesechanging connections that memories are stored, habits learned and personali-ties shaped, by reinforcing certain pat-terns of brain activity, and losing others.The signals pass between neuronsthrough the release and capture of neu-rotransmitter and neuromodulatorchemicals, suchas glutamate, dopamine, acetylcholine,noradrenalin, serotonin and endorphins.

These neurochemicals are so impor-tant that deficiencies in them are linkedto certain diseases. For example, a lossof dopamine in the basal ganglia, whichcontrol movements, leads to Parkinson's

disease. It can also increase susceptibil-ity to addiction because it mediates oursensations of reward and pleasure.

Similarly, a deficiency in serotonin,used by regions involved in emotion, canbe linked to depression or mood disor-ders, and the loss of acetylcholine in thecerebral cortex is characteristicof Alzheimer's disease.

Equally important are the areas of thebrain responsible for our motor func-tions. The ability to talk, gesture or walkare activities that a healthy individualmay take for granted but when consid-ering the complexities involved in some-thing as simple as pouring a glass ofwater, it quickly becomes clear that thebrain deserves much credit. Not onlydoes your brain have to figure out whichmuscles to contract and in which orderto steer your hand to the glass, it alsohas to estimate the force needed to pickup the glass. Other factors, like howmuch water is in the glass and what ma-terial the glass is made from, also influ-ence the brain’s calculations. Notsurprisingly, there are many anatomicalregions which are involved in motorfunction, the primary area of the brainresponsible for such being the primarymotor cortex which generates neural im-pulses that control the execution ofmovement.

Although well protected by the thickbones of the skull, suspended in cere-brospinal fluid, and isolated from thebloodstream by the blood–brain barrier,the human brain is susceptible to many

types of damage and disease. The mostcommon type of physical damage re-sults from close head injuries. A strokeor exposure to poisoning chemicals thatcan act as neurotoxins can also causesevere damage to the brain. The humanbrain is also susceptible to degenerativedisorders, such as Parkinson's dis-ease, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer'sdisease. 

It is therefore necessary that precau-tionary measures are taken to protectthis vital organ. Simple safeguards suchas wearing protective head gear whilstcycling; riding a motor bike or workingon a construction site may protect thebrain from any unforeseen accidents.Nature also provides its own protectionfor the well-being of the brain throughcertain vitamins found in foods. Omega -3 which is found in fatty fish such astuna, sardine and salmon, has beenlinked to better cognitive functioning,and vitamin E has been found to act as“a protective antioxidant in brain disor-ders,” (Aimee Shunney, ND) and can befound in foods such as almonds, hazel-nuts and whole-grain flour.

Today’s medical research howeverdoes not always agree with tomorrow’sas much research is still being done onthe maintenance and improvement ofbrain health and brain function but onething is for certain: healthy eating habitsand a healthy lifestyle always does thebody good, which of course includesthat very extraordinary organ, the brain.

Physiology of the Brain

THE HUMAN BODY

AMYGDALA: Lying deep in the centre of the limbicemotional brain, this powerful structure, the size andshape of an almond, is constantly alert to the needs ofbasic survival including sex and emotional reactions suchas anger and fear. Consequently, it inspires aversive cues(such as sweaty palms) and has recently been associatedwith a range of mental conditions including depressionand even autism. It is larger in male brains, often enlargedin the brains of sociopaths and it shrinks in the elderly.

BRAIN STEM: This part of the brain connects to thespinal cord. The brain stem controls functions basic to thesurvival of all animals such as heart rate, breathing, di-gesting foods and sleeping. It is the lowest, most primitivearea of the human brain.

CEREBELLUM: Two peach-size mounds of folded tis-sue located at the top of the brain stem, the cerebellum isthe guru of skilled, coordinated movement (e.g., returninga tennis serve) and is involved in some learning pathways.

CEREBRUM: This is the largest brain structure in hu-mans and accounts for about two-thirds of the brain’smass. It is divided into two sides — the left and righthemispheres—that are separated by a deep groove downthe centre from the back of the brain to the forehead.These two halves are connected by long neuron branchescalled the corpus callosum which is relatively larger inwomen’s brains than in men’s. The cerebrum is positionedover and around most other brain structures, and its fourlobes are specialised by function but are richly connected.The outer 3 millimetres of “gray matter” is the cerebralcortex which consists of closely packed neurons that con-trol most of our body functions, including the mysteriousstate of consciousness, the senses, the body’s motor skills,reasoning and language.

• The Frontal Lobe is the most recently-evolved part ofthe brain and the last to develop in young adulthood.It’s dorso-lateral prefrontal circuit is the brain’s top ex-ecutive. It organises responses to complex problems,plans steps to an objective, searches memory for rele-vant experience, adapts strategies to accommodatenew data, guides behaviour with verbal skills andhouses working memory. Its orbitofrontal circuit man-ages emotional impulses in socially appropriate waysfor productive behaviours including empathy, altruismand interpretation of facial expressions. Stroke in thisarea typically releases foul language and fatuous be-haviour patterns.

• The Temporal Lobe controls memory storage area,emotion, hearing, and, on the left side, language.

• The Parietal Lobe receives and processes sensory in-formation from the body including calculating loca-tion and speed of objects.

• The Occipital Lobe processes visual data and routesit to other parts of the brain for identification andstorage.

HIPPOCAMPUS: Found deep within the brain, itprocesses new memories for long-term storage. If youdidn't have it, you couldn't live in the present; you'd bestuck in the past of old memories. It is among the firstfunctions to falter in cases of Alzheimer's.

HYPOTHALAMUS: Located at the base of the brainwhere signals from the brain and the body’s hormonalsystem interact, the hypothalamus maintains the body’sstatus quo. It monitors numerous bodily functions such asblood pressure and body temperature, as well as control-ling body weight and appetite.

THALAMUS: Situated at the top of the brain stem, thethalamus acts as a two-way relay station, sorting, pro-cessing, and directing signals from the spinal cord andmid-brain structures up to the cerebrum and, conversely,from the cerebrum down the spinal cord to the nervoussystem.

The

up closebrain

August/September, 2012 www.guardian.co.tt Sunday Guardian 5

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By Bavina Sookdeo

So you’re standing in front of the refriger-ator and you’re hoping whatever you wantedjust jumps out at you because you just can’tseem to remember what you’re looking for.Sounds familiar? Well, it could be early onsetAlzheimer’s or it could simply mean that youneed some ginkgo biloba.

Ginkgo biloba, according to Botanical.com is“the oldest living tree on the planet that’s beenused safely for over 3000 years”. The site alsonotes that the plant “was nearly wiped outduring the Ice Age everywhere except inChina.” Over the years many people haveclaimed that ginkgo is like a miracle worker.Besides memory loss, many have claimed thatthey used it to treat anxiety and depression,poor circulation, vertigo, tinnitus, inner ear dis-turbances, headaches, fatigue, dizziness,asthma, bronchitis and many other diseasesand disorders.

Ginkgo biloba extract (which is what wetake) comes from the leaves of the ginkgobiloba tree. After the ginkgo biloba leaves havebeen harvested, they are dried and used tocreate the popular extract.

According to Natasha Singh, a pharmacistat the Montrose Pharmacy which has been inexistence since 1962, “Ginkgo is a very goodproduct.” Singh disclosed to Health & Fitnessthat the Montrose Pharmacy mostly sellsginkgo biloba “to students (especially aroundexam time), police officers and securityguards. They have a lot of long nights and theysay that the ginkgo helps them to stay alertand keeps them focused. A lot of stroke pa-tients also purchase ginkgo biloba as the ex-tract is good in the treatment of suchpatients.” How does she prescribe the ginkgoto them? “One can start taking ginkgo fromthe age of 18. Adults (over 21) should take ittwice daily but the 18 to 21-year-olds shouldtake it once daily” Singh explained.

But how exactly does this wonder herbwork? As Singh stated “Ginkgo basically in-creases and promotes blood circulation to thebrain therefore keeping you alert and givingyou a lot of energy.”

The websitehttp://www.damicon.ti/sd/gingko-biloba.html confirms what Singh, a pharma-cist for over 16 years, said and also statesthat “Taking Gingko biloba extract pro-motes the elasticity and strength in theblood vessels and capillary walls whichstrengthens the cardiovascular system, re-ducing tendency for clots. The antioxidantcomponent of gingko biloba extract in-hibits platelet aggregation, thinning theblood inside arterial walls which helps thewalls retain flexibility hindering the for-mation of arteriosclerositic plaque.” Ad-ditionally, ginkgo biloba scavengesfree-radicals that can damage cellsand accelerate aging. It explains “Theflavonoids in gingko are effectivefree-radical scavengers. As a free-rad-ical scavenger, ginkgo biloba extracthelps to attack free radicals whichthemselves destroy particular cells.For example, visual cells are de-stroyed by free radicals in senilemacular degeneration. So ginkgobiloba extract helps prevent‘aging’ by destroying freeradicals.”

While Singh pointed outthat she has not receivedmany complaints aboutthe wonder drug, oneHerbalist who has beenpracticing for over 20years did note that severalusers complain of headaches. Healso warned that there are many“quacks” calling themselvesherbalists and one should becareful when going to them foradvice. He insisted, “Please ensureyou see a certified herbalist for ad-vice on herbs.”

Ginkgo biloba has been proven towork for many people over centuries.If you do consider trying the extractjust remember that while many claimthe miracle extract works in twoweeks, it can take up to 12 weeksfor others to see improvement.

At Indi Day Spa and Laser Ther?apy, Indra Seegobin helps peoplebeat their addictions. Operatingfrom Joyce Road Carapichaimasince January 2011 (and in practicesince 2007 locally), she is also amember of the World Associationfor Laser Therapy (WALT), an or?ganisation aimed at promoting re?

search, education and clinical appli?cation of laser photostimulationworld?wide.This low?level laser treatment

calms and relaxes the mind, re?duces anxiety and alleviates de?pressive feelings, making it easierto cope with addiction withdrawalsymptoms and cravings that arisefrom giving up nicotine. (Inciden?tally, the treatment also works forcocaine and marijuana addiction.)Before treatment, a nicotine

breathalyser test shows the per?centage of nicotine in the blood. Acold, soft, low?level laser light con?tacts speci c meridian points onthe body, which aids in controllingaddictions, enhances relaxation andcreates a state of well being. Treat?ment is painless and entirely safe.For more information, emailIndra Seegobin at .indraseegobin10@gmail.com.

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The Medicine Cabinet

7

Amazing HerbsWe are pleased to introduce the Amaz-

ing Herbs Black Seed Oil and Herbal Sup-plements to the public.

Amazing Herbs was the first company tointroduce Black Seed to the health and nu-tritional market in the 1990's. Since then, it’sknown as the world’s leading authority onBlack Seed and manufactures a full range ofHealth & Nutritional products which are dis-tributed exclusively by Azhara Health &Beauty for the Caribbean Market.

The Amazing Herbs product line offersremedies for the following conditions: Im-mune Support, Allergy & Respiratory Sup-port, Cardiovascular Support, Men Health &Women’s Health, Detoxification & DigestiveSupport, Diabetic & Joint Support, Memoryand Weight Loss.

Black seed also called ‘Nigella Sativa’ orthe ‘Blessed Seed’ as referred by theProphet Mohammed (p.b.u.h.), works by as-sisting the body in its own natural healingprocesses. It has an unprecedentedstrengthening effect on the immune systemand works in a host of other ways to pro-mote optimum health & well being.

Amazingly, Black Seed's chemical compo-sition is very rich and diverse. Aside from itsprimary ingredient crystalline nigellone,Black Seed contains 15 amino acids, pro-teins, carbohydrates, both fixed oils (84%fatty acids, including linolenic and oleic andvolatile oils), alkaloids, saponin and crudefiber, as well as minerals such as calcium,iron, sodium and potassium.

Black Seed is used as an Antihistamine,Anti-tumour, Antibacterial, Anti-inflamma-tory, Anti-Microbial, Anti-Pyretic, Anti-Spas-modic, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic,Digestive, Emmenagouge, Galactagouge,Hypotensive, Immunomodulator, Laxativeand as an antioxidant and provides a relieffor a multitude of ailments as it’s referred toas “a cure for every ailment”.

8

KeepForgetting…

When we

In our modern day societywe are constantly bom-

barded with information onhow to become healthier, fit-ter and most importantly, slim-mer human beings. Goodhealth is almost always asso-

ciated with an image of a tonedmale or female physique and sowe tend to link leanness withwellness and may sometimesforget the importance of whatlies beneath our externalselves. Just as we do physicalexercises to maintain the good

health of our bodies, so toodoes the brain require

such attention in orderto preserve mental

fitness.Whilst sev-eral repeti-

tions ofsquats

Whilst several repetitions ofsquats may result in a firmerlooking gluteus maximus, specific mental exercises mayproduce strengthened recall and attention span.

may result in a firmer look-ing gluteus maximus, spe-cific mental exercises mayproduce strengthened re-call and attention span.One such brain work-outdeveloped for this purposeare mnemonics, which area variety of devices to helpus remember. Mnemonicscan be used to assist inmemorization in differentsubject areas of study. Inmusic, the order of sharps,called the “circle of fifths”(F, C, G, D, A, E, B) can berecalled by memorizing thephrase “Father CharlesGoes Down And Ends Bat-tles”, whereas in spelling,you’ll never forget how tospell “Rhythm” if you re-member the phrase“Rhythm Helps Your TwoHips Move”. Why

mnemonics work so wellis because they add as-sociations and createpatterns, which makesthe material moremeaningful, they allowfor cross-referencingof information in dif-ferent parts of thememory and theyalso typically in-volve visualswhich help tomake facts morevivid.

Memory,however is justone aspect ofthe very com-plex humanbrain, thereforeexercises havealso been devel-

oped to enhanceeven the physio-

logical features.For example, to

strengthen neuralconnections, one can

attempt to use theiropposite hand to do

tasks such as brush-ing one’s teeth, dial-ing on the phone oreven controlling thecomputer mouse.

Just as you mayfind it difficult

to do your

first push-up after monthsof not working out, youshould find it equally awk-ward to do these exercisesas your brain is learning anew skill. There are also ac-tivities which benefit boththe body and the mindsuch as yoga, latin dancingand sculpting which chal-lenge the brain to learnnew and novel tasks. Clayand play dough modelingare especially good for chil-dren as it develops theiragility and hand-brain coor-dination.

Another activity thathelps to exercise and de-velop the brain from whichthe entire family can bene-fit is travel. From visits tothe local zoo to overseasexcursions, travel createsan opportunity for the brainto be stimulated by newsounds, images, cultures,tastes and languages. Newexperiences can spurchanges in the organizationof neural connections in thebrain, and in the case ofchildren, help to createthose connections. A com-mon mistake is to under-estimate an infant’s needfor travel in assuming thathe/she would not remem-ber the trip anyway; thebrain is constantly at workfrom birth to death, andtherefore needs to be stim-ulated throughout our lives.

The brain is responsiblefor much that is vital to ahappy existence; the veryway in which we structureour lives and perceive ourexperiences is due to thisorgan and therefore thatwhich we expose ourselvesto can contribute to thegood or even bad health ofthe brain. So whilst some-one may never pay you thecompliment, “Wow! Youhave one great lookingbrain!” the well-being of thebrain should not be takenfor granted because likethe muscles of the body, ittoo can grow lax if it isn’texercised regularly.

By Christy De Souza

WORKOUT TIPS AND TACTICS

August/September, 2012 www.guardian.co.tt Sunday Guardian 9

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By Pamela Harding

From berries to oysters, these 8 brainfoods are proven to boost memory, help usthink clearly, and contribute to overall goodhealth.

The old maxim "You are what you eat,"turns out to be true. New research on so-called"brain foods" shows that some chemicals inthe foods we eat go right to our brain cells.Sounds pretty powerful.

But can food really make us more intelligent,give us smarter kids, improve memory, help usthink more clearly, and maybe even forestallthose so-called "senior moments," or worse,dementia?

The answer is a qualified "yes." Although noone "miracle" food is going to boost your brainpower instantly, make your kid a genius, orcure Alzheimer's, regularly adding certainfoods to your diet will help you function at yourpersonal best, both physically and mentally,throughout your lifetime.

Berries are full of memory-boosting nutri-ents. Here's how they work: When we talkabout getting "rusty" at certain tasks, we maynot be far off. Oxidation, the process thatcauses metal to rust, can also damage braincells. This oxidative stress as it's called, plays apart in many diseases associated with agingfrom dementia and Alzheimer's to Parkinson's.

BerriesGetting beneficial anti-oxidative compounds

like vitamins C, E, beta-carotene and other nu-trients through food may help prevent, or atleast curtail, the damage, because they can dis-arm potentially cell-injuring free radicals circu-lating throughout the system.

Research has shown that beneficial chemi-cals called ellagatannis in raspberries, straw-berries and blueberries are also found right inthe hippocampus, the brain's memory controlcentre. Talk about a direct hit!

Blueberries also contain proanthocyanins,which gravitate toward the striatum, which ismore closely related to spatial memory. Scien-tists believe that that these compounds mayenhance the performance of those parts of thebrain, and indeed, actual animal studies havesubstantiated the evidence that they do im-prove memory.

CherriesCherries are nature's own little anti-inflam-

matory pills. They contain Cox 2 inhibitors simi-lar to those found in pain medications such asVioxx and Celebrex, but they also contain com-pounds called polyphenols that keep plateletsin the blood from clumping together, so theydon't produce undesirable side effects— likeheart attacks and strokes—which are risks as-sociated with the manufactured drugs. Isn'tMother Nature clever?

ApplesThat old adage about "an apple a day" is

right on target. Turns out that apples contain agroup of chemicals that could protect the brainfrom the type of damage that triggers neu-rodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's andAlzheimer's. One of those compounds, aflavonoid called quercetin, has been shown toprotect the brain from oxidative injury in ani-mal studies. Other chemicals such as phenolicacids and different flavonoids protect theapple itself against damage by bacteria,viruses and fungi—and if they protect the fruit,just imagine what they can do for us! Studiessuggest that eating apples not only may helpreduce the risk of cancer, but diminish the risk

of neurodegenerative disorders too.

CurryTurmeric, the yellow spice found in many

curries, contains curcumin, which also haspowerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidantproperties. It may even prove useful in treat-ing Alzheimer's; one study showed a reduc-tion in beta amyloid deposits, the plaquesassociated with the disease, in the brains ofanimals fed curcumin-enhanced food. In an-other study, elderly people who ate curryoften or very often did better on tests ofmental performance than those who never orrarely ate curry.

EggsThe egg has gotten bad press because of

its cholesterol-rich yolk and the associationsbetween dietary cholesterol and heart dis-ease. However, that same yolk contains oneof the most important nutrients for buildingbetter brains: choline.

Getting adequate amounts of choline, es-pecially early in life—during fetal develop-ment and early childhood—may help us learnmore readily and also help us retain what welearn. What's more, sufficient choline intakeearly on may give us the mental building

blocks we need to help keep memory intactas we age.

SardinesWe've all heard that fish is "brain food,"

and there's good reason for it. Fatty fish likebudget-friendly sardines contain omega-3fatty acids, which are thought to be instru-mental in maintaining brain function fromearly development throughout life. DHA, anomega-3, is present right in the brain, so hav-ing those good-for-you omega-3s in your dietis thought to boost brain function.

In addition, components of fatty acids infish go straight to the synapses of nervecells, so they play an important role in howneurons communicate with one another,which may have a positive effect throughoutlife on learning and memory.

OystersSpeaking of seafood as brain food, con-

sider the oyster, which is one food rich inboth iron and zinc. If your mind wandersor you have memory lapses here andthere, you may need more of the mineralszinc and iron in your diet.

A lot of research has linked decreasediron and zinc levels with poorer mental

performance in children, but newer stud-ies on adults suggest these elementshelp keep grown-ups' minds sharp aswell. In those studies, marginally low ironreserves reduced adults' ability to con-centrate, and lower levels of zinc slowedtest participants' ability to recall words.

CocoaWhen it's time for a treat, chocolate is

not a bad way to go, for your brain as wellas your taste buds. Several studies haveshown that eating flavonol-rich cocoa canimprove blood vessel function, boostingcirculation throughout the body and bloodflow to the brain. The beneficial com-pounds found in cocoa may even reducethe formation of damaging clots, whichmay cause heart attacks and strokes.

However, while cocoa, the ingredientthat carries "chocolate" flavour, is rich inbeneficial compounds, it's often com-bined with high-fat ingredients in choco-late bars and other desserts, so it's bestto keep chocolate treats to a healthy min-imum.

Info: country beliefnet.com

Nutrition and Diet

Brain Foods

11

Speeding Mental Functionwith Patented Ginkgold®New medical research from the Uni-

versity of Virginia and Liberty Univer-sity shows Nature’s Way Gingkold®improves the speed of mental process-ing in healthy older adults. Researchersexamined the effectiveness of taking180 mg per day (three tablets) on themental function of healthy people aged55 to 86 years old.

Forty people (21 men and 19 women)completed the double blind, placebo con-trolled study involving a series of cogni-tive tests. After six weeks, Gingkold®users rated their overall ability to re-member things as “improved”. Studyparticipants taking Gingkold® alsoshowed greater improvement in mentalprocessing speed and performed betting

in tests assessing visuomotor scanning,complex cognitive processing and overallcognitive flexibility. Endorsed by Medical Experts

“We chose Nature’s Way Gingkold® be-cause it has undergone considerable clin-ical research and has excellentbioavailability,” stated Dr. Joseph Mix,Associate Professor of Health Sciences

at Liberty University. Fr Meinhard Kieser, co-au-thor of another major Ginkgo biloba clinical study,commented: “Previous U.S. research comparingGingkold® against other extracts showed thatonly Gingkold® increased activity in all areas ofthe brain. This Virginia study again refers to ‘syn-ergistic effect’ that relate to the multiple con-stituents of the total [Gingkold®] extract. OtherGinkgo biloba extracts do not have the samecomposition as Gingkold® and the results of thisand other studies cannot be extrapolated to anyother product.”The Gingkold® Difference

No other herbal supplement has the extensivepedigree of clinical research, professional en-dorsement and consumer usage as the Gingkold®extract.

Gingkold® is the world’s bestselling and mostwidely recommended Ginkgo biloba extract. Infact, it is endorsed by health care professionals inover 70 countries worldwide.

Clinically ResearchedOver 35 years of extensive research and 400

published scientific and clinical studies substanti-ate the effectiveness of Gingkold®. In 1977, abreakthrough U.S. study using Gingkold® waspublished in the Journal of the American MedicalAssociation (JAMA). The study was titles: “APlacebo-Controlled, Double-blind, RandomizedTrial of an Extract of Gingko Biloba for Demen-tia.” It was the subject of intense media coverageand resulted in unprecedented growth in con-sumer usage.

Patented ExtractionGingkold® is a patented extract (U.S. Patent

#5399348) that uniquely contains 20 active andco-active constituents in their clinically proven ra-tios. No other Gingko extract contains the samecomplexity or breadth of active and coactive in-gredients.

Activates the Entire BrainThe comparative study mentioned by Dr.

Kieser used sophisticated CEEG brain mappingtechnology to clearly demonstrate that theunique Gingkold® extract increases activity in allareas of the brain, while other Gingko brands pro-duce only partial results.

Mizx JA, Crews DC, An Examination of the Efficacy ofGingko biloba Extract EGb 761 on the NeuropsychologicFunctioning of Cognitively Intact Older Adults. The Jour-nal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine2000;6:219-229

Itil TM, Martorano, D, Psychopharmacology Bulletin1995;31:147-158

12

Your brain is made of ap-proximately 100 billion nervecells, called neurons. All sen-sations, movements,thoughts, memories, andfeelings are the result of sig-nals that pass through theseneurons. Neurons consist ofthree parts. The cell bodycontains the nucleus, wheremost of the molecules thatthe neuron needs to surviveand function are manufac-tured.

Small, branch-like projec-tions called dendrites extendout from the cell body and re-ceive messages from othernerve cells. Signals then passfrom the dendrites throughthe cell body and may travel

away from the cell body downan axon to another neuron, amuscle cell, or cells in someother organ.

When the signal reachesthe end of the axon it stimu-lates tiny sacs, which releasechemicals known as neuro-transmitters into the synapse.The synapse is the placewhere a signal passes fromthe neuron to another cell.The neurotransmitters crossthe synapse and attach to re-ceptors on the neighbouringcell. These receptors canchange the properties of thereceiving cell. If the receivingcell is also a neuron, the signalcan continue the transmissionto the next cell. Neural signals

are transmitted along complex pathsvia a vast network of synaptic con-nections.

When you were born, your braincame with all the neurons it will everhave, but many of them were notconnected to each other. When youlearn things, the messages travelfrom one neuron to another, over andover. Eventually, the brain starts tocreate connections (or pathways) be-

tween the neurons. More activity cre-ates stronger synaptic connections.Stronger connections support moreefficient, flexible brain function, sothings become easier and you can dothem better and better. Learning liter-ally shapes the brain. Every time welearn something, we change thestructure of our brain a little bit, onesynapse at a time.

BrainWorks…Howthe

Info courtesy brainspringlearning.com

One of the first factors of any healthplan is eating right. Having the rightamount of servings, checking caloriesand maintaining the ideal weight(BMI). The second factor is on averageall about exercising the body, makingsure that the mechanics of the body’sjoints and bones are working cor-rectly.

The correct amount of oxygen flowsthrough the body and making sure thatan individual has no irregular heart-beats. But, there is one other aspect ofthe body that is most time neglectedand it is one of the hardest working or-gans in our body... I’m talking about theBrain.

When you think about it carefully, thebrain does (and is connected to) every-thing. It’s all about memory and thebrain, emotions and the brain andsenses and the brain. Therefore, theimportance that is placed on exercisefor the body should be the same that isgiven towards the brain. Consequently,there are many different ways usingyour computer to keep the brain activeand exercised, such as memory games,brainteasers, word games and mindgames that Positscience.com, for exam-ple, has provided. Some of these gamesinclude:

1. Farmer’s Memory ChallengeWhat It Is - Farmer's Memory Chal-

lenge is a brain test that measuresworking memory—how many things

you can keep in mind at a time. It givesyou a score and performance percentileso you know how your performancecompares to others.

Like many of our abilities, workingmemory often declines with age, begin-ning around age 30. This decline affectsour ability to remember things likeitems on a list, names, and the specificdetails of events in everyday life—and ithappens regardless of our education orintelligence.

How it Works: Farmer's MemoryChallenge is a specific form of memorytest called an n-back procedure. In themost typical variant of this task, thevolunteer is required to monitor a seriesof stimuli and to respond whenever astimulus is presented that is the sameas the one presented n trials previously.Training on an n-back procedure was re-cently shown to increase fluid intelli-gence—the ability to use logic to solveproblems.

2. Word List RecallWhat It Is - Word List Recall is a

working memory test for verbal span.This type of memory is what allows usto remember what we hear or read longenough to use the information, eitherright then and there or by transferring itto long-term memory.

How it Works: Once you click “Start,”you will see 15 words, displayed one ata time for one second each. Read eachof the words, and try to remember

them without taking notes. But keep apen and paper handy, because you’llhave to write the words down later.

One preferred app for MemoryGames is the “I know you” app for theIphone

BRAIN TEASERS1. Scrambled Text

This can be a full paragraph with mis-spelt words, which when read makescomplete sense. Many people are sur-prised they can read it without muchproblem, even though the letters arenot in the correct order. But is what itsays about reading true?

One preferred app for MemoryGames is the “Brain Teaser” by Epic Ap-plications

There are also Brain exercisesfor children, such as...

1. ABC GulpMany children master letter-naming

before they start kindergarten, and al-most all children have mastered it bythe time they finish, so ABC Gulpshould be relatively easy for children sixand older. The skills of younger children,however, may vary widely: some canidentify and name all 26 letters in thealphabet, while others can't name anyletters at all. Still other children are fa-miliar with the first half of the alphabet,but struggle with the second half. Forthese children six and under, ABC Gulp

results may be particularly important,because letter-naming is one of themost effective predictors of subse-quent reading skills.

2. Frog JumpIn this game, the child must pair simi-

lar sounds in order to help a frog reachher goal. The game trains both tonaldiscrimination and short-term memory,requiring players to remember onesound while associating it with a num-ber of choices.

3. Monkey JungleIn this game a monkey juggles ba-

nanas that makes different sounds. Thechild has to click on the banana thatmakes a sound different from the oth-ers. If they get it right, the banana turnsinto ice cream. If they get it wrong, thebanana turns into broccoli. The monkeywill take it up a notch by juggling fasterand adding more bananas!

Websites you can try:Brainmetrix.comGamesfor the brain.comBraingle.comLuminosity.com

Free brain training apps for ios:Brain Trainer by LuminosityBrain BombMath vs BrainsClockwork BrainCharge your Brain

By Akiela Hope

Brain Games

ENERGY VIBE

13

TheBEING WELL

DementiaDistressofDementia, also called senility describes

a group of symptoms caused by disor-ders that affect the brain. People withdementia have no control of their cogni-tive learning, which prevents them fromperforming simple activities. In this issueof Health and Fitness, reporter KaelanneJordan chats with neurologist specialistDr. Diana Andreeva as she shares herknowledge on this disease.

Health &Fitness: In layman’s terms, whatis dementia?

Dr Diana Andreeva: Dementia is an ac-quired, generalised, and usually progressiveimpairment of cognitive function that af-fects the content (but not the level) ofconsciousness. Dementia is a decline ofreasoning, memory and other mental abili-ties (the cognitive functions). This declineeventually impairs the ability to carry outeveryday activities such as driving; house-hold chores; and even personal care suchas bathing, dressing and feeding.

H&F: How common is dementia?Dr. Andreeva: Dementia increases with

advancing age. It affects 5–20 per cent ofindividuals over age 65.

H&F: What are the symptoms of de-mentia?

Dr. Andreeva: The symptoms of demen-tia may be very obvious, or they may bevery subtle and go unrecognised for sometime. The first sign of dementia is usuallyloss of short-term memory. The person re-peats what he/she just said or forgetswhere he/she put an object just a few min-utes ago.

Other symptoms and signs are as fol-lows:

• Memory loss - the person may forget his/herway back home from the shops and names andplaces. He/she may find it hard to rememberwhat happened earlier on during the day.

• Moodiness - the person may become more andmore moody as parts of the brain that controlemotion become damaged. Moods may also beaffected by fear and anxiety - the person isfrightened about what is happening to him.

• Communicative difficulties - the person finds itharder to talk read and/or write.

As the dementia progresses, the per-son’s ability to carry out everyday tasks di-minishes and he/she may not be able tolook after himself/herself.

H&F: Apart from these symptoms, arethere any tests to check for dementia?

Dr. Andreeva: Doctors diagnose thecause of dementia by asking questionsabout the person's medical history anddoing a physical exam, a mental statusexam, laboratory and imaging tests. Brainimaging tests such as CT scans and anMRI can be done to make sure anotherproblem isn't causing the symptoms. Insome cases, the electrical activity in thebrain may be measured using an electroen-cephalogram (EEG).

H&F: Who is at risk for dementia?Dr. Andreeva: Because there are so

many ways to get dementia and thecauses of many of them are not known, itis hard to know who is at risk. Importantrisk factors for irreversible dementia in-clude: advancing age, genetics (family his-tory), smoking, alcohol use,atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, diabetes,high plasma homocysteine levels, mild cog-nitive impairment, etc.

H&F: What is the treatment for demen-tia, if any?

Dr. Andreeva: Most treatments for de-mentia will neither reverse nor stop thedisease. There are treatments and medica-tions that may reduce the symptoms and

slow the disease progression. Personswith Vitamin B12, B1 deficiency, HIV,Syphilis, Hypothyroidism, Normal pressurehydrocephalus and Wilson’s disease havetreatable dementia. They have to be cor-rectly diagnosed and treated.

H&F: Is dementia preventative? If so,what can one do to reduce their risk of de-mentia?

Dr. Andreeva: There is no known way toprevent irreversible dementia or even manytypes of reversible dementia that exist. Thefollowing, however, may help prevent certaintypes of dementia.

• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes a bal-anced diet, regular exercise, moderate use of alco-hol and no smoking or substance abuse;

• Taking precautions to prevent infections (such aspracticing safe sex);

• Using protective equipment such as a seat belt ormotorcycle helmet to prevent head injury.

Being alert for symptoms and signs thatsuggest dementia may allow early treat-ment and at least partial reversal of demen-tia.

H&F: Is there anything else you wish toadd?

Dr. Andreeva: Yes. Be alert. Dementia canvisit every adult anytime as an intruder.

14WHAT DOES THAT DO?

Rodney Granado

TRX stands for Total Resistance Exer-cise and was originally designed as aSuspension Trainer by US Navy SEAL’sRandy Hetrick.

Hetrick’s invention weighed less thanthree pounds and it was so portable that itallowed soldiers to get a superior full bodyworkout virtually anywhere, including theconfined area of a submarine.

According to local fitness instructor, Gre-gory Seale, the popular workout system isstorming the gyms of T&T. Seale is aSports Performance Specialist, CorrectiveExercise Specialist (National Academy ofSports Medicine) and a Licensed MassageTherapist. With a Master of Science de-gree in Human Movement and Sport Per-formance, he has supported the fitnessgoals of post-rehabilitation patients, na-tional team sports, recreational and na-tional athletes in various sportingdisciplines like football, cricket, swimming,rugby, squash and track and field.

He sees the TRX system as one of the

tools to utilise frequently in his professionsince it allows him the opportunity to workin multiple planes and engage muscles in asynergistic manner rather than in isolation.He said, “Using this tool forces the user toconstantly engage core musculature whileexecuting the primary movement.” He hasbeen using the TRX five years ago andseen great success using it with patientsat the post-rehabilitation stage as well asthe developing and professional athlete.

TRX encompasses Suspension Trainingbody weight exercises to build all bodystrength, flexibility and your core at thesame time with a basic kit of straps thatcan be connected to doors, pull up bars orany proper support unit. One great featureis the useful portability of the equipment.It is like a home gym in a bag. There aremore equipment in variants designed formilitary physical training (PT) and protrainers and athletes.

Gregory said, “Although I am an advo-cate for the TRX, there are other greattools that compliment the TRX like kettle-bells and body blades and these should be

used to add an additional load and stimu-lus. I always stand by the K.I.S.S. principle -Keep It Simple, Sam. There are hundredsof exercises out there all over the internetthat look really cool, but there are few ex-

ercises that really give you that bang foryour buck.”

His concern is that people who are notproperly qualified to train individuals aredoing so and this puts the unsuspecting

TRX Fitnessstorm is here

clients at risk for injury. As the system be-comes popular in T&T, it is important toemphasise safety. One of the first thingswe must do as trainers is to provide a safetraining environment when supporting thefitness goals of others and this includesgetting qualified, seeking continuing edu-cation and researching for sound evidence-based practices.

Dominique Kurbanali is a promisingyoung sprinter from St. Joseph's Convent.She first used the TRX over a year agoduring her post-rehabilitation training for arecovering hamstring injury. She is cur-rently incorporating it into her pre-habilita-tion (injury prevention) and hypertrophy(muscle building) phases of her pre-seasontraining.

Dominique Kurbanali does afew basic moves using the TRX

15TRIVIA

What does it mean when someonesays you’re left brained or right brained?Have you ever heard people say thatthey tend to be more of a right-brain orleft-brain thinker? From books to televi-sion programs, you've probably heard thephrase mentioned numerous times orperhaps you've even taken an online testto determine which type best describesyou.

WHAT IS LEFT BRAIN - RIGHT BRAIN THEORY?

According to the theory of left-brain orright-brain dominance, each side of thebrain controls different types of thinking.Additionally, people are said to prefer onetype of thinking over the other. For exam-ple, a person who is "left-brained" is oftensaid to be more logical, analytical and ob-jective, while a person who is "right-brained" is said to be more intuitive,thoughtful and subjective.

In psychology, the theory is based onwhat is known as the lateralization of brainfunction. The right brain-left brain theorygrew out of the work of Roger W. Sperry,who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1981.While studying the effects of epilepsy,Sperry discovered that cutting the corpuscollosum (the structure that connects thetwo hemispheres of the brain) could re-duce or eliminate seizures. However, thesepatients also experienced other symptomsafter the communication pathway be-tween the two sides of the brain was cut.

For example, many split-brain patientsfound themselves unable to name objectsthat were processed by the right side ofthe brain, but were able to name objectsthat were processed by the left-side of thebrain. Based on this information, Sperrysuggested that language was controlled bythe left-side of the brain.

Later research has shown that the brainis not nearly as dichotomous as oncethought. For example, recent research hasshown that abilities in subjects such asmath are actually strongest when bothhalves of the brain work together.

THE RIGHT BRAINAccording to the left-brain, right-brain

dominance theory, the right side of thebrain is best at expressive and creativetasks. Some of the abilities that are popu-larly associated with the right side of thebrain include:

• Recognising faces• Expressing emotions• Music• Reading emotions• Colour• Images• Intuition• Creativity

THE LEFT BRAINThe left-side of the brain is considered to

be adept at tasks that involve logic, lan-guage and analytical thinking. The left-brain is often described as being better at:

• Language• Logic• Critical thinking• Numbers• Reasoning

THE USES OF RIGHT- BRAIN, LEFT-BRAIN THEORY

While often over-generalised and over-stated by popular psychology and self-helptexts, understanding your strengths andweaknesses in certain areas can help youdevelop better ways to learn and study.For example, students who have a difficulttime following verbal instructions (oftencited as a right-brain characteristic) canbenefit from writing down directions anddeveloping better organizational skills.

A QUICK BRAIN QUIZIf you’re not sure whether you’re left- or

right-brained, here’s a quiz to give you anidea. Read each statement and note whichones apply to you, then consult the key.

1. When I’m finished using an item, I put it awayimmediately.

2. I love being surrounded by vibrant colours.3. Whether I’m looking at a work of art or a

room, I tend to prefer symmetrical design.4. I like to move around my furniture a few

times a year rather than stick with the samearrangement.

5. I’m the go-to party planner for friends andfamily.

6. Keeping current projects where I can see

them is a must.7. I love having a designated spot for each item

in my closet or drawers.8. On my computer, I often have multiple win-

dows open at once.9. I have a specific morning routine that I always

follow to a T.10. When making major purchases, I usually fol-

low my instincts rather than do research.11. I often wear the same jewellery every day.12. If I have to explain directions to someone, I’ll

draw her a map instead of telling her verbally.13. When I find a great dish at a restaurant, I

order it every time I go there.14. I often drive with the Empty light flashing.15. I always bring a shopping list to the grocery

store.16. I have a lot of knickknacks around the house.17. My books and CDs are in order, so I can al-

ways find what I’m looking for.18. My desk is filled with piles of papers, sticky

notes, and business cards.19. I feel guilty if I don’t follow the rules while

playing board games.20. I’m fine with other people making last-minute

changes to plans.

Key: Count up the odd and even num-bers you’ve circled. More odd numbers?You’re a left-brainer. More even numbers?Welcome to the right-brain club. Equalsplit? You’re a mix and can benefit from or-ganising systems designed for either type.

With information from about.com and realsimple.com

The right brain, left brain theoryWhich side do you think with?

1. The diameter of an individual brain neuron is just 4microns thick, you could fit 30,000 neurons on thehead of a pin.

2. Your brain generates nearly 25 watts of power whileyou're awake, which is enough to light up a lightbulb.

3. Alcohol interferes with brain processes by weaken-ing connections between neurons.

4. Every time you have a new thought, or recall a mem-ory, a new brain connection is made between two ormore brain cells.

5. A living brain is so soft you could cut it with a tableknife.

6. Loss of oxygen for just 5 to 10 minutes can cause se-rious brain damage. The brain can stay alive for 4 to6 minutes without oxygen. After that cells begin die.

7. The average adult's brain weighs 3 - 4 lbs. but con-sumes 20% of the body’s oxygen supply.

8. The human brain contains around 400 miles of bloodvessels.

9. There is no sense of pain within the brain itselfwhich explains why brain surgeons can probe areasof the brain even when the patient is awake.

10. The left side of your brain (left hemisphere) controlsthe right side of your body; and, the right side ofyour brain (right hemisphere) controls the left sideof your body.

11. Your cerebral cortex is about as thick as a doctor’stongue depressor and it grows thicker as you learnmore.

12. You will lose consciousness in 10 seconds after theloss of blood supply to the brain.

13. Of all creatures on earth, humans have the mostcomplex brain.

14. Differences in brain weight and size do not equal dif-ferences in mental ability.

15. If stretched out, the cerebral cortex would be 0.23sq. m or 2.5sq.ft.

16. Average surface area of the cerebral cortex is 2,500cm2 or 2.69 sq.ft.

17. There are about 100 billion neurons in the humanbrain, the same number of stars in our galaxy.

Courtesy disabled.world.com

INTERESTING BRAIN FACTS:

16

What are studies of the brain called? • The study of the brain and its func-

tions is known as neuroscience. • Psychology is the scientific study

of the mind and behaviour. • Neurophysiology is the study of

normal healthy brain activity. • Neurology and psychiatry are both

medical approaches to the study ofthe mind and its disorders andpathology or mental illness respec-tively.

How many main parts to the brain arethere?

The human brain can be dividedinto three main parts: the forebrain,midbrain, and hindbrain:

• The forebrain includes the severallobes of the cerebral cortex thatcontrol higher functions.

• Midbrain functions include routing,selecting, mapping, and catalogu-ing information, including informa-tion perceived from theenvironment and information thatis remembered and processedthroughout the cerebral cortex.

• Hindbrain - (rhombencephalon) isa developmental categorization ofportions of the central nervoussystem in vertebrates. A rare dis-ease of the rhombencephalon,"rhombencephalosynapsis" ischaracterized by a missing vermisresulting in a fused cerebellum.Patients generally present withcerebellar ataxia.

What is a neuron? A neuron is a nerve cell in the brain.

The human brain is made up of ap-proximately 100 billion(100,000,000,000) neurons.

Is the brain an organ?The brain is an organ as it controls

the functions of the body. It is some-times referred to as a muscle ofthinking as the brain actually tellsyour muscles what to do. The brain isthe most important organ in thebody because it controls all of thebodily functions as well as the otherorgans.

Do men have a larger brain thanwomen?

Male humans have about a 10%larger brain than females. A study of46 adults aged 22-49 years found anaverage brain volume of 1273.6cc formen, ranging from 1052.9 to1498.5cc, and 1131.1cc for women,ranging from 974.9 to 1398.1cc. How-ever differences in male and femalebrain weight and size do not meandifferences in mental ability. There isevidence of a gradual increase in av-erage brain size over the last cen-turies, estimated to have beenaround 0.5% per decade.

Is a computer smarter than a humanbrain?

The brain has a processing capacityof 0.1 quadrillion instructions per sec-ond. The fastest super computer inthe world, called Roadrunner is capa-ble of handling 1.026 quadrillion cal-culations per second. However thecomputational power of the humanbrain is difficult to ascertain, as thehuman brain is not easily paralleledto the binary number processing ofcomputers. For while the humanbrain is calculating a math problem, itis subconsciously processing datafrom millions of nerve cells that han-dle the visual input of the paper andsurrounding area, the aural inputfrom both ears, and the sensoryinput of millions of cells throughoutthe body. The brain is also regulatingthe heartbeat, monitoring oxygenlevels, hunger and thirst require-ments, breathing patterns and hun-dreds of other essential factorsthroughout the body. It is simultane-ously comparing data from the eyesand the sensory cells in the arms andhands to keep track of the position ofthe pen and paper as the calculationis being performed.

Can an adult grow more brain cells?A landmark study in late 1998 by

researchers from Sweden and theSalk Institute in La Jolla, California,showed for the first time that somebrain cells in mature humans may re-generate under certain circum-stances.

Do humans only use 10% of the brain? No, we use all of our brain.

What are Neurodegenerative dis-eases?

Neurodegenerative diseases, suchas Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson'sdisease, motor neuron disease andHuntington's disease are caused bythe gradual death of individual neu-rons, leading to decrements in move-ment control, memory, and cognition.

Does alcohol kill brain cells every timeyou drink?

The idea that alcohol kills braincells has long been promoted. Drink-ing alcohol does not actually "kill"brain cells. Roberta Pentney, profes-sor of anatomy and cell biology atthe University at Buffalo, concludesthat alcohol does not kill brain cellsbut it damages the dendrites, thebranched ends of nerve cells thatbring messages into the brain cellcausing damage to the way the cellsin the brain communicate. Luckily thedamage is largely reversible and notpermanent. However years of alcoholabuse can cause serious neurologicaldamage, including Wernicke-Kor-sakoff syndrome.

In what part of the brain do you getbrain tumours?

Brain tumours are classified de-pending on the exact site of the tu-mour, the type of tissue involved,benign or malignant tendencies ofthe tumour, and other factors. Pri-mary (true) brain tumours are com-monly located in the posterior cranialfossa in children and in the anteriortwo-thirds of the cerebral hemi-spheres in adults, although they canaffect any part of the brain.

How are memories stored and re-trieved?

Unfortunately we don't yet com-prehend exactly how this happens orhow memories are recalled yearslater for retrieval.

How does the brain control body tem-perature?

The Hypothalamus part of thebrain regulates body temperturemuch like a thermostat. The hypo-thalamus knows what temperatureyour body should be (about 98.6Fahrenheit or 37 Celsius), and if yourbody is too hot, the hypothalamustells it to sweat. If you're too cold, thehypothalamus makes you start shiv-ering. Shivering and sweating helpsget your body's temperature back tonormal.

Are humans born with all their braincells?

Babies are born with around a 100billion brain cells, but only a smallnumber of neurons are actually con-nected. By three years of age a childsbrain has formed about 1,000 trillionconnections, about twice as many asadults have. At around 11 years, thebrain begins to prune unused connec-tions. Connections that are used re-peatedly in the early years becomepermanent; those that are not areeliminated. Hence the saying, "use itor lose it."

Are IQ tests accurate measures of intel-ligence?

First you need to define intelli-gence, a very hard task, think aboutit. Intelligence is an encompassingterm. "We cannot measure intelli-gence when we have not defined it"said journalist Walter Lippmann inthe early 1920's. According to mostcurrent definitions intelligence ismade up of the skills of logical rea-soning, problem solving, critical think-ing, and adaptation.

IQ tests are not very reliable andthe scores may vary as much as 15points from one test to another. Theaverage IQ scores for many popula-

tions have been rising at an averagerate of three points per decade sincethe early 20th century with most ofthe increase in the lower half of theIQ range.

When is the brain considered dead?Brain death is the irreversible end

of all brain activity (including involun-tary activity necessary to sustainlife) due to total necrosis of the cere-bral neurons following loss of bloodflow and oxygenation. A brain-deadindividual has no clinical evidence ofbrain function upon physical exami-nation. This includes no response topain and no cranial nerve reflexes.Reflexes include pupillary response(fixed pupils), oculocephalic reflex,corneal reflex, no response to thecaloric reflex test and no sponta-neous respirations. The diagnosis ofbrain death needs to be rigorous todetermine whether the condition isirreversible. Legal criteria vary, but itgenerally requires neurological examsby two independent physicians. Theexams must show complete absenceof brain function, and may includetwo isoelectric (flat-line) EEGs 24hours apart.

If tests show brain activity, the pa-tient may be in a coma or vegetativestate. A brain dead person doesn'tshow brain activity. It is important todistinguish between brain death andstates that may mimic brain death.Some comatose patients can recover,and some patients with severe irre-versible neurologic dysfunction willnonetheless retain some lower brainfunctions such as spontaneous respi-ration, despite the losses of both cor-tex and brainstem functionality.Thus, anencephaly, in which there isno higher brain present, is generallynot considered brain death, though itis certainly an irreversible condition inwhich it may be appropriate to with-draw life support.

Today, both the legal and medicalcommunities use "brain death" as alegal definition of death. Using brain-death criteria, the medical commu-nity can declare a person legally deadeven if life support equipment keepsthe body's metabolic processesworking.

Do brain supplements work in enhanc-ing memory and brain power?

As we age our brain is more sus-ceptible to memory loss and diseasessuch as Alzheimer's disease. Thefunctionality of the human brain canalso be affected due to problems innervous system or inadequate bloodsupply to the brain. Here are fewbrain supplements said to assist thebrain.

BR

AINQuestions

&Answers