An Invitation to my 120th Birthday Celebration.

After 39 years of teaching, my last words to my students on that final day came in the form of an invitation: "You're all invited to my 120th Birthday. Celebrate it by skiing with me." I think it was Sara who shot up her hand saying: "Wait, wait." (pausing for a quick calculation) "I'll be 77 years old!"
"Don't worry." says I, "I'll slow down for you!"

"Never limit yourself." had been an underlying lesson for my students. I realized that I'd need to engineer a comprehensive plan for myself to optimize the quality of my life to 120 and Beyond.

In order to take good care of your brain for the long game, begin by taking mindful care of your body. Read on to chart your own course for 120 and Beyond.


Tuesday, April 6, 2010

This week's puzzler. What's this got to do with 120 and Beyond?

My exercise and spin instructors and physical therapist are teaching me how to enhance my physiology for 120 and beyond.  Long known is the value of cardio exercise, but another important key is using our medical history as a navigator telling us where to go next to insure a continual high quality life style.  Each time a visit my doctors, I learn from them what I need to do for 120 and Beyond. Since each day is better than the last, I want to see how far this can go!

For a clue, see 1st ELEMENT.

RELATED RESEARCH:

Information is credible if published through the NIH. When it comes to health and medicine, the NIH, National Institutes of Health, is a most reliable source of information.
Like this abstract on prospects for brain rebuilding using integrated management.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16366737

In the future look for more in the area of:
"oxygen free radical species that may place the ultimate limit on lifespan."

Altern Med Rev. 2005 Dec;10(4):268-93.
Neurodegeneration from mitochondrial insufficiency: nutrients, stem cells, growth factors, and prospects for brain rebuilding using integrative management.

Kidd PM.

University of California, Berkeley, USA. dockidd@dockidd.com
Abstract

Degenerative brain disorders (neurodegeneration) can be frustrating for both conventional and alternative practitioners. A more comprehensive, integrative approach is urgently needed. One emerging focus for intervention is brain energetics. Specifically, mitochondrial insufficiency contributes to the etiopathology of many such disorders. Electron leakages inherent to mitochondrial energetics generate reactive oxygen free radical species that may place the ultimate limit on lifespan. Exogenous toxins, such as mercury and other environmental contaminants, exacerbate mitochondrial electron leakage, hastening their demise and that of their host cells. Studies of the brain in Alzheimer's and other dementias, Down syndrome, stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, Friedreich's ataxia, aging, and constitutive disorders demonstrate impairments of the mitochondrial citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) enzymes. Imaging or metabolic assays frequently reveal energetic insufficiency and depleted energy reserve in brain tissue in situ. Orthomolecular nutrients involved in mitochondrial metabolism provide clinical benefit. Among these are the essential minerals and the B vitamin group; vitamins E and K; and the antioxidant and energetic cofactors alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10; CoQ10), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, reduced (NADH). Recent advances in the area of stem cells and growth factors encourage optimism regarding brain regeneration. The trophic nutrients acetyl L-carnitine (ALCAR), glycerophosphocholine (GPC), and phosphatidylserine (PS) provide mitochondrial support and conserve growth factor receptors; all three improved cognition in double-blind trials. The omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is enzymatically combined with GPC and PS to form membrane phospholipids for nerve cell expansion. Practical recommendations are presented for integrating these safe and well-tolerated orthomolecular nutrients into a comprehensive dietary supplementation program for brain vitality and productive lifespan.

PMID: 16366737 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Free Article

In another study:
"The researchers say that exercise is a promising strategy for combating cognitive decline and that aerobic and resistance training have been shown to enhance mental performance both in healthy people as they age."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/behindtheheadlines/news/2012-04-24-can-exercise-stop-mental-decline/

No comments:

Post a Comment