New cases of memory loss are reaching epidemic proportions. Not only is our population aging, but an unhealthy lifestyle can accelerate memory loss substantially. While we currently lack effective treatments for end-stage memory loss, especially Alzheimer’s disease, there is a great deal that can be done to slow or reverse early cognitive decline if detected early.

Memory loss and cognitive decline are frightening topics for several reasons:

• There are many types of memory loss that are totally disabling (e.g., multi infarct dementia and Alzheimer’s disease) and eventually require 24-hour family or institutional support.
• It runs in families and people with early memory loss often have memories of watching a loved-one suffer.
• Eventually all of us will have some memory loss, but we do not know to what degree it will progress. This is why I measure cognitive function (computerized cognitive testing) in my patients at the Masley Optimal Health Center every 1-3 years.
• Once someone has advanced dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, it is too late to reverse this process as the brain has essentially shrunk.

The good news is that there are promising treatments that appear to slow or cognitive decline and memory loss. Rarely, we can stop this progression completely, such as with vitamin B 12 deficiency.

In fact, at the Masley Optimal Health Center we have data showing that many of our patients have cognitive improvement—they are growing mentally sharper over time.

A common question that I hear is “Can’t I take a supplement for my memory?” The simple answer is that proper exercise, nutrition, and adequate rest and sleep are the most effective tools to slow or stop memory loss. So, if you feel you have these symptoms, please see your medical provider to discuss them first.

Once you have been medically evaluated for reversible causes (such as low thyroid function, mercury toxicity, or B12 deficiency) be aware that there are supplements that hold promise for slowing and/or potentially stopping cognitive decline. These include:

• Vitamin B12 (usually obtained as part of a multivitamin, but most multivitamins don’t have nearly enough. Look for a multivitamin with at least 100 mcg and up to 1000 mcg daily)
• Curcumin
• Fish oil; For hints on selecting high quality fish oils, visit Fish oil (omega-3 oils) for details…
• Vitamin D (see, How much vitamin D do you need?)
• Mitochondrial Support combinations: (Co-Q-10, alpha lipoic acid, carnitine, cysteine, resveratrol—all available with two pills daily as MitoThera)

Six Key Steps to Optimize Cognitive Function and Slow Cognitive Decline:

1. Meet your nutrient needs as outlined in this section
2. Add daily exercise, preferably 40-60 minutes of aerobic activity daily
3. Get enough sleep, most people need at least 7-8 hours daily
4. Confirm you don’t have high mercury levels (See our article on Mercury for details)
5. Confirm you don’t have vitamin B12 or folate deficiency (requires a blood test through your medical provider)
6. At some point, I suggest measuring your cognitive function objectively.

The challenge is to customize a regimen that is realistic and affordable for you. Ideally, no person would develop dementia from something as preventable as B12 deficiency, but sadly, it happens every day. Curcumin and fish oil have many benefits, not just for cognitive function but for arthritis (see our Joint Pain section for details), and fish oil is good for your heart. Hopefully everyone has a normal vitamin D level as well. (See How much Vitamin D do you need?). The good news is that many of these brain protecting compounds are found in our Ten Years Younger with Arthritis Support supplement pack. At first glance, this might seem odd, but when you think it over, this makes sense physiologically as cognitive decline often represents excessive brain inflammation (a brain on fire) and decreasing inflammation is good for your joints, your brain, and many other aspects of aging.

Mitochondrial support compounds have tremendous potential and fascinating biochemical mechanisms to slow or stop cognitive decline, but all remain theoretical at this time as none have been shown (individually or in combination) to stop cognitive decline in clinical trials and likely this will take years, if not decades, to confirm.

Slowing research in this field are a variety of problems, including that supplements that are designed to slow cognitive decline:

• Are expensive
• Some have questionable absorption
• Studies related to long term safety and efficacy are not yet available
• And the fact that these compounds don’t last long in the blood stream, so some (Co-Q-10, alpha lipoic acid, etc) need to be taken more than once per day.

Because of problems with absorption and length of time they are actually active in the blood stream, it is extra important to ensure that if you choose to take supplements aimed at slowing cognitive decline, that you don’t try the cheapest products on the market. The Ten Years Younger with Brain Support kit is designed to provide a high quality version of an anti-inflammatory and mitochondrial support for someone with cognitive decline. Taking one pill of each of the following twice daily. This combination of pills will support mitochondrial function beautifully and minimize inflammation levels–both of which are critical for normal brain function.

1. Multivitamin with Advanced Cognitive Support with the six capsules listed below taken twice daily. If this exceeds your budget our pill intake capacity, consider option 2 below.
1. 1 multivitamin capsule with adequate vitamin B 12
2. 1 fish oil with extra vitamin D and vitamin K capsule
3. 1 curcumin capsule
4. 1 Co-Q-10 capsule
5. 1 carnitine
6. 1 resveratrol
2. Multivitamin with Cognitive Support (Less pills and expense than option 1 above)
1. 2 multivitamin capsule with 400-1000 mcg Vit B12 once daily
2. 2 fish oil with extra vitamin D and vitamin K capsule once daily
3. 1 curcumin capsule once daily
4. 1 MitoThera tablet twice daily

Optionally, add a Nrf2 activator pill 1-2 times daily for additional mitochondrial and brain support.

Lastly, if you or a loved one have early signs of cognitive decline, you need a comprehensive evaluation to see if there is a reversible process and I always recommend monitoring cognitive function longitudinally over time. I would highly recommend an evaluation at the Masley Optimal Health Center. Please visit www.drmasley.com for details.