As you may have seen, this week we announced a relationship with the French National Research Center and the Pierre & Marie Curie University (UPMC) at La Pitié-Salpétrière Hospital in Paris. The research program aims to measure the positive effects of HAPPYneuron‘s products on the cognitive rehabilitation of patients suffering from depression and Alzheimer’s disease. We are talking not just about preventative training activities to defer the onset of age related brain decline, but the actual regaining of cognitive function through rehabilitation. This is a very exciting prospect for so many who suffer from the debilitating effects of Alzheimer’s disease.

The team at the Pierre & Marie Curie University Hospital are indeed dedicated and committed to this project which we are very optimistic about the positive outcomes and we are excited to be working hand-in-hand with them.

A second objective of the collaboration is to develop distance therapy procedures that can be applied and used by practitioners in the rehabilitation of patients without the patient’s need too visit the doctor’s office in person. This will have huge implications for people located in rural areas and those that may be house bound or find it difficult to get to a doctor’s office for therapy. For the medical practitioner, the goal is to guide the patient’s therapy through phone interaction with the assistance of a cognitive informational dashboard to assess the patient’s compliance and progress.

Lastly, we expect to focus on further research on emotional rehabilitation.

We look forward to sharing the results of this research as it evolves.

Stress is the condition or feeling experienced when the demands pressing upon an individual exceed the personal coping skills and social resources he or she can mobilize. As we all know, stress plays a prominent role in our daily lives, generally evoking negative associations. Aside from being associated with heart disease, a weak immune system, headaches and sleepless nights, stress is also associated with mental health problems.

There is considerable evidence that cognitive performance changes when we are under stress. In the short term, acute stress can serve to enhance some types of mental functioning, an aspect of the “Flight or Fight” scenario posed by William James over 100 years ago. However, unrelieved chronic stress can produce deleterious cognitive changes including problems with thinking, memory, concentration and behavior. These changes can influence many parts of our lives, such as our ability to work or even to complete everyday tasks (i.e. driving, cooking, taking care of others).

Symptoms of stress also include depression of intellectual functioning, cognitive distortions and misinterpretations of situations, events and interpersonal exchanges (Beck, A. T., & Clark, D. A., 1997). In addition, people that are overstressed may have ruminative and unproductive patterns of thinking and indecisiveness. They worry and anticipate that “something bad” will happen and fear that they are losing control. They become distractible, impatient, and easily irritated. Further, memory can be impaired (Newcomer J.W. et al., 1999) and there is a tendency to engage in negative, unrealistic and pessimistic thinking patterns. Take stress seriously!

Certain foods can increase your brain power and can keep you living healthier and longer. And since the brain is a hungry organ in the sense that it is metabolically active, we need to feed it with the right foods for optimal performance. Here are 4 tips for an intelligent diet.

1. Water
Our brains are about 80 percent water, so the first rule of brain nutrition is adequate water intake to hydrate your brain. Even slight dehydration can raise stress hormones, which in turn can damage your brain over time. Also, water makes up 83% of human blood and acts as a transport system, delivering nutrients to the brain and eliminating toxins. Water is essential for concentration and mental alertness.

2. Antioxidants
A number of studies have shown that dietary intake of antioxidants from fruits and vegetables significantly reduce the risk of developing cognitive impairment (Zandi, P. et al., Arch Neurol 2004; 61:82-88). Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. In normal amounts free radicals work to rid the body of harmful toxins, thereby keeping it healthy. When produced in toxic amounts, free radicals damage the body’s cellular machinery, resulting in cell death and tissue damage. The US Department of Agriculture suggest the following fruits and vegetables: blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, strawberries, spinach, raspberries, Brussel sprouts, plums, broccoli, beets, avocados, oranges, red grapes, red bell peppers, cherries and kiwis. Also, Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Beta Carotene inhibit the production of free radicals.

3. Omega-3 fatty acids
DHA, one form of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, makes up a large portion of the gray matter of the brain. The fat in your brain forms cell membranes and plays a vital role in how our cells function. Neurons are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Research in the last few years has revealed that diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help promote a healthy emotional balance and positive mood in later years (Parker, G. et al., 2006), possibly because DHA is a main component of the brain’s synapses. Lack of omega-3 fats in your diet can lead to depression, poor memory, low IQ, learning disabilities, dyslexia, ADD and many more mental disorders (National Institute of Health Conference (1998): “Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids & Psychiatric Disorders”). Omega-3 fatty acids are found in salmon, sardines, herring, and walnuts.

4. Proteins
Proteins are essential to make neurotransmitters, which are vital for the thinking process. Further, protein provides the building blocks for most of the body’s tissues, nerves, and internal organs (including brain and heart). Protein is found in meat, fish, milk and cheese. Try to eat a protein-based lunch to optimize your mental performance and alertness throughout the day.

Take the informative Brain Food Quiz at WebMD

The right kind of cocoa might be great for your brain.

“This raises the prospect of using flavanols in the treatment of dementia, marked by decreased blood flow in the brain, and in maintaining overall cardiovascular health”.

Read all about the benefits of cocoa here

Here is a recent study out of Princeton University that tries to link sleep and brain cells.

“Losing sleep may cause the brain to stop producing new brain cells, a study conducted by New Jersey’s Princeton University has found”

To read more click here

Researchers at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago have assessed loneliness and dementia. 

“In human beings, loneliness has been associated with impaired social skills. Thus, neural systems underlying social behavior might be less elaborated in lonely persons and, as a result, be less able to compensate for other neural systems compromised by age-related neuropathy,”

Click here to read the full artice.

The BBC reports on a study by UK organization Foresight that makes futuristic predictions in the brain health area. According to the report, scientists predict that healthy people, including children, might one day take drugs to boost their intelligence.

The Foresight report states: “In a world that is increasingly non-stop and competitive, the individual’s use of such substances may move from the fringe to the norm, with cognition enhancers used as coffee is today”.
But the availability of such drugs would open up a range of social and ethical questions, including whether it should be permitted for people to use them to gain advantage over others.

How they should be monitored would also be an issue.

Additional information on the report is also available on the Foresight web site as well as this related article from one of the study’s researchers based at the University of Bristol.