The Aging Process:
To a large extent, the manner in which we age depends upon our behaviors and the accumulation of habits held over the years. While it is true that we all have to die of something, we do not want to spend our golden years battling a chronic illness. What is optimal, and achievable, is to extend the number of optimally healthy years as we age. This can be achieved through the Healthy Aging Model, which is discussed below. By taking simple steps to changing your life TODAY, you can make a significant impact on the quality of your life TOMORROW.

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HEALTHY AGING

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Cognitive Disorders Among the Elderly

Stress Management and Treatment

THE HEALTHY AGING MODEL

What it is…
The healthy aging model consists of six different behavioral change modules. These individual modules work synergistically. That is, when two or more changes are made, the combination promotes an even stronger response. For example, combined changes to diet and exercise will produce a greater effect than if these were employed one at a time.

How it works….
The healthy aging or optimal aging model is not just a grouping of common sense behavioral changes that we all know we are supposed to do. The difference here is that these specific modules are designed to impact and strengthen the central nervous system (CNS), making the brain more resilient to the aging process. Scientifically-based, these modules are designed to promote neurogenesis, the generation of new brain cells. The neurotrophin hypothesis proposes that repetitive neuronal activity enhances the expression, secretion, or actions of neurotransmitters, thereby changing neuronal synapses (i.e., the points where neurons communicate with other).

One of the latest scientific breakthroughs in neuroscience is the concept of neuroplasticity.  According to the model of neuroplasticity, brain cell structure can change as an adaptation to its environment, and this ability exists throughout our lifetime. In a recent study, researchers obtained before and after MRI images of a group of individuals who were taught to juggle. They found clear evidence of increased neuronal complexity in specific areas of the brain following the juggling training [1]. So, in essence, you can teach an old dog new tricks (although it might take a little longer). Similarly, the plasticity works in both directions. That is, if you don’t use it, you will surely lose it; and this tendency tends to snowball with age.

Natural Supplements to treat memory loss that comes with AGING : What is Prevagen?

Prevagen is a memory support supplement from the company Quincy Bioscience launched in 2007. This product claims to improve brain health, promote healthy brain function and clarity. Quincy Bioscience focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel technologies to promote brain health care and several basic health challenges linked with cognitive aging.

 

Products: Quincy Bioscience produces 3 distinct strengths of the Prevagen supplement for an improved memory (except the Professional variant) having either the capsule or chewable tablet form.

 

Costs: $40 to $179

 

The product is sold in different strengths. The regular strength contains 10 mg of the active ingredient while the extra strength contains 20 mg. Prevagen Professional contains 40 mg of apoaequorin. Quincy Bioscience also makes two distinct quantities of the products with the 30-count bottle and 60-count bottle of each strength.

 

Prevagen reviews

Some Prevagen reviews report that the supplement uses apoaequorin to enhance memory and make users alert. And some apoaequorin reviews claim that the chemical may enhance memory by interacting with excess calcium in neurons. But have Prevagen and apoaequorin lived up to real-world expectations?

 

Prevagen ingredient: What is Apoaequorin?

Apoaequorin is the active ingredient in Prevagen, a protein found in jellyfish back discovered by scientists in the 1960s. Quincy Bioscience presently uses a modified variant of this calcium-binding protein. Other Prevagen ingredients include Vitamin D, Apoaequorin, microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable capsule (cellulose, water), and maltodextrin.

 

Apoaequorin is a protein found in a rare type of jellyfish that glows. Exposing apoaequorin to calcium allows the protein and calcium to bind and blue light is produced. Over the last couple of years, scientists have used apoaequorin in a laboratory setting to understand the mechanism of calcium inside cells. Recently, manufacturers are heavily producing apoaequorin for use in the dietary supplement Prevagen.

 

Apoaequorin works to prevent memory decline and enhance thinking skills that drain with age. It also improves memory, but only a few preliminary studies support its use for the brain.

 

Quincy Bioscience, the makers of Prevagen have faced backlash for false advertising. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent government agency that aims to promote fair trade competition, protect and educate consumers. In 2017, the FTC filed a complaint against Quincy Bioscience for false advertising claims.

How Well Does Prevagen Work for Memory?

There exist several barriers to transporting a calcium binder like apoaequorin to your brain neurons. When ingested, it must first travel from the digestive tract into the blood, then travel through the blood without binding to calcium before finally crossing the blood-brain barrier.

 

Since apoaequorin is a protein, the digestive enzyme in the stomach called pepsin breaks it down. Apoaequorin is quickly digested in the stomach which makes it relatively tolerable as well as relatively inactive.

 

So, it’s rare to hear about Prevagen side effects, its interactions with drugs or other nutrients, and other harmful effects. But rapid digestion also prevents apoaequorin from passing through the brain, which means it cannot affect memory or other brain functions.

 

Nonetheless, the primary support behind Prevagen’s thinking and memory claims dates back to an unpublished company study conducted five years ago. It gave 218 people aged 40 to 91 experiencing mild memory problems either 10 mg of Prevagen or a placebo every day. After three months, Quincy reported that those taking Prevagen improved on four computer tasks: learning a path through a maze, recalling their way out of the maze, remembering a list of words, and remembering playing cards they had seen.

 

The study declared that “Prevagen could potentially improve aspects of cognitive function in older participants with either normal cognitive aging or very mild impairment.”

 

Although they had surprising outcomes in test tubes, apoaequorin supplements wasn’t effective on humans. The stomach probably absorbed the protein apoaequorin before it reached the brain. According to the study, the supplement probably isn’t won’t significantly improve memory.

 

What Supplement Is Good for Memory?

While Prevagen reviews are discouraging, there are alternatives to Prevagen called “nootropics.” According to peer-reviewed evidence, some nootropics can potentially enhance memory.

 

Nootropics enhance cognitive brain function or promote brain health. They are found in different drugs and supplements. These few factors can help you add nootropic to your regimen.

 

Initially analyze the clinical trials that show effectiveness in humans. Studies on neurons in controlled laboratory environments facilitates the comprehension of neuron function. But it doesn’t include the challenge of delivering the compound through the body to the neurons.

 

A study like this has already been conducted on Bacopa Monnieri. Bacopa is a nootropic herb that helps with memory.

 

Scientists conducted a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, human study of Bacopa supplements in which participants used the supplements for twelve weeks. The participants showed significant improvements to delayed recall and focus. In contrast, the memory performance of the placebo group was still the same.

 

Prevagen (Apoaequorin) Side Effects

Nausea

Dizziness

Headaches

Cardiovascular problems (especially when taken in doses over 10mg per day)

Chest pain

Hypertension

Irregular heart rate

 

Neuriva vs Prevagen

Prevagen claims to improve your memory precisely and works effectively for elderly adults and individuals with mild cognitive impairment.

 

Neuriva claims to improve several mental functions, such as:

Focus

Memory & Learning

Recall

 

Neurivaís formula contains only one ingredient that can impact brain health, while Prevagen only have vitamin D that may improve mood. Their remainder formulas are fully ineffective.

 

Nonetheless, there is one positive note about Prevagen and Neuriva, and this includes their lack of proprietary blends. This means the label contains the dose of each ingredient.

 

PS (Phosphatidylserine) in Neuriva helps dispose of dead brain cells and safeguards other cells. PS also enhances long-term brain cell health and communication.

 

Phosphatidylserine is an excellent ingredient that helps to fight cognitive decline.

 

However, you won’t feel its performance. This ingredient won’t work for short-term focus boost or memory enhancement.

 

Prevagen combines only 2 ingredients including Apoaequorin and vitamin D which isn’t ideal. Great nootropic formulas make use of multiple ingredients to enhance cognitive function from different angles. Two ingredients alone might not be effective.