0 Reading Writing and Playing Games May Help Aging Brains Stay Healthy

Mental activities like reading and writing can preserve structural integrity in the brains of older people, according to a new study presented at the 2012 annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

While previous research has shown an association between late-life cognitive activity and better mental acuity, the new study from Konstantinos Arfanakis, Ph.D., and colleagues from Rush University Medical Center and Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago studied what effect late-life cognitive activity might have on the brains white matter, which is composed of nerve fibers, or axons, that transmit information throughout the brain.

"Reading the newspaper, writing letters, visiting a library, attending a play or playing games, such as chess or checkers, are all simple activities that can contribute to a healthier brain," Dr. Arfanakis said.

The researchers used a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method known as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to generate data on diffusion anisotropy, a measure of how water molecules move through the brain. In white matter, diffusion anisotropy exploits the fact that water moves more easily in a direction parallel to the brains axons, and less easily perpendicular to the axons, because it is impeded by structures such as axonal membranes and myelin. "This difference in the diffusion rates along different directions increases diffusion anisotropy values," Dr. Arfanakis said. "Diffusion anisotropy is higher when more diffusion is happening in one direction compared to others."

The anisotropy values in white matter drop, however, with aging, injury and disease.

"In healthy white matter tissue, water cant move as much in directions perpendicular to the nerve fibers," Dr. Arfanakis said. "But if, for example, you have lower neuronal density or less myelin, then the water has more freedom to move perpendicular to the fibers, so you would have reduced diffusion anisotropy. Lower diffusion anisotropy values are consistent with aging."

The study included 152 elderly participants, mean age 81 years, from the Rush Memory and Aging Project, a large-scale study looking at risk factors for Alzheimers disease. Participants were without dementia or mild cognitive impairment, based on a detailed clinical evaluation. Researchers asked the participants to rate on a scale of 1 to 5 the frequency with which they participated in a list of mentally engaging activities during the last year. Among the activities were reading newspapers and magazines, writing letters and playing cards and board games.

Participants underwent brain MRI using a 1.5-T scanner within one year of clinical evaluation. The researchers collected anatomical and DTI data and used it to generate diffusion anisotropy maps.

Data analysis revealed significant associations between the frequency of cognitive activity in later life and higher diffusion anisotropy values in the brain.

"Several areas throughout the brain, including regions quite important to cognition, showed higher microstructural integrity with more frequent cognitive activity in late life," said Dr. Arfanakis. "Keeping the brain occupied late in life has positive outcomes."

According to Dr. Arfanakis, diffusion anisotropy drops gradually beginning at around age 30. "Higher diffusion anisotropy in elderly patients who engage in frequent cognitive activity suggests that these people have brain properties similar to those of younger individuals," he said.

0 Vitamin K Protects Against Arterial Calcification Cancer and Premature Aging

Few people realize the essential role that Vitamin K plays to prevent and reverse coronary artery calcification. This powerful nutrient has been shown to be the missing link in the development of a natural solution to keep calcium from depositing as deadly plaque in arterial walls.

Further evidence exists to confirm the role of Vitamin K in promoting programmed cell death in cancer cells that have multiplied out of control. Most people ingest insufficient quantities of this critical vitamin from their diet to receive any therapeutic benefit. Fortunately Vitamin K intake can be corrected by adding leafy green vegetables to your diet and supplementing as necessary.

Calcium Transforms to Arterial Plaque

Calcium is an essential mineral that is used to fuel hundreds of biochemical processes in our body and it is critical to rebuild our bones and teeth. The problem with calcium arises when the mineral remains in our blood and isn’t properly laid down to form new bone. As a consequence of poor diet and increasing blood pressure, micro cracks develop on the inner lining of our coronary arteries. In an attempt to repair the damage, oxidized LDL cholesterol attracts circulating calcium and other debris that becomes the deadly substance called plaque.

Vitamin K Controls Calcium, Reverses Coronary Plaque

Research has shown that Vitamin K escorts calcium out of the blood so it can be used to build bone and teeth. When insufficient Vitamin K is found to be circulating in the blood, calcium is picked up by soft tissue throughout the body. This is especially evident in the delicate endothelial lining of the arteries surrounding the heart. Tissue calcifies and normal function declines as cells begin to age at an accelerated rate. This eventually results in atherosclerosis and increased risk of a heart attack.

The result of a study published in the journal Atherosclerosis demonstrates that biologically active Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) can reverse the buildup of deadly plaque. The study concludes that K2 `is associated with reduced coronary calcification. Adequate menaquinone intakes could theore be important to prevent cardiovascular disease.` The K2 form of the vitamin is found in fermented soy products such as natto. Many people will need to supplement to achieve optimal levels of the vitamin.

Vitamin K Destroys Cancer Cells

Researchers are actively reviewing evidence that suggests that Vitamin K2 can be a powerful ally in preventing and even treating certain cancer cell lines. K2 has been shown to cause leukemia cells to self destruct in a process known as apoptosis. This is a natural cellular function that cancer cells can disable so they can grow unimpeded. Additional studies have shown similar inhibitory effects against myeloma and lymphoma cancer lines.

Vitamin K has also proven effective in lowering the risk from liver cancer. In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, individuals at high risk for viral induced liver cancer were supplemented with Vitamin K2 and compared with a group that did not receive the nutrient. Less than 10% of the people receiving K2 developed liver cancer. 47% of those in the control group developed the devastating disease.

Vitamin K deficiency is rampant due to poor diet and insufficient knowledge about its many health benefits. Similar to Vitamin D, humans have evolved to utilize Vitamin K to prevent atherosclerosis and certain types of cancer. Research is beginning to uncover many essential benefits associated with this critical nutrient that we can use to control disease and slow the process of aging.

0 Anti Aging Diet And Skin Care

Depending on how much exercise and sleep youre getting, and how much
water you are consuming, you can see results from a diet rich in
antioxidants in as little as three days. You can feel the difference
right away energy-wise.

ANTIOXIDANT ALTERNATIVES:
* Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons contain vitamin C.
* Liver, fish oil, and eggs contain vitamin A
* Nuts and avocados contain vitamin E.
* Fish, red meats, chicken, grains, and eggs contain selenium.

INGREDIENTS WITH BEAUTY BENEFITS:
* Cherries, bananas, tomatoes, and ginger fight inflammation.
* Nuts, eggs, peanut, butter, oats, and liver strengthen nails and hair.
* Grapes, blueberries, and red wine prevent sun damage.
* Kiwi fruit, citrus fruits, wheat germ oil, nuts, and leafy greens repair
damaged skin.

DID YOU KNOW: Eating foods with high water content, like cucumbers,
can help reduce surface dryness.

0 Anti aging Skin Tips

Take A Deep Breath: Promoting oxygen flow to the skin results
in visibly better tone. Learn how to breathe deeply at yoga. To
maximize the effects, dine on antioxidant foods.

Moisturize While Damp: Apply moisturizer and body oils to
still damp skin immediately after showering or bathing.
This seals in moisture and acts as a barrier to drying
environmental conditions, such as wind and air conditioning.

Hydrate From Within: Dry skin makes wrinkles more obvious.
The only natural relief from dry skin is ample hydration. Drink
2 liters of water daily to plump up skin, give hair gloss, flush
out toxins, and help relieve headaches that can lead to frown lines.

Prioritize Beauty Sleep: Sleep is necessary for regeneration and
cell restoration. During sleeping hours growth hormones responsible
for renewing and restoring skin, hair, and bones are secreted.

Stop Smoking: Smoking is the second most effective way to age
skin after sun exposure.

Angry Red Marks: Reduce the aftermath of hormonal pimples
by mixing 1 drop of rosehip oil into 1 tsp of grapeseed oil. Dab
this onto the affected area with a cotton ball.

0 Why Aging Happen

Several factors are responsible for the aging process. Some of these include frequent exposure to the sun causes skin darkening. Conditions of Dehydration is another factor. Heavy smoking can also cause premature aging, or may simply through inheritance. Sometimes this can work well on your skin.

Some of these factors can be controlled, while others do not, it can be. And take preventive measures to minimize the effects of aging. These preventive measures are regularly shared with appropriate sunscreen with SPF. It would take you from harmful sun rays, thus protecting a reason for skin aging.

It is important that moisturizers to protect skin against loss of water molecules does. The skin tends to age as the collagen in the skin is dry. This form of cracks in the texture of the skin and causes wrinkles appear lines.

You should wash your skin as often as possible. But skin is removed with a good cleanser cosmetics. Thus, all elements harmful to the skin will be removed before bedtime. If these elements remain in the skin, can cause damage to the quality of the skin and lose their elasticity.

Besides the use of anti-aging creams Dermaxin such, it is important to a healthy diet, vitamins and minerals are sonsume. Drinking enough water to keep the skin moist and hydrated. Avoid smoking as it causes dry skin and wrinkles. To prevent premature skin aging, these simple techniques should be pursued.

As we all know, is the human body through the skin, the mirror is covered by any change that occurs within the body. The chemical changes and the various reactions occurring in the body to reflect on the skin. These hormonal changes reflect visible as discoloration and other effects such as in the face. Due to external and internal changes occurring in the body, the skin tends to be poor biological components such as collagen, for the quality of the skin.

Global warming has made sure that pollution and the sun became sharper and can destroy the quality of the skin. They absorb moisture from the skin making it dry and lose its elasticity. You can access the hydration of the skin with products like Dermaxin, which tightens the skin to fine lines and wrinkles disappear. Snuff smoke is also harmful to the skin as it is the structure of collagen, which is present in the skin, interfere. This increases the formation of wrinkles and dry skin.