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Cognitive Performance: The Effects Of Aging On Memory

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Cognitive Performance: The Effects Of Aging On Memory
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

Rationale It is true that some of us get more forgetful as we age. It may take longer to learn new things, remember certain words, or find our glasses. These changes are often signs of forgetfulness. Brain scientists believe that the effects of normal aging on memory may result from the subtly changing environment within the brain. With aging, the brain seems to lose cells in areas that produce important neurotransmitters, upsetting the brain’s delicate balance of these chemical messengers. Other changes occur in the brain’s white matter, which is made up of nerve cell fibers, the “telephone cables” of brain cells through which communication with other cells takes place. Just how these changes affect memory
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Logistic regression showed that participants with the lowest cognitive functioning (25th percentile) had a higher probability of having low levels of specific plasma carotenoids (,1st quartile): lycopene and zeaxanthin. This shows that Low carotenoid level in the blood could be the cause of cognitive impairment. (Akbaraly, et al. 2007). Fucoxanthum a carotenoid extracted in macroalgae by using of powdered seaweed (Undaria Pinnatifida) with chloroform/methanol (2:1) v/v. Undaria lipids containing the Fucoxanthin 9.6% was obtained from the powdered seaweed while 78% from the crude. Fucoxanthin also enhances the amount of DHA in the liver. This shows the chance of dietary fucoxanthin stimulated increase DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in biological system without direct DHA supplementation. DHA is naturally originate in the body in small amounts, and is the most abundant omega 3 fatty acid in the brain. DHA oil is abundant in some marine microalgae (Miyashita, et al. 2008). A Twenty-four week supplementation with 900 mg/d DHA improved learning and memory function in age related cognitive decline (ARCD) and is a beneficial supplement that supports cognitive health with aging and with Alzheimer’s disease. The omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are orthomolecular, conditionally essential nutrients that enhance quality of life and lower the risk of premature death. They function exclusively via cell membranes, in which they are anchored by phospholipid molecules. DHA is proven essential to pre- and postnatal brain development, whereas EPA seems more

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