The Archives of Neurology is reporting in researching being published this month that there is some evidence of microbleeding in people that are taking aspirin on a regular basis. As we all know many people are taking a small dosage of aspirin to guard against heart problems and this research is something to be aware of although only you and your doctor can make an informed decision as to whether you should continue with that course of prevention

Aspirin and other platelet aggregation inhibitors may increase the likelihood of asymptomatic cerebral microbleeds among older adults, researchers said.

Past microbleeding — indicated by small deposits of the iron-storing protein hemosiderin on brain scans — was 71% more common with use of platelet aggregation inhibitors than without antithrombotic drugs, Monique Breteler, M.D., Ph.D., of Erasmus M.C. University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and colleagues found.

Aspirin users in the population-based study were also more likely to show microbleeding limited to lobular areas of the brain, the researchers reported online in the Archives of Neurology. Read the rest of this entry »

Looking to make a change and lose some weight? I have reviewed the top diet on the internet and you can go and read over 200 comments people have made about why this diet has worked well for them, as well as some of the problems.

Tags: cerebral amyloid angiopathy, dementia, Erasmus M.C. University Medical Center, intracerebral hemorrhage, Michigan, Monique Breteler, MRI, Rotterdam, small-vessel disease, stroke, The Archives of Neurology, The Netherlands

Being more physically fit appears to slow down damage to the brain’s memory centers in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Kansas Medical Center and presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease in Chicago.

“This is the first study to get an inside look into specifically where these changes occur in the brain,” lead researcher Robyn Honea said. “We’re able to locate the changes associated with fitness to the actual memory region, the hippocampus, which is a key area for Alzheimer’s-related atrophy.”

Researchers conducted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans on 60 adults over the age of 60 who were in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, along with 56 who did not have any form of dementia. All participants also took part in tests of oxygen consumption during a treadmill exercise, as a measure of overall cardiovascular fitness. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Alzheimer's, Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's disease, Association's Medical and Scientific Advisory Council, Chairman, Chicago, dementia, lead researcher, magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, Robyn Honea, Sam Gandy, University of Kansas Medical Center, www.reuters.com

I have recently started taking more B vitamins. As you probably know Vitamin B is important as an antioxidant as well as a great stress reliever. Most “Stress Buster” pills are a compination of B and C vitamins.

This article by B. Smithers really gives us a good idea why we needVitamin B supplemented in our diet.

Why does your body need B12 and where can you find natural sources of B12?

A person needs two micrograms of Vitamin B12 every day for the following purposes:

Red blood cells synthesis- Vitamin B12 is an important factor in red blood cell formation (particularly in the production of DNA). Failure to meet the B12 requirement can result to anemia. However, folic acid can remedy this problem (although excessive intake of folic acid can trigger the effects of such deficiency).

Development and maintenance of the Nervous system- Myelin is an important component and protecting sheath of the nerves and Vitamin B12 helps in myelin maintenance through the sustenance of fatty acids.

Growth and development- Lack of Vitamin B12 can impede the development not only of the nerves but also the whole bodies systems.

Regulating Sleep Cycles- B12 is used in regulating the cycles and sleeping and waking up through a substance called melatonin so a B12 deficiency can possibly affect sleeping patterns.

Avoidance of Alzheimer’s dementia- the most damaging effects of B12 deficiency is damage to the brain and the nervous system.

Vitamin B12 is primarily found in dairy products, meat and eggs. Here are some more foods that contain Vitamin B12 – Liver – Mollusks – Salmon, Tuna and Trout – Beef (the sirloin part) – Tacos and Cheeseburger – Yogurt

Research shows that there is a possibility of sourcing Vitamin B12 from plants, seaweeds and soya products. However, a closer study showed that there is no significant B12 content from these sources. Nori (the same green seaweed used in wrapping sushi) showed significant levels of B12 but it was attributed to compounds that are similar to B12 in terms of structure.

Incidentally, vegetarians lack the necessary daily Vitamin B12 requirement because they don’t eat meat products. Thus, they can meet their B12 requirement from supplements.

For more articles and information on Vitamin B12 go to http://vitaminb12orderonline.com

Tags: anemia, b12, B12 deficiency, bodies systems, dairy products, dementia, folic acid, health, meat products, soya products, such deficiency, supplement, vitamins