Power up your power cells to stay mentally sharp

Starting to forget things?  Your power cells might just need a little more oomph.

Early signs of neurodegeneration—forgetting things or losing simple cognitive skills—could be sparked by a loss of energy in our mitochondria, often described as our cells’ powerhouse.

For the first time, scientists have seen a direct link between mitochondria decline and neurodegeneration—and have reversed memory loss by boosting these powerhouses.

So far, it’s only been seen in mice and in computer models, but researchers from Inserm believe their discovery holds the key to reversing cognitive decline in people.

It makes sense.  Our brain consumes most of the energy our body produces, and so under-performing mitochondria are likely to affect cognitive functions first by starving our neurons of the fuel they need, a problem that can progress to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

There are plenty if lifestyle changes to boost mitochondria activity.  The B vitamins play a significant role, as do berries and leafy vegetables, while omega-3 fatty acids from fish, flaxseed oil and walnuts also reactive our power cells.  Dark chocolate, good sleep and exercise can also help.

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