Natural Supplements To Prevent Senile Dementia

Slight memory loss is a normal part of aging, but when your memory and other mental abilities deteriorate more dramatically, it's considered senile dementia. Senile dementia is a scary prospect, as it significantly affects individuals and families. Certain supplements may be helpful in preventing senile dementia when part of a well-rounded treatment plan for overall health and wellness. As an individual, you have unique nutritional needs, so consult a nutritionally trained health care professional for personalized advice on supplement forms, dosage and safety.

Ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba is a tree with short branches and fan-shaped leaves that lives up to 1,000 years. Its leaves are used to make medicine, and they have a slightly sour taste. Ginkgo is widely used throughout Europe and the United States to improve circulatory disorders and enhance memory. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, ginkgo improves blood flow to your brain and protects your nerve cells. As a result, it can improve your memory and thinking if you have dementia that's related to compromised blood flow. It also may help improve learning and social behavior, as well as combat depression. In addition to relieving dementia, you can employ ginkgo to prevent the development of dementia or to delay its symptoms. Ginkgo's active constituents are flavonoids and terpenoids, which protect your tissues and encourage blood flow. Ginkgo may be taken as a tea, liquid extract, standardized extract, capsule or tablet. Ginkgo, like all herbs, can have strong effects on your body and can interact with medications, so consult your doctor before taking ginkgo to prevent senile dementia.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are substances that protect your cells against damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals form when the body filters toxins from the environment or within your body. Drs. Joseph Pizzorno and Michael Murray, naturopathic physicians and authors of the "Textbook of Natural Medicine," report that oxidative damage by free radicals is a significant contributor to the development and progression of dementia, and antioxidant nutrients may be helpful to combat this harmful process. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, assist in the repair of cells and diminish inflammation, an immune reaction that can contribute to conditions like heart disease, cancer, Parkinson's disease and dementia. Examples of antioxidants include vitamins C and E. Antioxidants are also found in certain botanicals, such as ginkgo, ginger and hawthorn, as well as in many fruits. Additionally, numerous concentrated antioxidant formulas are available as supplemental capsules or tablets. Consult your doctor for guidance on antioxidant supplements that are right for you.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is a complex vitamin that's involved with numerous cellular processes in your body, including the production of energy from food and detoxification. It's also an important vitamin for proper nerve function. If you are deficient in vitamin B12, you may experience numbness or tingling in your extremities and impaired mental function. Drs. Pizzorno and Murray state that vitamin B12 deficiency is common in the elderly and may be a significant contributing factor to declining cognitive function, as in dementia. Dietary sources of vitamin B12 include meat, poultry and fish. In supplements, vitamin B12 comes in the form of cyanocobalamin, which is converted by your body into methylcobalamin and 5-deoxyadenosyl cobalamin, forms that are usable by your body as long as your digestion is normal. Maintaining sufficient levels of vitamin B12, through diet, supplements and optimal digestion, is a helpful strategy for resisting nerve damage and age-related mental degeneration. Ask your doctor if vitamin B12 supplementation can be useful for you.