Stay Quick-Witted and Sharp at ANY Age
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted July 17, 2023
I don’t know a single adult who doesn’t at least occasionally think they might be losing their marbles.
It’s normal to worry about your brain health as you age.
And when you are anxious about it, it’s often triggered by forgetting something—like a name, event, or where you left the remote control.
But there’s another brain function that’s FAR more critical to focus on.
Thing is…we also start losing IT as we age. And the fallout can be devastating.
Scientists call it “cognitive flexibility.”
Most folks have never heard of it, but they use it ALL the time.
Cognitive flexibility is the ability to adapt and switch between different ways of thinking when circumstances or needs change.
It requires…
- a flexible mind,
- the ability to adapt,
- creative thinking,
- and the capacity to look at things from different angles.
This ability to adjust our thinking on the fly starts to fail as we age.
And that can cause trouble when we’re presented with anything novel, such as a new phone to learn, a location to become familiar with, or a problem to master.
But according to a new animal study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, maintaining cognitive flexibility might be easier than we ever imagined.
For the study, researchers divided a group of older mice into a control group and a test group.
The test mice were given a supplement containing Bifidobacterium animalis (a probiotic) and L-arginine (an amino acid). ALL the mice were then exposed to new situations requiring cognitive flexibility.
The mice given the supplement showed a FAR greater ability to deal with the new and complex problems they were presented with.
The researchers believe combining amino acids, and probiotics may create active compounds (called polyamines) that benefit the brain.
More research will have to be done to confirm the scientist’s theory. But each of these supplements has its own benefits, regardless of those results.
L-arginine is naturally found in red meat, poultry, fish, and dairy. The amino acid helps your body produce proteins, supports healthy blood flow, and may reduce blood pressure.
Bifidobacterium animalis is a naturally occurring probiotic that can improve digestion and help maintain your microbiome.
Both are available online, and anywhere supplements are sold.
P.S. Recent research revealed one of the BEST ways to keep a sharp, healthy brain as we age. In just 15 minutes a WEEK, this simple change could pump the brakes on aging and give your brain a BIG boost. CLICK HERE for the details.
Source:
Study: “Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis and arginine mixture intake improves cognitive flexibility in mice,” Front. Nutr., 06 June 2023, Sec. Nutrition, Psychology and Brain Health, Volume 10 – 2023, https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1164809
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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