The learning center

There is an observed link between physical activity and the protection of cognitive function as we age, but few high quality, long-term, randomized or prospective studies exist. The objective of this study was to determine whether greater cardiovascular fitness in midlife is associated with a decreased risk of dementia in women followed for 44 years.

We know the importance of lutein and zeaxanthin (L and Z) for the eyes in protecting against macular degeneration. More recently, studies have shown a connection between L and Z and brain health. L and Z accumulate in human brain tissue and account for more than two-thirds of the total carotenoid in the brain.

The lifetime prevalence of migraines in Canada is estimated to be 24% in women and 9% in men (CADTH, 2017). Migraines can be debilitating causing cognitive dysfunction, neck pain, depression and anxiety. Migraines are caused by inflammation of the nervous system.

In 2016 Statistics Canada reported that 7% of Canadians 12 and older (~2.1 million people) were diagnosed with diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes (DM2) is primarily attributed to poor diet, obesity and aging. Diabetes may lead to nerve damage, amputations, blindness, heart disease and strokes.

If we think about our health like a retirement fund, we can see that the sooner we begin to make deposits, the quicker the benefits add up and the greater the contributions, the “healthier” the withdrawals later in life.

Protein clumping is a hallmark of diabetes and many neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease. If our cells cannot remove these protein clumps, the cells’ ability to generate energy is reduced. A new study has shed light on the internal quality control system that may be responsible for the removal of protein clumps.

Up until now, vitamin D2 and D3 were assumed to have the same nutritional value. This landmark study out of the University of Surrey, U.K. looked at both types of vitamin D—D2 (plant source) and D3 (animal source) and their effectiveness in raising levels of vitamin D in our body.

On September 5, major global news agencies, including the BBC, Washington Post, NY Times, CTV News, CNN and MSN reported on this Cochrane Report.

More than 1 in 3 women have some form of cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in North America (Wellons et al., 2012).

This paper and several similar studies were epublished ahead of print. Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) has been the focus of major media networks such as CNN, BBC, CTV, NBC and ABC, as well as global medical and scientific societies.