Tag Archives: nerve cells

Just What is Glaucoma and What Are the Symptoms? : Brain Vitamin

Article by David Cowley

You may already know that glaucoma is a disease of the eye that is very serious, but if you’re unsure of just what the disease actually is and what the symptoms are to look for, you’re not alone. As serious as this eye disease is, many people simply are unaware of the symptoms or even what it means to have glaucoma. Since it is something that can lead to loss of peripheral vision and even blindness, and since about 1 in 200 people under the age of fifty and 1 in 10 over the age of eighty actually get this disease, it’s a good idea to learn more about it.

To better understand the disease of glaucoma, we do well to think about how the eye is structured in the first place. Behind the actual eyeball that we can see is a series of nerves that translate the light we take in through the eye into electrical impulses that then travel to the brain. The brain descrambles these impulses and reads them as sight. These nerves are as important to sight as the eyeball itself. Remember, all of our senses actually function in the brain; our eyes, ears, tongue, nose, and skin only act as receptors for the signals that travel along the nerve pathways to be translated into sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch. Just like a deaf person can have two perfectly good ears, damage to the nerve cells behind any of our sensory organs can result in a loss of that particular sense. The word glaucoma is applied to a wide range of diseases that affect these nerve endings behind the eyeball itself.

Typically the disease is brought on by continued pressure on the nerve, but this pressure itself is no exact indication of who exactly will eventually contract glaucoma and who will not. Some seem to be very sensitive to this nerve pressure while others seem to have a high tolerance level for it. So, this pressure itself is not an exact indication of contracting glaucoma or not.

The fluid in the eye is called aqueous humor and drains out of the eye through a network of drainage tissue between the iris and the cornea. In people with glaucoma this drainage tissue becomes blocked and fluid is replaced faster that it can be drained. This caused pressure to build up in the eye causing the blood vessels that nourish the eye with essential nutrients and oxygen to become constricted which cause the nerve fibers to die.

When left untreated, any form of glaucoma will lead to permanent damage of these optic nerves which will in turn lead to blindness. Typically this starts with a minor loss of peripheral vision but can lead to permanent cloudiness of vision. Unfortunately, glaucoma can develop slowly over several years so that the patient is unaware that he or she even has the disease until it cannot be corrected.

It’s important to get regular eye exams even if you don’t have problems with your vision. Your optometrist can give your eyes a thorough exam and be aware of any symptoms of the onset of glaucoma. This condition can typically be treated with medication before blindness sets in or permanent damage is done, so it’s good to be vigilant about eye exams.

Common vitamins and over the counter products can help with glaucoma such as Vitamin C, Ginkgo, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Beta Carotene, Vitamin B, Vitamin E, Multiple Mineral, Herbal Diuretic.

Vitamin C has been shown to dramatically reduce the intaocular pressure in patients suffering from glaucoma.

Ginkgo is needed for the proper functioning of the vascular system and improves blood circulation to the brain.

Vitamin A is important for the proper development of the eyes.

Vitamin D plays an important in nerve and muscle function.

Beta Carotene helps protect Vitamin C from oxidation and the body converts beta carotene into vitamin A.

Vitamin B is needed for healthy blood vessels and the proper functioning of the nervous system.

Vitamin E promotes the healing process of the body.

Multiple Mineral are required for healthy bones, teeth, muscles, blood and nerve cells.

There are several Herbal Diuretic on the market that will help the body to reduce excess body fluids.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

David Cowley has created numerous articles about the relationship between diseases and vitamins. Visit Health Related Articles










Brain Training: Can it Improve Memory and Fend Off Alzheimer’s? : Brain Training

Article by Gene Millen

It may be time for some brain training.

A new survey indicates that Americans are more worried about Alzheimer’s disease than they are about having a heart attack.

And for good reason.

Alzheimer’s affects One in eight adults over 65. Those who are spared know they may end up with the burden of caring for a parent or a spouse who is affected.

Even though the number of older adults with dementias is rising rapidly, only a few drugs that have been approved to treat symptoms are on the market, and they slow down the disease but do not cure it.

Researchers, however, are more optimistic than ever about the potential of the aging brain, because recent evidence has challenged long-held beliefs by demonstrating that with brain training the brain can grow new nerve cells.

“For a long time, we held the assumption that we’re born with all the nerve cells we’re ever going to have, and that the brain is not capable of generating new ones — that once these cells die we’re unable to replace them,” said Molly V. Wagster, chief of the Neuropsychology of Aging branch of the National Institute on Aging. “Those assumptions have been challenged and put by the wayside.”

The birth of new nerve cells, she said, “has been shown to occur in the adult — not only in adult rats and monkeys, but also in older adult humans.” Most of the areas that show neurogenesis and that have been investigated so far are important for learning and memory, particularly the hippocampus, she added.

So how does one stimulate neurogenesis?

Studies of older people who have maintained their mental acuity provide some clues to brain training. They tend to be socially connected, with strong ties to relatives, friends and community. They are often both physically healthy and physically active. And they tend to be engaged in stimulating or intellectually challenging activities.

Some studies that have introduced older adults to brain exercise regimens have reported remarkable results. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign recruited a group of sedentary adults between the ages of 60 and 75, assigning half of them to an aerobic exercise program that met three times a week to walk, while a control group did anaerobic stretching and toning.

The scientists measured the group’s cognitive function before and after the six-month program and found improvements among those who had done the walking.

“Six months of exercise will buy you a 15 to 20 percent improvement in memory, decision-making ability and attention,” said Arthur F. Kramer, a professor of psychology at the University of Illinois.

“It will also buy you increases in the volume of various brain regions in the prefrontal and temporal cortex, and more efficient neuronetworks that support the kind of cognition we examined.”

Other studies have found improvements in cognitive function after a combined regimen of physical exercise and cognitive training.

Regular physical activity may improve brain function, both by increasing blood flow to the brain and stimulating the production of hormones and nerve growth factors involved in neurogenesis.

Animal studies have found that physically active animals have better memories and more cells in their hippocampus. Exercise also plays a role in countering diseases like Type 2 diabetes, which increases the risk of dementia.

Seeking out stimulation through interesting work, volunteer opportunities or continuing education is beneficial. Travel, read, take up a new language or learn to play a musical instrument. Staying socially connected is also associated with brain health, as is managing stress effectively.

One of the most enjoyable brain training methods is by playing scientific brain games.

Do they work? Some just don’t live up their advertising but I’ve found a couple of brain training games that have the research studies to back them up, won’t cost you an arm or a leg…and just may change your brain for the better.

Brain be nimble, brain be quick.Quicker than lightning, never missing a trick!

Do you sometimes wonder if Alzheimer’s is in your future? Are there times when your “forgetter” outwits your memory? This site explores the latest research about brain fitness and shows you how scientific brain games can revitalize your memory and keep Alzheimers at bay. Website: http://www.brainbequick.com










University of Michigan professor John Jonides shares his findings that show one can train their brain and increase short-term memory. Here are the links to the n-back tests mentioned in the video. dual-n-back.com brainworkshop.sourceforge.net
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Related Brain Training Articles