Individuals with neurological disorders are being offered new hope thanks to cutting edge nutritional science and nutritional supplements for the brain. Because of increasing media publicity revealing widespread negative reactions to synthetic pharmaceutical drugs which are commonly prescribed to treat symptoms of brain disorders, there is a universal groundswell in the use of natural alternative treatments involving supplementation.
A significant proportion of the population is starting to take control of their own health as they come to realize that pharmaceutical drugs do not treat the root causes and any underlying deficiencies that are contributing to neurological illnesses.
In addition to positive outcomes for individuals with established neurological disorders, proactive consumers in good health are also using brain supplements as a powerful form of long-term preventative health-care. This wellness strategy ensures their brains receive an ongoing range of specific ‘brain nutrients’ which keep this vital organ in tip top shape to avoid disease and reduce free radical damage and degeneration.
This in turn allows them to enjoy the lifestyle they want through benefits including an improved sense of well-being, sharper and clearer thinking, improved memory, less headaches and better sleep. Brain supplements can also be used by those without classic neurological disorder symptoms, but who have a neurological weakness (either hereditary or acquired) which they would like to strengthen.
The Key Nutrients For Brain Health
The brain is a complex, well-organized matrix of intricate nerve endings. Every second, billions of electrical nerve impulses travel back and forth to this organ, with chemicals acting as neurotransmitters, transporting impulses from one cell to another. Because studies have shown that many nervous system disorders are a direct result of nutrient deficiencies, if the brain has an inadequate amount of the nutrients it needs to manufacture neurotransmitters, it begins to malfunction, leading to many chronic conditions.
The most powerful nutrients for your brain as established through clinical research are listed below. Look for these key ingredients when searching for the most effective nutritional supplements for the brain.
You won’t find every single one in a single supplement formula as manufacturers couldn’t afford to do this in effective dose amounts while maintaining an affordable selling price. Since each nutrient has differing properties some are more effective at certain disorders of the brain than others although there is an overlap for many. So some ingredients will be needed in brain supplements aimed at memory but are not needed in one aimed at insomnia. The key ingredients in a supplement formula for anxiety and depression will differ slightly from those in a general brain formula, particularly in the dose amounts.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine for example is used for Alzheimer's disease, age-related memory deficits, senile depression, Down syndrome, alcoholism-related cognitive deficits and cerebro-vascular insufficiency after stroke. So you should find it in supplement formulas for general brain health, or depression/anxiety formulas and memory formulas but not in supplements for sleep disorders.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Nutritional Supplements For The Brain
The Signs Of Autism Spectrum Disorders Must Be Spotted In Time
Autism Spectrum Disorders are neurological conditions that affect the mental, physical development and the behaviors, communication skills and social interactions of people who suffer from such a disorder. Autism Spectrum Disorders range from milder forms of neurological disturbances to serious conditions, such as autism. Lots of children are diagnosed with forms of Autism Spectrum Disorders at birth, while others reveal the symptoms of such disorders in their first years of life.
The incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorders with children is so great, that it exceeds other conditions like diabetes, meningitis and Down syndrome. Due to the large numbers of children that develop forms of Autism Spectrum Disorders, it is very important to quickly spot the signs of such conditions. Children with neurological disorders need special attention and sometimes they require permanent monitoring, as in the case of children with severe autism. Also, speed is vital, as children with Autism Spectrum Disorders need specific medical treatment in order to minimize undesirable effects.
A disturbing fact is the lack of attention paid to Autism Spectrum Disorders. Poor information and lack of experience determine most parents, caretakers, teachers, physicians and even pediatricians to ignore the first symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders. They sometimes believe that children with such disorders only experience difficulties in growth and therefore fail to correctly diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorders at early ages. Despite the fact that prompt intervention greatly minimizes the symptoms and the malign effects of Autism Spectrum Disorders, increasing the child’s chances to grow normally, more than 50% of children aren’t properly diagnosed with a neurological disorder until they reach ages of three to five years.
Children diagnosed with a form of Autism Spectrum Disorders have poor social interaction skills, deficits in verbal and non-verbal communication and stereotype, routine oriented behaviors. Furthermore, children with such disorders experience difficulties in the way they perceive external stimuli. According to the gravity of the disorder, the child will tend to be more or less affected by certain symptoms. People that suffer from Autism Spectrum Disorders have several common traits. However, each individual experiences the disorder in a different way and it is a mistake to try to generalize the symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders to all patients.
Children with forms of Autism spectrum Disorders develop differently from normal children. Sometimes, the first signs of neurological disorders are revealed right after birth. In other cases, behavioral abnormalities are revealed later, at different stages in childhood. Sometimes, autistic children seem to grow normally and have good communication and social interaction skills until they reach a certain age. Then, they suddenly begin to show the signs of the disorder, as their behaviors tend to change and their skills considerably deteriorate. This disorder is called regressive autism and it is considered to be a very serious form of Autism Spectrum Disorders, determining dramatic changes at behavioral levels.
Although the actual causes of Autism Spectrum Disorders haven’t yet been clarified, many severe, malign effects of neurological disorders can be kept under control and if they are discovered in time.
