Do you know how complex your brain is? For example you have over 100 billion neurons and each neuron has hundreds of connections to other nerve cells. Twenty to thirty percent of the calories you consume every day are used by your brain.  Fortunately, your brain has an amazing ability to rejuvenate and change. It depends on how well you care for it.  What are the major risks your brain faces?

• If you have a family member with dementia or parkinson’s disease
• If you have a personal history of head injury, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, cancer, or depression
• If you exercise less than 3 times a week
• If you do not engage in regular learning
• If you have poor nutrition and eating habits
• If you use drugs.
• If you have the Apo E4 gene. (3-8X risk)

The stress hormone “cortisol” produced by our adrenal glands has huge consequences on optimal brain function, for example research tells us:

• Levels of stress hormones rise with aging, and are very likely to be responsible for the decline in neurogenesis.” (the formation of new neurons) – E. Gould
• Production of neurons in the hippocampus continues throughout adulthood, but dramatically decreases in old age because of high levels of stress hormones produced by the adrenal glands.
• First, cognitive decline occurs due to significant decrease of neurotransmitters, especially acetylcholine. There is also a decrease of other neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.
• Second, impaired blood circulation.
• Third, cortisol, which harms the brain in three ways: it interferes with brain’s supply of glucose; it also interferes with function of neurotransmitters; and it causes influx of calcium into brain cells. Calcium creates free-radical molecules; therefore, directly killing and damaging brain cells. – Khalsa Dharma Singh