Even the world's greatest minds succumb to aging, but there are ways to mitigate the effects
It doesn't matter how high your GPA was or how much you've accomplished in your career. Eventually, time ages everyone. And one of the many ways that the body gets older is the shrinking of the brain, including the gray matter.
Gray matter, which consists mostly of neuronal cell bodies, is one of the brain's components essential in maintaining a strong and healthy lifestyle. These tissues are found in areas throughout the central nervous system, generally making up the outer layer of the brain and the core of the spinal cord.
Unfortunately, gray matter shrinks as you age, although supplements by science experts like Elysium can help slow down the process.
The Loss of Gray Matter
In processing and relaying information in the brain, gray matter plays a huge part in a lot of important functions, including voluntary movement and sensory perception, as well as memory, emotions, speech, decision making, and self-control.
When people grow older, it's normal to lose volume in the brain and gray matter, which in turn may affect memory and executive function. Aside from potentially affecting certain cognitive performances, loss of gray matter may also be linked to physical decline, such as difficulties with balance and coordination.
It's not unusual for most people to care for their physical and mental well-being, but it seldom occurs to them to take measures to protect brain health. With the brain being the command center of the central nervous system—and ultimately, the entire body—it's crucial to ensure the organ is in excellent shape. Gray matter is an important part of this process.
Here are some of the ways that you can optimize your brain's health and slow gray matter shrinkage as you grow older, from mindfulness practices to B-vitamins.
Exercise
Working out regularly has many benefits in one's physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and recent research has revealed that exercise is good for the gray matter, too. It turns out, aerobic activities that get the heart pumping can also keep the brain working in tip-top shape for longer!
In a study published in early 2020, scientists from the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases revealed that there's evidence linking cardiorespiratory fitness and brain health, particularly gray matter and total brain volume. The research found that peak oxygen uptake is associated with increased gray matter volume, which suggests that cardiorespiratory exercises—known to improve aerobic capacity—may help slow down a decline in gray matter.
Some of the most popular and effective cardiorespiratory workouts include running, cycling, swimming, and even brisk walking.
Meditation
Movement is important, but mindfulness is crucial as well. When researchers scanned the brains of people who have consistently been practicing meditation from five to 46 years, they found that not only are certain regions structurally bigger, but there are also larger volumes of gray matter.
Even if you haven't been practicing meditation for a decade (or four), it's never too late to start and reap the benefits of meditation. Do you have eight weeks? A study in 2011 examined the brains of 16 people before and after they embarked on an eight-week mindfulness program, discovering that there's an improved gray matter density in the hippocampus, which is associated with learning and memory. There's also a significant increase in brain structures known for self-awareness, compassion, and introspection.
Plus, there's plenty of value to be gained in mindfulness. Other benefits of meditation include focus, emotional control, reduced stress levels, and improved immune system.
B-Vitamin Treatment
As an extra boost, some vitamins can help the brain. Over a decade ago, The University of Oxford conducted a two-year study that showed a B-vitamin treatment can help in slowing age-related brain atrophy associated with mild memory concerns.
Based on these findings, Elysium and the University of Oxford partnered in a breakthrough program to develop Matter with the goal of helping people maintain brain health while aging. The dietary supplement contains the specific B-vitamin complex that's been found to slow the rate of age-related brain atrophy associated with mild memory concerns by an average of 30%. In certain brain regions that are related to visuospatial learning and spatial long-term memory, the rate of gray matter atrophy slowed down by an impressive 86% on average.
Each ingredient in Matter is formulated to support long-term brain health, starting from the B-vitamin complex that's patented to slow brain atrophy. It also has advanced omega-3 formulation, because Oxford found when study participants had good omega-3 levels, the B vitamins did their job even better. Matter also contains a special antioxidant called bilberry anthocyanins that are known for an array of health benefits.
There may be no way to stop aging, but it is possible to maintain your brain health in your old age.
Newsweek
