Launched in 2014 by the World Federation of Neurology, World Brain Day is described as a “global initiative for lifelong brain health.”
World Brain Day is July 22 this year. This year’s theme is Brain Health for All Ages, and it is extremely relevant as younger generations are now aware of mental health and seeking to support their cognitive abilities.
Brain Facts
The brain is, without a doubt, the most complex organ. It still houses mysteries and there are areas still uncharted, unexplored and under-explored.
Here are some fascinating facts about the brain:
- It is comprised of 73% water
- It contains approximately 86 billion neurons (brain cells)
- While the brain accounts for only about 2% of total body weight – it voraciously consumes 20% of total energy and oxygen.
- Keep hydrated: it takes only 2% of dehydration to reduce attention, memory and other cognitive abilities.
- It is estimated that a healthy brain’s processing speed is one quintillion calculations per second.
The brain can regenerate to a degree; neuroplasticity allows for the brain to repair and grow as well as “rewire” during learning and experiencing. It constantly evolves throughout life as it forms new connections and adapts.
It is easy to believe that most of what the brain does is think, concentrate, emote, and perform conscious activities. However, that amounts to only about 5% of what the brain is doing at any time – approximately 95% of the brain’s activity is unconscious, such as regulating involuntary processes like digestion, breathing, heartbeat, cellular repair and much more.
The brain is also the master editor of input from your surroundings. Take a moment now to concentrate on all your senses to identify everything you ‘re hearing, seeing, and feeling such as the environmental temperature you are in, as well as what you’re touching from your feet to your head, and every single movement you are making such as typing, absentmindedly brushing a piece of lint off your arm, swallowing saliva … and on and on. The brain processes all this information selectively, a process called “sensory gating,” which allows you to keep on track by editing and filtering out unnecessary details.
The brain may keep changing throughout life, but one change that is not welcome is shrinkage: it loses volume in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, areas largely responsible for cognitive function and memory. Brain shrinking is a normal part of aging, but it can be slowed by good lifestyle practices, such as sleeping 7 to 8 hours per night, exercising, eating a healthy diet and even socializing, solving puzzles, building or crafting, and of course, reading.
A brand new study published in Neurology has found that there is a clear link between the stress hormone cortisol in high levels and reduced brain volume. The researchers analyzed data from 2,231 middle-aged participants in the Framingham Heart Study.
Riding the Waves
Brain waves are electrical pulses throughout the brain that create patterns of activity and signify specific states of consciousness. The electrical impulses have different hertz, or cycles per second.
According to the National Human Neural Stem Center, the brain waves are:
Alpha Waves (8-12 Hz) — relaxation and calmness.
Beta Waves (12-30 Hz)– alertness and wakefulness.
Delta Waves (0.5-4 Hz) deep sleep and unconsciousness.
Theta Waves (4-8 Hz) meditation, creativity, and dreaming.
To a large degree, you can help modulate your brain waves to improve mental well-being. Meditation, brain-teaser games and controlled breathing can greatly assist in managing brain waves and also improve overall well-being and mental wellness.
Sleep and Brain Waves
Another aspect of brain health is sleeping approximately 8 hours each night. Good sleep depends on proper functioning of several brain waves as each serves a function in a healthy sleep cycle. Authors of an article for the National Human Neural Stem Center write, “Brain waves play a critical role in sleep, with each type of brain wave serving a different function. During deep sleep, the brain produces delta waves, which help us rest and recharge. As we move into lighter stages of sleep, the brain produces more alpha and theta waves, which can help us transition back into wakefulness. REM sleep is associated with beta waves, which can make our brains more active and generate vivid dreams.”
How Nutriventia Supports Healthy Brain Function
As a forward-thinking nutraceutical ingredient innovator, Nutriventia provides formulators with several products that help support brain function through reducing common problems impacting cognitive performance.
Melotime™
It is widely understood that cognitive performance and sleep are co-dependent. One impacts the other. It is easier today than ever to ensure your sleep is adequate, sufficient to ensure desirable brain function the next morning and throughout the day.
Nutriventia’s innovative Melotime™ sustained-release melatonin is designed to support healthy sleep patterns for normalizing sleep onset and supporting stable sleep for approximately 8 hours, the duration recommended by healthcare professionals.
A new study of healthy middle-aged participants who consumed either 5mg sustained-release melatonin (Melotime™) or immediate-release melatonin, followed by a seven-day washout period showed 3 beneficial characteristics of Melotime™: optimized peak concentration in the delayed phase of sleep, extended half-life (5.10 hours), and sustained plasma concentration.
Prolanza®
Stress is the number-one enemy of sleep, and related cognitive fog, and research has shown that adaptogens such as Prolanza® ashwagandha root extract helps protect neurological function. One review on adaptogens points out that consuming adaptogens enhances “mental work capacity against a background of stress and fatigue, particularly in tolerance to mental exhaustion and enhanced attention.”
A new human study evaluated the efficacy and safety of Prolanza® at both 150 mg and 300 mg daily over 60 days in reducing stress. Additionally, the researchers evaluated the supplement’s effects on mood, sleep quality, impaired eating habits and serum cortisol levels, all of which are affected by stress. Results showed that both doses reduced serum cortisol and stress, with concomitant improvements in sleep quality and overall well-being.
TurmXTRA® 60N
Pain and discomfort, especially from physical overexertion leading to delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) impacts cognition, and concentration. In a human clinical study, TurmXTRA® shown to improve overall sleep quality because of reduction in post workout muscle soreness with a single 250mg daily dose for 33 days.
The Holistic View for Brain Health
Modern life can feel overwhelming, with endless notifications, long screen hours, and the constant urge to multitask. These stressors can overwork the brain and disrupt natural sleep rhythms, making it even more important to find moments of calm in your day.
Taking regular mindful breaks, going for a short walk, or setting a screen curfew before bedtime can help unwind both the mind and body. Cultivating simple habits like these, together with a nutritious diet and, when appropriate, supportive supplements, offers a holistic approach to keeping your brain healthy.
Conclusion
On July 22 – take a few moments to praise your brain and promise it that you will nourish it and engage in activities that help it function optimally. Healthy lifestyle habits to protect and improve cognitive performance is really a no-brainer!
