THE FOLLOWING MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC MATERIAL IS FOR CONSUMER INFORMATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY-- UNDER SECTION 5 OF DSHEA.
DISCLAIMER: NOTHING IN THIS WEBSITE IS INTENDED AS, OR SHOULD BE CONSTRUED AS, MEDICAL ADVICE. CONSUMERS SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR
OWN HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS FOR INDIVIDUAL, MEDICAL RECOMMENDATIONS. THE INFORMATION IN THIS WEBSITE CONCERNS DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS,
OVER-THE-COUNTER PRODUCTS THAT ARE NOT DRUGS. OUR DIETARY SUPPLEMENT PRODUCTS ARE NOT INTENDED FOR USE AS A MEANS TO CURE, TREAT,
PREVENT, DIAGNOSE, OR MITIGATE ANY DISEASE OR OTHER MEDICAL OR ABNORMAL CONDITION.
Alternative Medicine—Sharpen Your Memory with Folic Acid
Folic acid, or folate, is best known for preventing birth defects, but scientists have discovered that it also may sharpen mental acuity in older adults.
One indicator of mental decline is high blood concentrations of homocysteine, an amino acid linked to cognitive problems associated with Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and heart disease. Folic acid helps lower homocysteine, so maintaining higher folate levels can have positive health benefits.
For three years, 818 men and postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 70 took either 800 mcg of folic acid per day or a placebo. Compared with the placebo takers, the folic acid group’s homocysteine plasma levels decreased an average of 25 percent and they scored better on tests that measured memory, muscle skills and information processing. In fact, it’s estimated that those who supplemented with folic acid possessed the memory of someone 5.4 years younger.
Because high doses of folic acid may interact with anticonvulsive medications, check with your doctor before taking.