Mild Cognitive Impairment

It is estimated that up to one third of adults will experience a gradual decline in cognitive function known as mild cognitive impairment as they age. Less severe than dementia, mild cognitive impairment is defined as cognitive defects that do not interfere with daily living. It includes slower thinking, a reduced ability to learn, and impaired memory. While many conventional physicians view these defects as an inevitable consequence of aging, newer research uncovered possible reasons for mild cognitive impairment and has identified potential therapies that may enable people to battle age-related mental decline more effectively than ever before.

Researchers discovered multiple factors that influence our ability to think and remember as we age. These include well-known culprits like alcohol abuse, and also newly discovered causes of mental decline, including chronic inflammation, vascular diseases and even stress.

Physical changes that occur in the aging brain are also implicated in mild cognitive impairment. For example, number of nerve impulses and nerve cells decreases with age. Also, levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and acetylcholine, a primary transmitter for learning and memory, decrease. This loss of acetylcholine was noticed three decades ago, giving rise to a theory that coupled the loss of acetylcholine with cognitive decline.

Blood flow to the brain is also an important factor in brain health. Blood delivers oxygen and nutrients necessary for normal functioning. Unfortunately, even during normal aging, blood flow to the brain decreases by an average of 20%. The decreased blood flow that results from aging and associated diseases can cause nerve cells in the brain to be lost prematurely. This loss contributes to the decline of cognitive function.

Possible Causes of Mental Decline

Of course, the best strategy for treating mild cognitive impairment is to avoid it in the first place. This means getting plenty of exercise and good sleep, eating a healthy diet, keeping body weight down, avoiding diabetes and taking the right nutritional supplements before you experience any signs of cognitive decline.

Researchers have identified a number of factors that may contribute to cognitive decline:

Diet : An increased risk of dementia was associated with a high dietary intake of saturated fat and cholesterol. On the other hand, a high intake of fish was associated with a significantly lower risk of dementia. These findings are supported in several other studies.

DHEA : DHEA levels decline significantly with advanced age. One of the effects of DHEA replacement therapy is an enhanced sense of general well-being.

Free radical damage : Free radicals are highly unstable molecules that react with other molecules in a damaging process known as oxidation. Areas of the body with high energy output, such as the brain, are particularly vulnerable to damage from free radicals. The body normally defends itself against the harmful effects of free radicals with antioxidants, including superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and vitamins C and E. Animal studies suggested that diets high in antioxidants can delay age-related memory loss .

Vascular disease : Atherosclerosis that occurs in the arteries serving the brain (cerebrovascular disease) can reduce blood flow to the aging brain and increase the risk of stroke. The decreased blood flow can cause nerve cells in the brain to be lost prematurely. Consequently, mental function may decline.

Stress : One interesting new theory about cognitive impairment associates it with stress. Studies show that older men with elevated levels of epinephrine (a stress hormone) are more likely to suffer from mild cognitive impairment than are their peers with normal levels. It is shown that everyday stresses combined with major stressful events exert a cumulative effect over a lifetime that exacerbates cognitive decline.

Dehydroepiandrosterone deficiency : Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels naturally decline as people age. Numerous studies have connected lowered DHEA levels to memory loss and decreased cognitive function .

Thyroid hormone : Hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormone) is associated with poor concentration, memory disturbances and depression. Low levels of thyroid hormone are also linked to impaired cognitive function.

Role of Noni in Mild Cognitive Impairment

High dietary intake of fats and cholesterol is one of the causes of dementia. The plant sterols are called Phytosterols.  Noni contains the phytosterols that slows down the intestinal absorption of cholesterol and lowers total plasma and LDL cholesterol levels. Noni juice is an important source of (beta)sitosterol, stigmasterol and campe sterol - the three most nutritionally important phytosterols. Noni helps in reducing serum cholesterol level and fats and thus helps in reducing cause of dementia.

Free radicals are highly reactive molecules or chemical species capable of independent existence. Generation of highly Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) is an integral feature of normal cellular functions like mitochondrial respiratory chain, phagocytosis, arachidonic acid metabolism, ovulation and fertilisation. Their production however, multiplies several folds during pathological conditions. Areas of the body with high energy output, like the brain, are particularly vulnerable to damage from free radicals. The body normally defends itself against the harmful effects of free radicals with antioxidants. Noni is an effective antioxidants as it contains all the antioxidant vitamins, all trace elements, and lots of phytochemicals. Noni also enhances synthesis of endogenous antioxidants in our body. The 3 antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase are synthesized more by the stimulatory effect of Noni. Noni helps the neurons from the oxidative damage by its effective antioxidant property

Atherosclerosis that occurs in the arteries serving the brain (cerebrovascular disease) reduces blood flow to the aging brain and increases the risk of stroke. The decreased blood flow causes nerve cells in the brain to be lost prematurely. Consequently, mental function declines. LDL cholesterol develops the atherosclerotic plaques in side the artery. Noni prevents the absorption of LDL cholesterol. Thus helps in prevention of atherosclerotic plaques formation.

Stress is one cause of cognitive decline. Noni increases serotonin level in blood and thus helps to reduce stressful condition. It also helps for a sound sleep

Noni contains all the phytosterols. Phytosterols are plant based sterols that act as precursors to human sterols. They act to modulate the human endocrine system. One of the most important human sterols is Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels naturally decline as people age. Numerous studies have related lowered DHEA levels to memory loss and decreased cognitive function

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, potentially debilitating disease that affects central nervous system, which is made up of brain and spinal cord. It is probably an autoimmune disease. In MS, certain cells in the immune system attack the nerves, causing a breakdown in the fatty sheath that surrounds and insulates a nerve cell. The breakdown occurs mostly in the brain and spinal cord. Once the fatty sheath starts to go, messages traveling to and from the brain are blocked. A message from the brain to “shake a leg,” for instance, may simply dead-end while it’s still in the brain, never reaching the muscles in the leg that could perform the task.

In multiple sclerosis, the body incorrectly directs antibodies and white blood cells against proteins in the myelin sheath, which surrounds nerves in our brain and spinal cord. This causes inflammation and injury to the sheath and ultimately to the nerves that it surrounds. The result may be multiple areas of scarring (sclerosis), hence called multiple sclerosis.

Signs and symptoms

Syptoms of multiple sclerosis vary widely, depending on location of affected nerve fibers. Signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis may include:

• Numbness or weakness in one or more limbs, which typically occurs on one side of the body at a time or the bottom half of the body
• Partial or complete loss of vision, usually in one eye at a time, often with pain during eye movement
• Double vision or blurring of vision
• Tingling or pain in numb areas of the body
• Electric-shock sensations that occur with certain head movements
• Tremor, lack of coordination or unsteady gait
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• In some cases, people with MS may also develop muscle stiffness or spasticity, slurred speech, paralysis or problems with bladder, bowel or sexual function.
• Mental changes such as forgetfulness or difficulties with concentration also can occur.

Recommended Dosage

Divine Noni Concentrate

5ml morning and 5ml evening for 3 days. Then

10ml morning and 10ml evening for next 3 days. Then

15ml morning and 15ml evening for next 8 months.