[This article declares: This story is pure fiction, if there is any similarity, it is purely a coincidence, do not sit in the right seat. 】
Sister Wang is 55 years old and a primary school teacher. Recently, she has found herself becoming forgetful, often stuck in class, and unable to remember the names of her students.
The family was worried about whether she was old and had a memory loss. Sister Wang herself was also distressed and decided to go to the hospital to have a look.
In the neurology outpatient clinic, Dr. Liu, who received the patient, carefully inquired about the medical history and did a series of examinations for Sister Wang. Fortunately, all indicators are within the normal range.
Dr. Liu told Sister Wang that in addition to being vigilant against diseases such as cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease, memory loss in middle-aged and elderly people may also be related to nutrient deficiencies such as vitamin B12 and folic acid.
"Can a lack of folic acid cause memory loss?" Sister Wang was a little surprised, "I always thought that folic acid was just something that pregnant women needed to supplement, and it had nothing to do with us middle-aged and elderly people." "
"Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin, which is not only essential in fetal development, but also plays a significant role in maintaining cognitive function in middle-aged and elderly people.
Studies have found that folate deficiency may increase the risk of neurological diseases such as dementia and stroke. "
"So how should I supplement folic acid? Is it OK to take folic acid tablets? Sister Wang asked.
"Dietary supplements are the best way to get folic acid. Foods rich in folic acid include green leafy vegetables such as spinach and lettuce, and animal liver, yeast, beans, nuts, etc. are also good sources of folic acid. "
"In addition, you can take a B-complex vitamin or folic acid supplement alone in moderation, but you should supplement it under the guidance of your doctor and do not take it blindly. "
Sister Wang nodded thoughtfully, she decided to plan her diet from now on, eat more foods rich in folic acid, and supplement them with appropriate supplements if necessary, so as to boost brain health.
In fact, folic acid is an essential nutrient for the normal development and function of the nervous system.
It participates in important physiological processes such as DNA synthesis and repair, amino acid metabolism, etc., and is of great significance for maintaining neurotransmitter levels, improving cerebral circulation, and inhibiting inflammatory responses.
Epidemiological studies have found that low folate status may increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia, cognitive impairment, stroke, and Parkinson's disease.
With folic acid supplementation, the brain may be a little "younger".
A randomized controlled trial in people over 50 years of age showed that supplementation with 800 μg of folic acid per day for 3 years resulted in significantly better cognitive function and a nearly 50% reduction in the risk of dementia than in the placebo group.
Animal experiments have also found that folic acid supplementation can reduce oxidative stress damage and improve inflammation in the brain, thereby delaying cognitive decline.
How to properly supplement folic acid to prevent "age" from "adding blockage" to the brain?
Experts suggest that middle-aged and elderly people should obtain enough folic acid through a balanced diet, and the daily intake should reach more than 400μg.
For people whose diet is difficult to meet or who have an absorption disorder, folic acid supplements may be taken as appropriate.
Therefore, the dosage of supplements should be strictly controlled within medical guidance and should never be taken blindly.
Sister Wang's story warns us that there are still many blind spots in the nutrition and health of middle-aged and elderly people. Folic acid, as a key nutrient for maintaining brain health, deserves more attention.
As medical workers, we need to strengthen popular science education, raise people's awareness of the importance of folic acid, and promote reasonable supplementation strategies to help the health of the whole people.
Time is not forgiving, but aging should not be the fate of the brain. Perhaps, a little more green leaves in the diet and a few grains of folic acid on the table can build a "firewall" for the nervous system and slow down the pace of aging.
Write at the end
Let's start with Sister Wang's awakening and treat brain health with a scientific attitude.
Keep your mouth shut, open your legs, combine folic acid supplementation with exercise, and strive to be able to think quickly and have excellent memory in your twilight years in the game with aging!
What do you have to say about this? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section!
Bibliography:
Chinese Society of Neurology. Chinese Journal of Neurology,2017,50(12):901-906.)
Chinese Nutrition Society. Dietary nutrient reference intakes for Chinese residents (2013 edition)[M].Beijing:Science Press,2014:116-124.