Are these drugs robbing you of your memory?

Nancy came to see me right after she turned 42. Her memory used to be excellent. But now it wasn't what it used to be. She couldn't always remember what she wanted to buy at the grocery store. And she kept walking into different rooms in her house without remembering why she was there. A few days ago, she was introducing one good friend to another and couldn't find their names in her memory bank. That was enough to prompt her to see me.

I took a complete health history and saw that her diet was high in the antioxidants and essential fats needed to support good brain function. But she was taking some medications that were robbing her body of specific nutrients her brain needed to function well.

Nancy's not unusual. Just about everyone I talk with over the age of 40 seems to be concerned about age-related memory loss. And their concern grows with each decade as they notice more frequent lapses. Whether they're worried about getting Alzheimer's disease or just keep forgetting names or where they left their car keys, they all want a sharp brain.

A healthy diet is the foundation for good brain function and can go a long way to help feed your brain. But if you're taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs, you may be creating deficiencies of brain nutrients that even an ideal diet can't correct.

Here are some key nutrients your brain needs in high enough quantities for it to work well. Don't be surprised that your memory is impaired even slightly if you're taking any medications that decrease these substances.

Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an antioxidant made by every cell in your body. You need a constant supply of it for all tissues, but especially for your brain. You see, most antioxidants are water-soluble, but not CoQ10. It is fat-soluble, which means it can get into fatty brain cells and protect your brain against destructive free radicals.

CoQ10 also helps make the energy (ATP) your brain cells and all other cells need to function. Free radicals block the production of ATR So if you have low levels of CoQ10, you're in a vicious cycle that all too frequently leads to poorer memory.

To complicate matters, our bodies produce less CoQ10 as we age. So the older we get, the more we need CoQ10 for our brain, our heart, and other tissues. On top of that, we are more likely to be taking either prescription or over-the-counter medications, many of which interfere with our bodies' ability to make what little CoQ10 it can.

There are many different classifications of drugs known to lower our levels of CoQ10. They include some antidepressants, anti-psychotic drugs, blood pressure-lowering drugs, statins, and anti-diabetic drugs. But new medications are constantly reaching the marketplace. Please check with your pharmacist and ask whether or not any of the drugs you're taking affects CoQ10 production. If they do, either change your medications or increase your CoQ10.

David Perlmutter, MD is the author of The Better Brain Book (Penguin Books, 2004) and founder of the Perlmutter Health Center in Naples, Florida. He suggests that you take from 90-300 mg of CoQ10 if you're using drugs that affect its production. He recommends that everyone take supplemental CoQ10. I have a history of heart disease in my family. And while I have no illness myself and take no medications of any kind, I take 100 mg of CoQ10 twice a day as part of my health insurance.

Glutathione 

Glutathione is a brain antioxidant that works in your liver to de-activate toxins throughout your body. If you don't have enough glutathione, you can't "turn off" the production of free radicals in your brain, which in turn stimulates inflammation-causing substances. This cycle is responsible for midlife memory lapses. While they may be only a bit bothersome when you're in your 40s, 50s, and 60s, they can progress to more serious problems, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

One common over-the-counter drug greatly reduces glutathione. This drug is acetaminophen, popularly known as Tylenol. Acetaminophen is found in more than 100 products, mostly "non-aspirin" pain relievers. In fact, it is the most widely used pain reliever in the world. I urge you to stop taking it on a daily basis if you want to save your memory and prevent future brain problems.

Glutathione is poorly absorbed orally, but there is a nutrient that can help your body raise its levels. It's called N-acetyl-cysteine, or NAC, and you can find it in any health food store. Of course, it's much better to eliminate medications containing acetaminophen, especially since it has been associated with liver toxicity. If you're concerned about taking drugs containing acetaminophen in the past, you might want to take 400-1,200 mg of NAC a day to help detoxify your liver.

B vitamins

Too much homocysteine, an amino acid, produces free radicals and inflammation. It increases your risk for poor cognitive function now and Alzheimer's disease in the future. Some B vitamins, especially B6 and B12, are able to neutralize homocysteine, which in turn reduces free radicals. Getting enough B vitamins has a direct effect on your brain. They help your concentration, enhance your good mood, and help clear up mental fogginess.

A number of commonly used drugs rob your body of B vitamins. Estrogen is one of them. Aspirin is another. And antacids, such as Nexium and Prilosee, have the same effect. 80, unfortunately, do several drugs prescribed for Parkinson's disease--carbidopa and levodopa (Sinemet). The very drugs that are designed to alleviate symptoms of Parkinson's can make the condition worse.

The list of drugs that deplete B vitamins goes on and on. They include some antibiotics, antacids, anti-diabetic drugs, asthma drugs, blood pressure-lowering drugs, anticonvulsants, cholesterol-lowering drugs, estrogens, anti-Parkinson's drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and steroids. If you want your brain to function better for a long time, you need to stop or limit their use or take supplemental B vitamins. Perhaps both. If you're taking a good multi, you may be getting enough B vitamins to counter this problem.

If your memory is deteriorating, take a look at the drugs you're taking. Tell your doctor you'd like to get off of these drugs and try to find solutions that correct the problem. Most drugs just work on symptoms, they don't cure anything. If he won't work with you, find a different doctor. You need a doctor who wants to find answers, not just prescribe drugs. Make a note today to do this so you won't forget.

RELATED ARTICLE: How to eat greens without getting sick.

The recent E. coli scare has dramatically reduced the consumption of green leafy vegetables. Some people are even avoiding broccoli. This is completely unnecessary for two reasons.

First, friendly bacteria (probiotics) fight off pathogenic (bad) bacteria like E. coli. If you have enough probiotics, they'll keep the bad guys in check. If you're not already taking probiotics, this is a good reason to begin. Healthy people with no digestive problems may need only one capsule daily of Advanced Probiotic Formula (Advanced Bionutritionals, 800-728-2288).

If your immune system is compromised, or you have digestive problems, I recommend one to four capsules of Dr. Ohhira's Probiotics 10 Plus--the strongest probiotic I've found (877-262-7843). It's more expensive, but worth it if you need that extra boost. Mention Dr. Nan for a 15% discount.

Second, you can kill off most bacteria on fruits and vegetables by washing them in a Clorox bath. I talked about this in my first book, The Nutrition Detective (1985, out-of-print) and in the March 2004 issue of this newsletter. Here it is for those of you who missed it:

Take half a teaspoon of Clorox (not any other brand of bleach) and add it to one gallon of water. Place your food in this bath for the following times, then rinse in plain water for 10 minutes: Leafy vegetables, berries, peaches, plums: 15 minutes; thick-skinned fruits and vegetables: 30 minutes. Your produce will not only be free from dangerous bacteria, it will stay fresher longer. This won't kill any bacteria that has grown inside the fruit or vegetable. But the probiotics should protect you from these.