Boost Your Brainpower: Try These 4 Essential Nutrients for Cognitive Function

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Brain health is crucial to our overall well-being, with memory serving as a key indicator of cognitive function. The hippocampus, which plays a central role in learning and memory, naturally deteriorates with age.

This article introduces four essential nutrients that can help protect the hippocampus and improve cognitive function.

Functions of the Hippocampus

Humans have two hippocampi, located in the left and right hemispheres of the brain. The hippocampus has several key functions, including:

• Processing and storing new information: The hippocampus helps the brain encode and store new information as memories, making it essential for learning.
• Consolidating and forming memories: The hippocampus consolidates fragmented memories into the brain’s memory system. It is crucial in converting short-term memories into long-term ones, thereby solidifying memory content.
• Processing spatial memory: The hippocampus is essential for remembering our surroundings and creating cognitive maps.
• Processing episodic memory: The hippocampus processes and stores episodic memories, which include our daily personal experiences with specific details about time, place, and events.

Effect of Hippocampal Damage on Memory

Damage to the hippocampus leads to short-term memory impairment, affecting the brain’s ability to learn and retain new information. Many people first notice a decline in memory when they begin experiencing difficulties with recent memories.