Your brain is full of fat
‘Senior moments’ could mean a lack of the right fats
When last did you walk into a room and forget why you walked into it?
Or, put an item in a really safe place, and are still looking for it?
Maybe you were introduced to someone last week, met them again yesterday, and couldn’t recall their name?
The type of fats in your brain may be responsible for these ‘senior moments’.
If you take out all the water, your brain is 60% fat!
In fact, your brain has the second highest concentration of fats in your body. Your actual fatty tissue, in your bottom, belly and thighs has the highest concentration.
Special cells for special tasks
A neuron is a specialized cell that sends and receives electrical signals over long distances, within both the body and the brain.
Neurons are found in very high concentrations in the brain – you have about 100 billion neurons!
These vast numbers of specialized cells are all covered in a fatty membrane, called a neuronal membrane.
This includes the membranes of the dendrites, axons and synapses, which are extensions of the neuron. This is why the composition of the brain is very high in fat.
Special cells with special tasks need special fats
A healthy cell, including a neuron, has a supple membrane, which allows vital molecules to pass across unimpeded, similar to a bridge passing over into a new territory.
When cells age, as well as when they are composed of the wrong kinds of fats, the materials in the membrane stiffen and become less flexible or malleable.
When the bridges and tunnel-like structures, that are part of the membrane, break down and stop functioning optimally, the receptors on the surface of the membrane no longer communicate optimally either.
The effects of such ‘hold-ups’ in the brain are one of the reasons for ‘senior moments’ - an example being when you can’t recall the name of the movie you saw last week.
Sluggish thinking, such as difficulty learning a new task or recalling an old one are other symptoms.
Less restorative sleep and rest add insult to injury, while a lowered pain threshold, impaired immunity and even body temperature imbalances can also result from deficiencies in a specific type of fat that is needed in the brain.
As neuronal membranes are made up primarily of fats, the same fats you eat, you can influence their structure and therefore their functioning.
The quality of the fats you eat will directly influence the quality of the fats in your membranes, which directly influence the structure and function of these cells.
The right kind of fats will ensure that cellular communication and hormonal signaling will occur optimally through, and on these membranes.
The wrong type of fats will impede these processes.
The wrong fats are bad for these special cells
Saturated fats, as well as damaged fats such as trans fats, harden membranes, leaving them inflexible and unable to respond quickly, to the various jobs they have to do.
This ultimately leads to sluggish thinking, forgetfulness and slower thought processing, as well as general cognitive decline.
The wrong fats will also impede the permeability of the membrane, which will negatively influence the membrane's ability to allow important substances into the cell and allow toxins out.
Essential fats are the right fats for these special cells
Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) on the other hand, ensure membranes remain supple and flexible.
These specialized fatty acids provide membranes with a very high degree of elasticity and fluidity.
Neuronal membrane elasticity is essential due to the millions of communication signals that occur continuously – signals that involve the release of special chemical messengers.
Researchers believe that one-third (and some researchers suggest as much as two-thirds) of the fat in your brain is made up of these special essential fats.
The chemicals, or neurotransmitters that make these connections, need the membrane to be made up of the right kinds of fats and oils, as this allows them to do their jobs properly.
Specialized fat for great communication
It has been calculated that a single neuron can make up to 20,000 connections with other neurons.
That’s an enormous amount of communication that you don’t want to go wrong!
The parts of the neuron that talk to each other have the highest concentrations of EFAs in the body and the brain.
It is not surprising that research suggests that the correct mix/balance of EFAs enhances learning, by facilitating the smooth, consistent passage of these signals through these neuronal membranes.
There is already a vast and growing body of research that links the lack of EFAs to a variety of cognitive challenges, including Alzheimer’s disease. If you care about the health of your brain then these specialised fats need to be a cornerstone of your brain-care protocol.
Furthermore, as membranes are the working surfaces of every individual cell, their composition will influence every cell in your body, not only the specialized neurons in your brain.
So you can look after your fatty brain as well as your whole body, when you eat the right fats.
References
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Du Bois TM, Deng C, Huang XF. Membrane phospholipid composition, alterations in neurotransmitter systems and schizophrenia. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2005 Jul; 29(6): 878-88.
Erasmus U. Fats that heal, fats that kill. Burnaby BC, Canada: Alive Books;1993.
Peet M (ed.) Phospholipid spectrum disorder in psychiatry. Lancashire, UK: Marius Press; 1999.
Schmidt MA. Smart Fats – how dietary fats and oils affect mental, physical and emotional intelligence. Berkeley, California: Frog Ltd Pub; 1997.