Recent research shows that Americans have the power to positively influence their brain function throughout their life – an important realization that is especially relevant for the nation’s rapidly aging population.

“The fear of memory loss and losing brain capacity is one of the top health-related concerns of aging populations,” says Dr. Majid Fotuhi, a leading neurologist and author of “The Memory Cure.” “But we can maintain and even improve our brain health as we age. In fact, our brains have the ability to grow and change throughout life.”

Dr. Fotuhi says there are common myths surrounding the brain and aging that he believes should be debunked:

1. BRAIN GROWTH IS ONLY FOR CHILDREN

A decade ago, many experts would have scoffed at the idea that the adult brain could grow or develop in any significant way. But research increasingly suggests that each time a new skill is learned, such as playing an instrument, speaking a foreign language or even dancing, new pathways are formed and areas of the brain may grow, even well into the later years.

1. ONCE MEMORY LOSS BEGINS, THER IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE

Actually, there are a number of things you can do to improve your memory throughout life, even if you are already noticing changes. Exercise, challenging mental activities, social engagement and diet adjustments have all been shown to have positive effects on cognition and memory. In fact, a new study published online in May in “Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association,” showed that healthy people with memory complaints who took algal DHA capsules for six months had almost double the reduction in errors on a test that measures learning and memory performance versus those who took a placebo, a benefit roughly equivalent to having the learning and memory skills of someone three years younger. DHA (or docosahexaenoic acid) is an omega-3 fatty acid and a building block for the brain. Algal DHA products comparable to those used in this study can be found at major retailers like Walmart, CVS and Walgreens under the Algal-900 product name - look for the “life’sDHA” seal on these supplements to ensure you are getting an algal DHA source. For more information on algal DHA, click on www.algaldha.com.

1. MEMORY PROBLEMS MEAN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Many people worry about Alzheimer’s disease - but many are worrying needlessly. Emerging research indicates that many people experiencing memory loss and dementia actually have mixed pathologies in their brains. In fact, some studies report that many seniors do not have “pure Alzheimer’s disease,” but rather late-life cognitive impairment that may in fact be a result of multiple “hits” to the brain from a variety of risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, chronic stress, head trauma and poor diet. The good news is that there is the opportunity to influence brain health and function by incorporating lifestyle factors like exercise, a healthy diet, stress reduction and intellectual and social engagement.