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Oh CRAP! Now I've got to worry about other effects of losing my teeth when I get old. What if I forget to chew because my memory is already started to go? Just thinking out loud here (while chewing on my tongue as it is stuck in my cheek). > ---------- > From: janet marie paterson[SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2000 4:33 AM > Subject: NEWS: CBC: Chewing Stimulates Brain, Helps Retain Memory > > Chew on this and keep your memory > > WebPosted Wed Mar 8 17:19:52 2000 - LONDON - Elderly people wanting to > hold onto their memory should chew, according to a study published in New > Scientist magazine. > > Scientists at the Gifu University School of Medicine in Japan believe > chewing stimulates the brain and helps it retain memory - but they're not > sure how. > > As people age, the cells in the hippocampus area of the brain, which is > key for learning, usually start to deteriorate. Short-term memory declines > as a result. > > But, using magnetic resonance imaging, researchers discovered that chewing > helps stop this. They studied the brain activity of humans and found the > jaw movements increased activity in the hippocampus area. > > The scientists also studied mice that were genetically altered to develop > the signs of human aging. Their teeth were removed to prevent chewing. In > memory tests, they did not perform as well as similar mice with teeth > intact. > > The findings suggest that chewing is important in preserving the ability > to form memories in old age. > > Joyce Wau, a specialist in aging at the Molecular Medicine Centre at > Edinburgh University, thinks that chewing improves our memories by > reducing stress. People, she says, often chew gum to help with stress > relief. > > > Copyright 2000 CBC All Rights Reserved > http://cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/view.cgi?/news/2000/03/08/chewing000308 > > janet paterson > 52 now / 41 dx / 37 onset > a new voice: http://www.geocities.com/janet313/ > 613 256 8340 PO Box 171 Almonte Ontario Canada K0A 1A0 >