Thanks to the research efforts of Dr. Doug Wallace and his colleagues, we know more than ever about something called "cellular energetics," or how our cells use energy. Dr. Wallace estimates that 85 percent of degenerative diseases, including MCI and dementia, are due to problems with energy production in the mitochondria, which are like the power plants of our cells. In other words, our brains are literally starving for energy! The typical neuron cell in our brains will contain over 3,000 mitochondria. And all of these mitochondria have 13 key genes that are responsible for 13 key genes that are responsible for transferring electricity, the source of energy that keeps us alive and keeps our brains functioning properly. So, when your mitochondria are healthy, they are literally humming with energy and your brain feels sharp as a tack. When your mitochondria stops working properly, you develop what's known as mitochondrial heteroplasmy. That's when your mitochondrial DNA gets damaged, and heteroplasmy rates increase as we age. When you're suffering from heteroplasmy, your mitochondria have poop energy production and leave your susceptible to degenerative diseases like MCI or even dementia. Your brain becomes like that toy with the failing batteries. The Brain Surge Protocal.   Step#1: Protect Your Brain's Inner Clock - Your circadian rhythm is like your body's own internal clock, which follows the day/ night cycle and tells us when to awake and when to sleep. It's controlled by proteins and peptides that direct the millions of chemical reactions in our cells and in our mitochondria. Research proves that a healthy circadian rhythm is critical to keeping your mitochondria working correctly and heading off memory loss. But there's one BIG problem. Our constant exposure to artificial light, especially at night, actually fouls up our circadian rhythm and can damage our mitochondria. You need your body's internal clock to follow the Earth's day/night cycle as closely as possible. This means getting your eyes and skin exposed to natural sunlight daily.   Step #2.  Load up on this key Brain Nutrient- One of the most important nutrients needed for healthy brain mitochondria is docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. It's one of the omega-3 fish oils. DHA has the highest concentrations in tissues of the brain and the retinas of our eyes. And it has the unique ability to interact with light to produce an electric current that sends a signal in our nervous system and other tissues. Simply put, it helps produce energy that the starving mitochondria in our brain cells crave. Seafood also is a good source of iodine, vitamin A and selenium which are important for optimal brain functioning.   Step #3.  Help Your Body Build New Mitochondria- Part of starving off memory loss...and keeping your brain cells' mitochondria supplied with energy...is a process called mitophagy. That's when your body produces new, healthy mitochondria. And there's a simple way to do it-just make sure you're getting exercise every day. Research shows that exercise actually stimulates mitophagy, which keeps your brain's mitochondria in tip-top shape. This is important, because as some people begin to suffer from memory loss, they stop exercising and basically become shut-ins.If you want to beat memory loss, you absolutely must get outside and get active.  Step #4.  Give Your Brain a Mineral Boost-  There are specific supplements that can improve mitochondrial functioning. One of the most inportant is magnesium, which many people are deficient in. Magnesium is a critical mineral for the energy producing enzymes in your mitochondria. I recommend magnesium threonate, which, unlike other forms of magnesium, can penetrate the blood-brain barrier. One good product is Neuro-Mag, which you can buy at. www.lifeextension.com.   Step #5.  HelpYour Mitochondria Get the Most Out of Food-  When you eat, energy-producing electrons are stripped out of food and delivered to your mitochondria. Two important suplements that help deliver those electrons are CoQ10 and PQQ. You've probably heard a bit about how Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is great for your heart, because it helps heart cells' mitochondria produce more energy. Well, it does the same thing for the mitochondria in your brain cells, too. And PQQ, short for pyrroloquinoline quinone, provides essentially the same function by helping to deliver energy to mitochondria. At www.lifeextensions.com you can find a product called Super Ubiquinol CoQ10 with BioPQQ that provides both ingredients in one formula. Supporting your brain cells' mitochondria doesn't have to be difficult. But taking these five steps, as my own patients will tell you, can go a long way toward energizing your brain, reversing memory loss and keeping your mind razor sharp well into your golden years.  "THE SECRETS OF UNDERGROUND MEDICINE" by Dr. Richard Gerhauser