Optimizing Cerebral Blood Flow Can Enhance Brain Health and Cognitive Function
A psychosomatic (body/mind) approach to enhance cognitive performance
When studying the physical effects of cognitive decline and impairment in the brain in the 1980s, I encountered a physical phenomenon called cerebral blood flow (CBF) linked to the brain and heart health.
In this post, I aim to raise awareness about this vital process in simple language, as it is highly complex, comprehensive, and specialized. After background info, I highlight the importance of critical lifestyle factors to optimize CBF.
The brain has a high metabolic rate with limited energy stores, emphasizing the need for CBF to deliver nutrients and oxygen and remove their by-products (metabolic garbage).
Optimal blood flow is crucial because it supplies the brain with oxygen and nutrients through its blood vessels. If the brain doesn’t get enough oxygen and nutrients through blood, it can’t work correctly, and our cognitive abilities, like thinking, learning, or decision-making, stop.
Controlling CBF is paramount, as significant reductions can quickly result in unconsciousness, life-threatening complications, and sustained brain damage. In a clinical setting, a sudden decrease in CBF can…
