Age-Associated Memory Impairment (AAMI)

In the 1980s, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) came up with a definition for the person with AAMI: he or she must be at least 50 years old, must have a noticeable decline in memory function, perform poorly on a standard memory test, and have all other causes such as Alzheimer's, depression and head injury ruled out. These criteria suggest that up to half of the American population over 50 could be suffering from AAMI. But because the condition is considered more annoying than critical, it receives very little attention from doctors. AAMI could categorize about half of Americans over 50, or 34 million candidates (consumers) according to a recent U.S. census. And many of them are baby boomers.

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Looking at AAMI-type cognitive impairment, two factors contribute to cerebral deterioration: lack of nutrients, such as oxygen, to support healthy brain cells, and lack of substrate, primarily phospholipids, to support the repair and regeneration of brain cells. Consequently, there are essentially two groups of supplements that support brain health. Vasodilators improve circulation by carrying more oxygen and nutrients to the brain. And phospholipids and other materials seek to improve brain function by increasing the number and integrity of brain cells.