Functioning brain, eyesight and hearing? Blood circulation is the key!

The brain is the largest “eater” of oxygen and nutrients within our body. At rest, it receives up to a fifth of all the blood pumped by our heart. But our eyes and ears are also sensitive to sufficient blood flow. How can we improve blood flow and thus the function of all these tissues?

Research clearly shows that impaired blood flow to the brain impairs cognitive function, including memory. It also increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. Getting more blood to this key organ is therefore crucial.

Moreover, the situation here is a bit specific, because the blood vessels in the brain differ significantly from those in the rest of the body. Within them, the blood-brain barrier separates the blood circulation from the brain tissue and protects it from the penetration of toxins and other negatively influencing substances. This barrier is secured mainly mechanically – the connections between the cells of the brain vessels are up to 100 times tighter than in other peripheral vessels. However, some types of brain cells (e.g. astrocytes) or cells of the immune system are also involved in its maintenance.

The disruption of the blood-brain barrier is typical of, for example, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis or epilepsy.

Why does the blood flow to the brain stagnate?

The blood supply to all tissues of the body is negatively affected mainly by atherosclerosis, or the corrosion of the arteries. This is a disease in which deposits form in the blood vessels, which narrow their permeability and impair their elasticity. Less blood flows through the blood vessels and the body’s tissues suffer from a lack of oxygen and nutrients.

Interestingly, however, this relationship also applies in reverse. In fact, insufficient blood flow through blood vessels causes epigenetic changes that result in atherosclerosis.

Impaired blood supply to the brain tissue, whether caused by chronic changes (atherosclerosis, high blood pressure) or acute changes (e.g. stroke), has another significantly negative consequence: it impairs the function of the aforementioned blood-brain barrier, in particular by causing degradation of the proteins that make it up. Its disruption then leads to the penetration of toxins into the brain, where they have a destructive effect on nerve cells, impair mental performance and can contribute, for example, to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

But even in this type of dementia, the relationship is two-sided: blood flow through the brain can be impaired by Alzheimer’s disease itself. While in healthy people, blood flow through the brain vessels deteriorates by 0.1-0.5% per year due to ageing, the decline is 3-10 times faster in people with Alzheimer’s disease. The parts of the brain that are most affected by the disease – namely the hippocampus, where our memory resides – experience the greatest decline in blood flow. The cause is probably the accumulation of proteins (called beta-amyloid plaques) that impair the function not only of nerve cells but also of blood vessels.

For sharp eyesight and hearing

Like the brain, the eye is also sensitive to blood flow – in fact, the blood vessels in the retina and iris are very similar to those in the brain. Moreover, the blood vessels that supply the eyes are very small, so blood flow can be restricted quite easily. The eye can even be affected by a stroke, i.e. a blockage of one of the blood vessels by a blood clot. If one of the small blood vessels is affected in this way, there is usually no significant problem. However, if the main blood vessel supplying the eye is affected, vision may be temporarily impaired and, if blood circulation is not restored in time, vision may be permanently restricted or even lost.

A significant risk factor here is high blood pressure. This damages the blood vessels supplying the retina and optic nerve, which can lead to impaired blood supply and subsequent damage. However, diabetes and even autoimmune diseases also have a negative effect on the blood vessels of the eye. In these diseases, there is an increased level of inflammation in various parts of the body, and if the eye is damaged by inflammation, the condition of the blood vessels in this area is adversely affected.

Problems with blood circulation can also be one of the causes of hearing loss – the sensory cells in the ear are also demanding oxygen and nutrients. Meanwhile, research shows that hearing impairment is closely linked to blood triglyceride levels and generally poor heart health, which leads to slower blood flow.

How to improve blood circulation

So how to get more blood to the brain, eyes and ears? The basis is, of course, general care for the condition of our blood vessels and lowering blood pressure. An overview of important steps to do this can be found here “

When it comes directly to blood flow to the brain, physical activity can help significantly. For example, in one study, when a group of people aged between 55 and 80 years with mild cognitive impairment followed a one-year exercise programme involving 5 physical activities per week of 30-40 minutes duration (for example, brisk walking), they experienced significant improvements in carotid artery flexibility and increased blood flow to the brain. Further research then noted an improvement in cerebral blood flow after just a 12-week exercise program, which was associated with an improvement in mental performance. Importantly, blood flow improved through exercise not only during movement itself, but also at rest.

In addition, regular aerobic activity has also been shown in research to promote blood flow to the eyes and ears, improving the condition of these sensory organs.

Moreover, movement also directly affects the processes of atherosclerosis formation, by altering epigenetic patterns in genes related to its development.

Of course, the emphasis on healthy eating is important, especially limiting the consumption of carbohydrates with a high glycaemic index and saturated fats. Smoking is also downright harmful, as it negatively affects the blood supply to all tissues in the body, including the brain, eyes and ears. Sleep deprivation has also been shown to impair blood flow to the brain – in particular, sleep deprivation affects blood flow to areas responsible for cognitive function, even when we are doing some thought-intensive tasks.

We can also support blood circulation with dietary supplements. Here are a few scientifically proven options.

Resveratrol

The red wine dye has a number of beneficial effects on the heart and blood vessels, in addition to directly increasing blood flow to brain tissue. It is also one of nature’s most powerful enzyme activators called sirtuins. These not only help to slow down the aging process, but two of them – SIRT-1 and SIRT-3 – also have a significant protective function in the blood-brain barrier. Reveratrol also improves blood flow to the eyes. It also helps protect astrocytes, a type of cell with a distinct protective and supportive function on neurons. This is true in both the brain and the eye. In addition, astrocytes help maintain the blood-brain barrier.

Ginkgo biloba

The leaves of this tree contain several substances with strong vasodilating effects (i.e. causing blood vessels to dilate). As a result, it significantly increases blood flow to all tissues in the body, and is particularly effective in this respect in the brain. As a result, it can effectively improve mental performance, even in people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia.

In addition, Ginkgo also effectively improves blood flow in the eye area, thereby improving the ability to see. Its positive effects have also been shown in the case of macular degeneration and glaucoma.

The improvement of blood circulation after administration of ginkgo biloba extract was also confirmed in the area of the ears. In addition, some studies have shown the benefit of its administration for tinnitus (ringing and ringing in the ears), but others have not confirmed its effectiveness for this problem.

Rosemary

Also a popular Mediterranean herb, it promotes blood flow to the brain, eyes and ears. It also helps protect nerve cells, promotes mental performance and memory, and is useful for macular degeneration and tinnitus.

Quercetin

A polyphenol found in a number of plant foods promotes the production of nitric oxide, which acts as a vasodilator – promoting the dilation of blood vessels and thus blood flow to many tissues in the body. In addition, it has a beneficial effect on mental performance as it promotes the proliferation of mitochondria in the brain. These cellular organelles are used to convert nutrients into energy, and when they are dysfunctional or reduced in number, the function of the relevant tissue is impaired. It is also beneficial in atherosclerosis.

Omega-3

These unsaturated fatty acids are essential for brain and eye function. Among other things, they are part of cell membranes, and their concentration is particularly high in the membranes of nerve cells. In addition, their use also improves blood flow to the brain and eyes.

Coleus forskohlii

A herb native to the Himalayas, it has extensive positive effects on the cardiovascular system. It helps to reduce blood pressure and platelet aggregation and has a vasodilating effect, thereby promoting blood flow to all tissues of the body.

Shrubby goatgrass

The herb, used mainly in traditional Chinese medicine, has a protective effect on nerve cells, helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure, improves heart function and blood flow through blood vessels, and helps alleviate hearing and vision problems.