You must remember this: Give brain a boost

YOU DOCS | Prevent memory loss by eating food with omega 3s and lots of Vitamin D 
My mother had type 2 diabetes for about 15 years before she died. She also suffered from dementia. Lately, I find myself forgetting thoughts mid-sentence or just not remembering things. If this is the beginning of dementia, what can I do to halt it?
A. Almost everyone has walked into a room and wondered, "Why am I here?" It's not a philosophical question, and in most cases, it's not dementia or early Alzheimer's, either. It's normal memory overload.
About two-thirds of people over 50 complain of memory lapses like yours. Blame them on all those brain connections you've been overtaxing, underusing or both since your 20s. Although you're right to worry about a family link, it's very possible that your mother's dementia was related to her diabetes.
A recent study found that poorly controlled blood sugar raises the risk of dementia by as much as 160 percent. So get a hemoglobin A1C test, which looks at blood sugar levels over three months. If you're concerned that your memory problems are serious, talk to your doctor about other tests, too.
Meanwhile, give your brain a boost by eating foods high in omega-3s (salmon, trout, canned tuna, a dozen walnuts). Supplement those with 900 mg daily of DHA, your brain's favorite omega-3 (recent data suggests it may make your memory about three years younger).
Also, take 1,000 IU of vitamin D-3 and walk 30 minutes daily. Six times a week, have a little curcumin (a spice used in curry and many mustards). And keep mentally active by reading books, doing brain-teaser games or learning a new skill, whether it's healthy cooking or archery.
Q. I lost 25 pounds six years ago, and I kept it off until two years ago, when my doctor prescribed antidepressants. The weight has been slowly creeping back and no matter what I do, I can't lose it. That's depressing me! Should I stop taking the drug?
A. Your choices don't really come down to heavy or happy. There's evidence that certain antidepressants trigger weight gain that resists even the best diet and exercise program.
That may be because some older drugs -- such as monoamine oxidase inhibiters (MAOIs) and tricyclic antidepressants -- alter not only mood chemistry but also metabolism and fat storage. Newer antidepressants, known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), have been associated with both weight loss AND gain, particularly when taken for short periods. These include Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil and Wellbutrin.
No one is really sure why some SSRIs may pile on the pounds, or take them off. But you don't have to give up your good mood for a slim waist. Talk to your doctor about switching drugs. Some meds are more likely to promote pudginess, while others may help you lose weight.
Q. Is it possible to take too much vitamin D? I have a friend who takes 5,000 IU a day on her doctor's advice. She doesn't have any health issues that I know about. I have osteopenia and take 1,000 IU a day. Should I take more?
A. The short answer is yes, it's possible to take too much vitamin D, because it's a fat-soluble vitamin. That means it's stored in your body fat and can build up to toxic levels.
(Unlike water-soluble vitamins, like vitamin C, which are excreted -- you see this happening when C turns your pee sunshine yellow as it exits.)
But vitamin D overload isn't a major problem in the U.S. Quite the opposite: One study estimates that three-quarters of American teens and adults don't get enough D.
If you're one of them, it ups your risk of everything from diabetes to cancer to thinning bones (your osteopenia). You're likely to be short on D if you're over 60, have dark skin, don't get much sun (smart redheads fall into this category), are obese or overweight, live anywhere but the Sun Belt or have certain digestive, liver or kidney diseases.
The standard advice is to get no more than 2,000 IU (international units) per day. We suggest 1,000 IU a day, and 1,200 if you're over 60.
And we strongly suggest taking vitamin D-3, the active form of D. However, some people need more than 1,200 IU to get their levels out of the dumpster (a k a out of a deficiency state). Your friend might be in that category, and there's one study that indicates taking as much as 10,000 IU doesn't have adverse effects.
Careful, though. Too much of this vitamin can cause nausea, vomiting, weakness, weight loss, kidney stones and, most seriously, a spike in calcification that can lead to mental confusion and heart rhythm abnormalities. Have your doc test your vitamin D-3 level. It's not inexpensive, but we think it's very valuable.