Many people in the U.S. are suffering from some form of cognitive decline. That’s according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, which revealed that roughly 11% of Americans aged 45 and older struggle with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), a type of cognitive impairment that often progresses into Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. That works out to approximately 1 in 9 people.
Common telltale signs of SCD include forgetfulness, constantly losing train of thought, feeling overwhelmed when making decisions or planning, and, in some cases, depression. For some people, especially those who are middle-aged or older, subjective cognitive decline is a normal part of aging. For others, SCD is a byproduct of a hormonal imbalance. Data from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that individuals with a human growth hormone (HGH) deficiency are at greater risk of developing SCD than those without such a deficiency.
Understanding the Relationship Between Low Human Growth Hormones and Cognitive Decline
The pituitary gland, one of the many glands in the endocrine system, and the hypothalamus, a region of the brain that regulates various bodily functions, such as body temperature, heart rate, hunger, and mood, are responsible for secreting human growth hormones. When one or both of these glands don’t secrete enough growth hormones into the bloodstream, it can result in an HGH deficiency. Below-average growth hormone levels in the blood or a full-on growth hormone deficiency can adversely affect brain hormones and neurotransmitters.
When this happens, it can impair neuron formation and plasticity, the brain’s ability to structurally adapt or change how it functions in response to experiences, learning, and environmental factors. Impaired neuron formation and plasticity can disrupt brain networks involved in cognitive functions. Before cognitive issues related to low HGH arise, however, most people experience other symptoms associated with a human growth hormone deficiency. Some of those symptoms include the following:
- Anxiety and depression
- Brain fog
- Chronic fatigue
- High cholesterol
- Insulin resistance and diabetes
- Increased abdominal fat and weight gain
- Increased sensitivity to heat and cold
- Loose, sagging skin
- Low libido
- Osteogenesis imperfecta
- Reduced muscle mass, strength, and stamina
Natural Ways To Boost Low Growth Hormone Levels and Combat Cognitive Decline
Before discussing how to naturally boost low human growth hormone levels and combat cognitive decline, let’s discuss what constitutes healthy human growth hormone levels. For men, HGH levels measuring 0.4 to 10 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) are within the bounds of healthy and normal. For women, healthy HGH levels are between 1 and 14 ng/mL. When HGH levels fall below a healthy threshold, both men and women will experience deficiency-related symptoms, including impaired cognitive function.
Along with aging, autoimmune conditions, head injuries, chronic stress, radiation treatments involving the head or neck, and exposure to certain environmental toxins can trigger a decline in human growth hormone levels in the blood. Fortunately, there are many natural ways to boost low growth hormone (GH) levels and, as a result, improve cognitive function.
Studies show that consuming less sugar and refined carbohydrates, such as white rice, white bread, and pasta, lowers high insulin levels. Lower insulin levels can help boost low GH levels and improve cognitive function. Adding more glutamine-rich foods to one’s diet, like meat, fish, eggs, spinach, and yogurt, offers the same benefits. But it does not end there; many of the same studies show that the following can also boost low GH levels and improve cognitive function:
- Getting a minimum of 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night
- Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels
- Reducing body fat
- Regular exercise, especially high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and resistance training exercises
- Taking dietary supplements, such as Melatonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and arginine
While consuming a healthy diet and other healthy lifestyle habits can help most people struggling with cognitive decline and other growth hormone deficiency symptoms, they might not be enough for some. Thankfully, there are medicinal treatments that can help. One of those treatments involves hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
How Hormone Replacement Therapy Can Boost Low Growth Hormone Levels and Combat Cognitive Decline
Whether it is a standalone or adjunct treatment, HRT can be a godsend for people suffering from brain fog or subjective cognitive decline caused by low HGH. To appreciate why, we should probably take a moment to familiarize ourselves with this unique pharmacotherapy. In short, HRT involves taking FDA-approved prescription medications that help stimulate the production of HGH by the pituitary and hypothalamus glands. Examples of these injectable medications include the following:
- Humatrope
- Nutropin and Nutropin AQ
- Norditropin
- Saizen
- Genotropin
- Sogroya
- Zomacton
HGH Results After 1 Month and Beyond: What To Expect After Starting an HRT
Several factors influence how quickly someone will see results after starting an HRT regimen. Some of these include their age, the severity of their GH deficiency, overall health, and the dosage and type of HRT medication they are on. That said, most people notice improved sleep, energy, and mood within 3 to 6 weeks of starting HRT. The same applies to cognitive function. Around the 3 to 6-month mark, most people who are on an HRT regimen report the following:
- Deeper, more restorative sleep
- Further improvements in mood
- Improved strength
- Increased lean muscle mass
- Increased libido
- Reduced body fat
In summary, numerous things can contribute to human growth hormone deficiency and related cognitive decline. Thankfully, healthy lifestyle habits and medicinal treatments can help individuals struggling with both. The same holds for brain fog, a feeling of mental sluggishness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating linked to low blood GH levels. To learn more about natural and medicinal ways to treat low GH levels and related brain fog and cognitive decline, including how to achieve HGH results after 1 month, consider speaking with a physician today.
