Martek Biosciences and the National Center for Creative Aging Introduce New Brain Health Awareness Campaign, 'Beautiful Minds: Finding Your Lifelong Potential'

COLUMBIA, Md., May 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Martek Biosciences (Nasdaq: MATK), in partnership with the National Center for Creative Aging today introduced "Beautiful Minds: Finding Your Lifelong Potential," an educational campaign designed to inspire baby boomers to be proactive about brain health.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100527/PH11635LOGO )

"Martek has a proud, 25-year heritage in brain health science and research as well as a strong history of supporting health education and outreach," said Steve Dubin, Martek CEO.  "We are pleased to partner with the National Center for Creative Aging and announce 'Beautiful Minds: Finding Your Lifelong Potential,' to help change public perceptions about brain health and aging."

Brain health is one of the top health-related concerns of aging populations and has been identified by the Centers for Disease Control as a public health priority. Fifty-five percent of baby boomers fear the loss of mental capacity; in fact, 41 percent fear their brain fitness has decreased during the past 10 years(1). Research demonstrates that lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and social, mental and intellectual engagement may be important influencers on the aging brain.

"The realization that we may be able to influence our brain health throughout adult life is important as baby boomers move into the second half of their lives," according to Gay Powell Hanna, Ph.D., M.F.A., executive director for the National Center for Creative Aging. "The Beautiful Minds campaign will demonstrate that maintaining a beautiful mind is not a sacrifice, but a way to do more of what you love, longer."

The Science of Brain Health

The Beautiful Minds campaign features a new scientific assessment released today and developed in conjunction with the National Center for Creative Aging. The assessment explores the lifestyle factors that may help to improve overall brain health, including memory performance, and outlines the four dimensions of brain health:

• The Nourished Mind
• The Physically Active Mind
• The Socially Connected Mind
• The Mentally Engaged Mind

Among the key research findings summarized in the assessment is the Memory Improvement with Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Study (MIDAS), published online May 3, 2010, in Alzheimer's and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association. MIDAS is the first large, randomized and placebo-controlled study demonstrating that DHA omega-3 improved memory function in healthy aging adults, providing a benefit roughly equivalent to having the learning and memory skills of someone three years younger.

Beautiful Minds: The Benefits of DHA Omega-3

Despite its importance, most people eating a Western diet do not consume enough DHA. In the MIDAS study, healthy people age 55 and older with memory complaints who took 900 mg algal DHA capsules daily for six months had almost double the reduction in errors on a test that measures learning and memory performance versus those who took a placebo.

The source of DHA used in MIDAS was a vegetarian and sustainable algal DHA manufactured by Martek Biosciences and marketed to consumers under the brand name of life'sDHA™. Consumers who are looking for algal DHA supplements that will enable them to easily achieve DHA intake comparable to the amount used in this study can find them at major retailers like Walmart, CVS and Walgreens under the Algal-900 DHA product name.

"The fear of memory loss and losing brain capacity looms large in the minds of boomers," said neurologist and memory expert, Dr. Majid Fotuhi. "But as research demonstrates in a clinical setting, there are some simple things you can do to maintain and even improve your brain health as you age -- like taking 900 mg of algal DHA every day."  

Beautiful Minds: Photo Essay Exhibit and Website

To inspire Americans to learn more about brain health, Martek worked in partnership with the National Center for Creative Aging to select 11 "Beautiful Minds."  These "Beautiful Minds" are individuals with stories of accomplishment, creativity, and reinvention in the second half of life, who maintain healthy lifestyles that fulfill the four dimensions of brain health: the nourished mind, the physically active mind, the socially connected mind and the mentally engaged mind.

The 11 Beautiful Minds are profiled in a photo essay exhibit that debuted in New York City and will then travel throughout the country. Profiles of the 11 Beautiful Minds plus tips for proactive brain health can be viewed on www.beautiful-minds.com. The website also contains science-based brain health information.

To learn more about "Beautiful Minds: Finding Your Lifelong Potential," visit www.beautiful-minds.com   or follow the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #beautifulminds.  

About Martek Biosciences Corporation

Martek Biosciences Corporation (Nasdaq: MATK) is a leader in the innovation, development, production and sales of high-value products from microbial sources that promote health and wellness through nutrition. The company is the world's leading provider of algal DHA omega-3 with its flagship product, life'sDHA, a sustainable and vegetarian source of algal DHA omega-3 important for brain, heart and eye health throughout life, for use in foods, beverages, infant formula, and supplements. The company also produces life'sARA™ (arachidonic acid), an omega-6 fatty acid, for use in infant formula and growing-up milks. Additionally, Martek's subsidiary, Amerifit Brands, develops, markets and distributes branded consumer health and wellness products in major mass, club, drug, grocery and specialty stores and holds leading brand positions in all of its key product categories. For more information on Martek Biosciences, visit www.martek.com. For a complete list of life'sDHA™ or life'sARA™ products, visit www.lifesdha.com. For more information about Amerifit Brands, visit www.amerifit.com.

About the National Center for Creative Aging  

The National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) was founded in 2001 and is dedicated to fostering an understanding of the vital relationship between creative expression and healthy aging and to developing programs that build on this understanding. Based in Washington, D.C., NCCA is a nonprofit with 2,500 members and is affiliated with The George Washington University. www.creativeaging.org

Sources:

(1) Today's Dietitian, January 2010

SOURCE Martek Biosciences Corporation