USA Memory Championship Powered By life'sDHA™

Tournament for 'Mental Athletes' to be held March 16 in New York City

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Feb 21, 2013, 09:00 ET

NEW YORK, Feb. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- life'sDHA™ is proud to announce a continued partnership as lead sponsor of the 16^th annual USA Memory Championship. A tournament for mental athletes, this live contest draws competitors from all over the country to compete to be named as having the best memory in America. The event includes memorizing more than 100 names and faces, a shuffled deck of cards in less than five minutes, an unpublished poem and a list of 500 random numbers. This year's championship will be held March 16 at Con Edison's Grand Auditorium in New York City and is free to the public.

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The partnership with the USA Memory Championship is part of a larger commitment by life'sDHA to empower Americans to develop and maintain healthy, beautiful minds by incorporating lifestyle factors known as the four dimensions of brain health—diet and nutrition, physical health, mental engagement and social well-being.

The reigning USA Memory Champion, Nelson Dellis, is a role model for others striving to improve memory and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Nelson said, "I wasn't born with an extraordinary memory, but through a daily regimen that includes aerobic exercise, nutritious foods and supplements and memory practice, I've trained my brain. Now I can memorize the order of a shuffled deck of playing cards in just 63 seconds. I'm proof anyone can improve their memory with training if they just try it."

As part of the Championship, life'sDHA—an algal source of DHA omega-3, a nutrient that helps to support brain health—will showcase the four dimensions of brain health at this year's USA Memory Championship by sponsoring a keynote presentation by David Perlmutter, M.D., board-certified neurologist, fellow of the American College of Nutrition and author of several books including "The Better Brain Book." Dr. Perlmutter will preview some of the tips found in his new book "Grain Brain," coming out September 2013. His presentation will educate the mental athletes and spectators on how to maintain better brain health and improve memory, including what foods make up a brain-healthy diet, how exercise and sleep impact the brain, and how mental challenges and social interactions support long-term brain health.

"Everyday memory loss such as misplacing keys, forgetting a name and losing concentration in meetings can actually be a warning sign of a distressed brain," said Dr. Perlmutter. "The good news is, we can improve memory and build a better brain through daily exercise, a low-carb diet rich in DHA omega-3, brain workouts and other simple lifestyle changes."

"Our mental athletes are everyday people who have decided to take action to train and improve their memory," said Tony Dottino, founder of the USA Memory Championship. "Most people are unaware of the amazing potential of their own brain, and our partnership with life'sDHA helps to make memory training and brain-healthy lifestyle changes the easy choice for everyone."

life'sDHA is a sustainable and vegetarian source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid. DHA is a major structural fat in the brain. Today, life'sDHA is found in many mainstream products from some of the world's best-known food, beverage and supplement brands.

There is no cost to attend the USA Memory Championship as a spectator and competitor registration is open through March 2; applications can be downloaded from the website.

To learn more about how to compete in or attend the USA Memory Championship, visit www.usamemorychampionship.com. Visit www.beautiful-minds.com to learn more about the four dimensions of brain health and for other resources, including the Beautiful Minds Quiz, DHA Diet Calculator and results from America's Brain Health Index, a state-by-state measurement of the nation's brain health.

About life'sDHA™

life'sDHA™, a DSM Nutritional Products brand, is a sustainable and vegetarian source of algal DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) omega-3 important for brain and eye health throughout life. Fish are often incorrectly thought to be the only source of DHA omega-3. Fish are sources of DHA because of the DHA-rich microalgae in their food chain. life'sDHA is derived directly from microalgae, a renewable, sustainable source of DHA that does not deplete ocean resources, and is produced entirely in the U.S. in an FDA-inspected facility. Today, life'sDHA is found in numerous foods, beverages and supplements for people of all ages. For a complete list of products containing life'sDHA, visit www.lifesdha.com.

About the USA Memory Championship

The USA Memory Championship is set up as a sporting event for Mental Athletes. It features memory challenging tournament-style competitive events including memorization of: 99 names and faces, a shuffled deck of cards, an unpublished poem, speed numbers, and a list of 500 random numbers. Mental Athletes compete for gold, silver and bronze awards in individual competitions as well as for the entire event. The USA Memory Championship and its organizing committee are dedicated to the intellectual achievement of people by providing an understanding of the unlimited abilities of the human brain. For more information, visit www.usamemorychampionship.com.