I'm a 58-year-old healthy woman. About 15 years ago I had my cecum removed as part of a messy appendectomy. I haven't experienced the watery stool symptoms and in fact I tend toward constipation if I'm not careful. At such times, I noticed that I "get stupid." My mental function diminishes and I tend to focus more intensely and lose sight of the big picture, and I also have a less responsive memory. I am slower to change gears. I recall a dietitian telling me after the cecum was removed that I would have to make every bite count in my diet -- no junk food or cheap calories. After eating junk food I also experience a dumbing down. In general I have an excellent diet with the occasional chocolate indulgence. This narrow range of dietary tolerance scares me! Is this particular mind-body relationship noted in the literature? Are there remedies? I take vitamins and brain-specific supplements including gingko, juvenon and CoQ, and I do daily aerobic exercise.