Keep Your Brain “Connected” With Nerve-Nourishing Nutrient Combination
So-called “senior moments” may be a normal part of getting older—but that doesn’t mean they’re inevitable. While scientists used to think that you couldn’t turn back the clock on your aging brain, new research shows that there is a way to keep your neural network at its prime… and a few key nutrients might be all it takes.
Acetyl carnitine and acetyl carnitine arginate are two of these nutrients, with studies showing that they work synergistically to maintain your brain’s signaling pathways and boost levels of key neurotransmitters. While acetyl carnitine helps to support the formation of new receptors for nerve growth factor (NGF)—a protein responsible for reinforcing your brain’s neural communications network—acetyl carnitine arginate amide mimics the action of NGF itself, helping to regrow the neurites and dendrites that allow your brain cells to relay messages to one another properly.1-2
In fact, these same studies show that acetyl carnitine is able to enhance the natural effects of NGF by as much as 100 times—and its chemical relative, acetyl carnitine arginate amide, could increase neurite outgrowth by nearly 20 percent.2
Research also indicates that acetyl carnitine arginate amide can help to protect neurons from exposure to beta amyloid, which plays a role in age-related cognitive decline.3 Meanwhile acetyl carnitine may support emotional health and balance levels of the oxidized protein lipofuscin—as well as support nerve fiber health, promote cognitive health, enhance energy and boost circulation.4-7
Uridine is another critical brain-supporting nutrient. This RNA building block is not only essential for proper growth and development, but also plays a vital role in adult brain functioning.8 Most notably, uridine furnishes your body with the components it needs to generate phosphatidylcholine—a signaling agent that’s essential for proper memory retention, and which steadily declines with age.9 Studies indicate, however, that uridine supplementation may be able to stimulate both neurite outgrowth and phosphatidylcholine synthesis.10-11
Recent scientific research has revealed that Gotu kola can increase antioxidant activity in the brain and support dendrite growth—both of which can account for this botanical’s unique ability to support healthy cognitive function.12-14 A further study demonstrates that Ginkgo biloba extract—which is rich in active components called ginkgoflavonglycosides—can exert a positive effect on neurite branching and outgrowth, too, thereby securing its position as a natural brain-nourishing staple.15
The bottom line: You may be getting older, but your brain doesn’t have to start showing its age. You can find all five of these nutrients combined in a single, powerful cognitive support formula called Neuron Growth Factors (NGF™), available from Complementary Prescriptions®.
References:
1. Taglialatela G, Angelucci L, Ramacci MT, Werrbach-Perez K, et al. Acetyl-L-carnitine enhances the response of PC-12 cells to nerve growth factor. Brain Res Dev Brain Res. 1991 Apr 24;59(2):221-30.
2. Taglialatela, G, Navarra D, Olivi A, Ramacci MT, Werrbach-Perez K, et al. Neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells stimulated by acetyl-L- carnitine arginine amide. Neurochem Res. 1995 Jan;20(1):1-9.
3. Scorziello A, Meucci O, Calvani M, Schettini G. Acetyl-L-carnitine arginine amide prevents beta 25-35-induced neurotoxicity in cerebellar granule cells. Neurochem Res. 1997 Mar;22(3);257-65.
4. Amenta, F, Ferrante F, Lucreziotti R, Ricci A, Ramacci MT. Reduced lipofucscin accumulation in senescent rat brain by long term acetyl-L-carnitine treatment. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 1989 Sep-Oct;9(2):147-53.
5. Ramacci, MT, De Rossi M, Lucreziotti, MR, Mione MC, Amenta F. Effect of long-term treatment with acetyl-L-carnitine on structural changes of ageing rat brain. Drugs Exp Clin Res. 1988;14(9):593-601.
6. Kohjimoto Y, Ogawa T, Matsumoto M, Shirakawa K, Kuwaki T, Yasuda H, et al. Effects of acetyl-L-carnitine on the brain lipofucscin content and emotional behavior in aged rats. Jpn J Pharmacol. 1988 Nov;48(3):365-71.
7. Montgomery SA, Thal LJ, Amrein R. Meta-analysis of double-blind randomized controlled clinical trials of acetyl-L-carnitine versus placebo in the treatment of mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer’s disease. Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2003 Mar;18(2):61-71.
8. Wang, L, Pooler AM, Albrecht MA, Wurtman, RJ. Dietary uridine-5’-monophosphate supplementation increases potassium-evoked dopamine release and promotes neurite outgrowth in aged rats. J Mol Neurosci. 2005;27(1):137-45.
9. Dawson DM. Enzymatic conversion of uridine nucleotide to cytidine nucleotide by rat brain. J Neurochem. 1968 Jan;15(1):31-4.
10. Silei V, Politi V, Lauro GM. Uridine induces differentiation in human neuroblastoma cells via protein kinase C epsilon. J Neurosci Res. 2000 Jul 15;61(2):206-11.
11. Pooler AM, Guez DH, Benedictus R, Wurtman RJ. Uridine enhances neurite outgrowth in nerve growth factor-differentiated PC 12 (corrected). Neuroscience. 2005;134(1):207-14.
12. Veerendra Kumar MH, Gupta YK. Effect of different extracts of Centella asiatica on cognition and markers of oxidative stress in rats. J. Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Feb;79(2):253-60.
13. Veerendra Kumar MH, Gupta YK. Effect of Centella asiatica on cognition and oxidative stress in an intracerebroventricular streptozotocin model of Alzheimer’s disease in rats. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2003 May-Jun;30(5-6):336-42.
14. Soumyanath A, Zhong YP, Gold SA, Yu X, Koop DR, Bourdette D, Gold BG. Centella asiatica accelerates nerve regeneration upon oral administration and contains multiple active fractions increasing neurite elongation in-vitro. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2005 Sept;57(9):1221-9.
15. Garcia-Alloza M, Dodwell SA, Meyer-Luehmann M, Hyman BT, Bacskai BJ. Plaque-derived oxidative stress mediates distorted neurite trajectories in the Alzheimer mouse model. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2006 Nov;65(11):1082-9.
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