Memory / Mental  function Enhancement and Restoration

	Ginkgo Biloba
	AcetyI-L-Carnitine
	Coenzyme Q10
	Phosphatldylserine (PS)
	DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol)
	Vinpocetine.
	Piracetam
	Hyderglne
	Pregnenolone and DHEA
	Melatonin

Aging precipitates a progressive decline in overall cognitive function. It causes us to lose our ability to store and retrieve from short-term memory and to learn new information. Many neurological diseases are directly related to aging. Aging impacts cognitive function in several ways, including:

• Damaging effects from years of free-radical exposure

• Changes in lifestyle, diet, and nutrient absorption, leading to deficiencies.

• Decreases in levels of key hormones

• Decreases in oxygen available to brain cells because of impaired circulation due to pathology (for example, atherosclerosis or heart disease) or a lifetime of poor health habits (for example, smoking, drinking, drug abuse, limited exercise, poor diet, or stress)

• Declining energy output of brain cells

It has been confirmed that aging-related mental decline is faster and more profound than originally believed.  A new British study of people over age 74 shows there is undeniable evidence of a steep mental decline. 

There is some good news in that it has been found that the brain can generate new neurons.  After decades of believing that neurons can only be lost with age, scientist at Princeton have recently demonstrated that new nerve cells are indeed being created in the brains of monkeys.  The new neurons are formed deep in the brain near the ventricles, and then migrate to various areas, including the pre frontal cortex, regarded as the seat of " higher cognitive functions ". 

The implication of this discovery is that neurons (brain cells) can at least partially replaced.  The old dogma held that the brain inevitably shrinks and progressively atrophies as we age.  Now this dismal view can be discarded in favor of a new search for ways to help the brain regenerate and preserved its youthful powers. 

Age related brain problems becomes noticeable in middle-age, when people typically start complaining that their memory isn't as good as it used to be.  Past the age of 50 or so, mental fitness, like physical fitness, has to be consciously worked at. 

Neurological impairment can take a variety of forms, including memory loss, senility, and dementia. Dementia, a general term for diseases involving nerve cell deterioration, is defined as a loss In at least two areas of complex behavior-areas include language, memory, visual and spatial abilities, and judgment-so as to interfere with a person's daily living. Dementia, the most serious form of age-associated mental impairment, is often a slow, gradual process that may take months or even years to become noticeable. Symptoms vary depending on which areas of the brain are affected.

Many memory changes are temporary and are linked to environmental factors such as stress rather than to physiological (bodily) processes. It is also common for older people and those around them to notice memory lapses and to be more concerned about them than younger people, when in fact those lapses may not be any different from those of a younger person who misplaces his/her keys.

At the same time, serious cognitive difficulties should not be dismissed as unavoidable consequences of aging. A helpful guideline is that many people with serious mental impairment do not recognize or will not admit that they have a problem, while it is obvious to those around them. The recommendations given in this protocol can help age-associated mental impairment of any form or cause, but significant impairment arising from diseases such as stroke should be treated with the help of medical professionals.

Mid-LIfe Blood Pressure:

A New Risk Factor

A 30-year study of male twins showed that elevated blood pressure in mid-Life predisposed men to accelerated brain aging and an increase in stroke later in life. Men with even mildly elevated blood pressure 25 years before showed smaller brain volumes and more strokes compared to their twin brothers who did not have the elevation in blood pressure. This study, published in the journal Stroke (1999;30), emphasized the importance of aggressively treating elevated blood pressure even if it Is not grossly abnormal.

Behavioral Treatments

Taking steps to Improve overall health is highly recommended to prevent or minimize age- associated mental impairment. For example, exercising regularly, not smoking, and monitoring blood cholesterol level can reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease and keep arteries open, supplying the brain with oxygen and nutrients. Regular exercise improves some mental abilities by an average of 20 to 30%. Abstaining from alcohol or drug use, or minimizing it, can also help preserve mental function. Since people tend to eat less food as they age, the use of low fat, nutrient-rich foods Is recommended. Such a diet will help prevent nutrient deficiencies, which can impair mental function through physical illness.

Pharmacological and Nutritional Supplements Memory-Enhancing Nutrients

Ginkgo Biloba (120 mg a day).  

Ginkgo biloba has over the last three decades shown that it can help protect us from what we fear most about reaching old age: memory loss, confusion, fatigue and inability to take care fo ourselves.  These are symptoms associated with restricted blood supply and tissue damage from lack of oxygen and production of free radicals.

Ginkgo's three major pharmacological features are great value in these conditions: improving blood supply by dilating and toning blood vessels; reducing blood clotting through antagonism of platelets aggregating factor (PAF) ;and preventing membrane damaged by means of its antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities.

·                     Memory enhancement

• Natural antidepressant

• Improves peripheral vascular insufficiency

• Improves circulation

• Cardiac-protecting mechanism

• Improves impotence when cause is impaired blood flow

• Treatment of PMS

• Might be useful in prevention and treatment of macular degeneration.

• Effective in restoring hearing loss due to acute cochlear deafness.

• Successful treating tinnitus (ringing in the ears) of recent onset (less than one year)

• Mitochondrial antioxidant and scavenger of most free radical species.

• Preventing blood clotting (inhibition of platelet aggregation and adhesion, may reduce risk for thrombus formation

• Significant anti-stress effects

This extract from the "maidenhair tree" improves blood flow, protects against free radicals, and is believed to improve memory.  Ginkgo biloba Is approved in Germany for the treatment of dementia. A scientific review found that the activities of the secondary metabolites of ginkgo biloba (the molecules into which it gets broken) are responsible for its cognition-enhancing and anti-aging activity including neuroprotectlve effects.

In a study of 236 Alzheimer's patients, ginkgo biloba extract was found to stabilize or ameliorate dementia. In another study, patients with memory disturbances were supplemented with ginkgo biloba. Following ginkgo treatment, 15% of patients reported the total absence of memory disturbance symptoms, and 62% reported remaining symptoms as being mild to moderate. A study at the National Institutes of Health demonstrated that ginkgo biloba protects against the neurotoxic effects of reperfusion (the return of blood flow) following ischemia (the stopping of blood flow, as in a stroke) in rats.

Treatment with ginkgo biloba extract can also partially prevent certain harmful, age-related structural changes as well as free-radical damage to the mitochondria (where energy is produced In a cell) In the brains of old rats. In fact, another study showed that treating rats with ginkgo biloba extract not only improved their brain function (learning and memory) but also significantly extended their lifespan. There are over 1200 published studies in the scientific literature on ginkgo biloba extract.

How Supplied: Super Ginkgo Extract 28/7 120 mg  100 capsules per bottle - $29.00

Dosage: The most commonly used dosage is 120 mg.  Short-term treatment with single doses of 120 mg has shown immediate memory-enhancing effect in health volunteers.  Normally, however, a treatment period of four to six weeks is needed to see results, sometimes even longer.

AcetyI-L-Carnitine (1000 to 2000 mg a day).

About 95% of cellular energy occurs in the mitochondria and diseases of aging are increasingly being referred to as "mitochondrial disorders." Acetyl-L-carnitine is the biologically active amino acid involved in the transport of fatty acids into the cell's mitochondria for the purpose of producing energy. Acetyl-L-carnitine is sold as an expensive drug in Europe to treat heart and neurological disease. It can increase muscle mass and convert body fat into energy. Acetyl-L-carnitine has been shown to protect brain cells against aging-related degeneration and to Improve mood, memory, increase alertness, improve learning and memory, enhanced cognitive ability and long-term memory.

Acetyl-L-carnitine may also help to slow the natural age-dependent deterioration process in the hippocampus region of the brain.  Because of this action, it may be able to slow natural age-dependent deterioration in this structure, which is important for learning and memory. 

Many people use acetyl-L-carnitine to maintain immune competence and reduce the formation of the aging pigment lipofuscin and should be considered as a long term prophylactic agent to slow the effects of cerebral aging. The most important effect of acetyl-L-carnitine, however, is to maintain the function of the cell's energy powerhouse, the mitochondria.

A recently published article reported on research that showed that acetyl-L-carnitine modulated the use of glucose in the brain of rats. A Stanford University study of patients with Alzheimer's disease found that acetyl-L-carnitine slowed the progression of the disease in younger subjects.

Protein glycation has been implicated in the development of cataracts in the lens of the eye.  Acetyl-l-carnitine may prevent cataracts by preventing glycation-mediated protein damage in the eye lens.

How Supplied: 500 mg capsules – 100 capsules per bottle. $62.00

Suggested dosage:  The optimal dose range of acetyl-L-carnitine for healthy people is 1000 mg to 2000 mg day.  Synergistic nutrients that could be taken with acetyl-l-carnitine include coenzyme Q10 (100 – 300 mg/day) and alpha lipoic acid (250 – 500 mg/day).

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) (100 to 300 mg a day).

When coenzyme Q10 is orally administered, it is incorporated into the mitochondria of cells throughout the body where it facilitates and regulates the oxidation of fats and sugars Into energy. Heart cells have a high-energy demand, and initial clinical studies investigated the effect of Coenzyme Q10 on cardiac mitochondrial function. Therapeutic efficacy was shown In double-blind studies when CoQ10 was used in the treatment of congestive heart disease, coronary artery disease, and valvular disorders. Scientists are now looking at the effects of CoQ10 on another organ whose cells also require a high level of energy metabolism the brain!

Here are the highlights from a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (1998; 95):

When coenzyme Q10 was administered to middle age and old rats, the level of CoQ10 increased by 10% to 40% in the cerebral cortex region of the brain. This increase was sufficient to restore levels of CoQ10 to those seen in young animals.

After only two months of CoQ10 supplementation, mitochondrial energy expenditure in the brain increased by 29% compared to the group not getting CoQ10. The human equivalent dose of CoQ10 to achieve these results was 100-200 mg a day.

When a neurotoxin was administered, CoQ10 helped protect against damage to the striatal region of the brain where dopamine is produced.

When CoQ10 was administered to rats genetically bred to develop ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), a significant increase in survival time was observed.

The conclusion by the scientists was:

CoO10 can exert neuroprotective effects that might be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

This study showed that short-term supplementation with moderate amounts of CoQ10 produced profound anti aging effects in the brain. Previous studies have shown that CoQ1 0 may protect the brain via several mechanisms including reduction in free radical generation and protection against glutamate-inducted excitotoxicity .This study documented that orally supplemented CoQ10 specifically enhanced metabolic energy levels of brain cells. While this effect in the brain has been previously postulated, the new study provides hard-core evidence.

Based on the types of brain cell injury that CoQ10 protected against, the scientists suggested that it may be useful in the prevention or treatment of Huntington's disease and Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). It was noted that while vitamin E delays the onset of Lou Gehrig's disease in mice, it does not increase survival time. CoQ10 was suggested as a more effective treatment strategy for neurodegenerative disease than vitamin E because survival time was increased in mice treated with CoQ10.

CoQ10 might be effective in the prevention and treatment of Parkinson's disease. (Reference: Annals of Neurology (1997 August). A study showed that the brain cells of Parkinson's patients have a specific impairment that causes the disruption of healthy mitochondrial function. It is known that "mitochondrial disorder" causes cells in the substantia nigra region of the brain to malfunction and die, thus creating a shortage of dopamine.

An Interesting finding was that CoQ10 levels In Parkinson's patients were 35% lower than age-matched controls. This deficit of CoQ10 caused a significant reduction in the activity of enzyme complexes that are critical to the mitochondrial function of the brain cells affected by Parkinson's disease.

The ramifications of this study are significant. Parkinson's disease is becoming more prevalent as the human lifespan is increased. The new study confirms previous studies that Parkinson's disease may be related to CoQ10 deficiency. The conclusion of the scientists was:

“The causes of Parkinson's disease are unknown. Evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction and oxygen free radicals may be involved in its pathogenesis. The dual function of CoQ10 as a constituent of the mitochondrial electron transport chain and a potent antioxidant suggest that it has the potential to slow the progression of Parkinson's disease.

CoQ10 levels decrease with aging. Depletion is caused by reduced synthesis of CoQ10 in the body along with increased oxidation of CoQ10 in the mitochondria. A CoQ10 deficit results in the inactivation of enzymes needed for mitochondrial energy production, whereas supplementation with CoQ10 preserves mitochondrial function.

Aged humans have only 50% of the CoQ10 compared to young adults, thus making CoQ10 one of the most important nutrients for people to supplement.

CoQ10 Is the most important supplement on this list to take on a daily basis. Thousands of published studies show that ginkgo, acetyl-L-carnitine, and CoQ10 playa critical role in brain cell energy metabolism, not only in healthy people, but also in those suffering from neurological diseases.

How Supplied:  Super CoQ10 with Tocotrienols 100 mg.  100 softgel capsules  $92.00

Dosage:  Healthy people 100 mg day.  Those over age 40-50 should consider 100 mg to 200 mg per day

Phosphatldylserine (PS) (100 to 300 mg a day).

Phosphatidylserine is a compound that could become a key weapon in the battle against mental aging, perhaps helping to restore memory and learning capacity in older people.

PS is found on the surface of membranes in brain cells and synapses (the connections between nerve cell).  Amoung the most important of its many effects is activation of protein-kinase C, and important enzyme whose brain levels are known to decline with age.  It also stimulates the production of acetylcholine, a brain messenger chemical that helps regulate memory.

PS plays an important role in maintaining the integrity of brain cell membranes. The breakdown of brain cell membranes prevents glucose and other nutrients from entering the cell. By protecting the integrity of brain cell membranes, phosphatidylserine facilitates the efficient transport of energy-producing nutrients into cells, enhancing brain cell energy metabolism. Abnormalities in the composition of phosphatidylserine have been found In patients with Alzheimer's disease.

In a test at the National Institute of Mental Health, 150 otherwise healthy people who suffered from ag-related memory impairment showed memory improvement of 15 to 20 percent, perhaps indicating that even healthy people can reap the restorative benefits of this drug.  As further evidence, a previously unreported 1991 study by an international team of researchers showed that people who took the drug scored better on memory and concentration tests than people who didn’t.  “The results,” concluded the study’s authors, “suggest that phosphatidylserine may be a promising candidate for treating memory loss later in life.”

DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol)

DMAE is a central nervous system stimulant with a mild kick.  While not itself an amphetamine derivative, it has a similar effect.  The drug has been used to treat depressed moods, chronic fatigue and various other ailments.  It has been widely used to treat schizophrenia, phobias, low spirits and problems with learning and concentration.  It controls alertness and causes changes like those produced by amphetamines.  Many medical trials have found that 200 mg per day eliminated chronic fatigue and mild to moderate depression, and led to an increase in energy.

As people age they find it harder and harder to process data, mainly when they have to scan their memory.  It is know that the drug can help combat some of the mental decay that occurs with aging.

Despite many years of use, exactly how the drug enhances mental skills is still unclear.  It easily crosses the blood-brain barrier and raises phosphatidylcholine levels in the brain.  It therefore gives the neurons of the brain an optimum supply of choline; also it seems that it may cause the direct release of acetylcholine from nerve cells thereby increasing output of this nerve chemical.

An interesting effect is its abililty to cause weight loss in people taking 250 mg daily.

With its ability to provide acetylcholine at the neuron level, the drug is able to provide:

• Improved behavior

• Improved concentration and attention span

• Improved learning and memory skills

• And boost to the brain in general

Do not take DMAE if you suffer from any kind of convulsive disorder e.g., any form of epilepsy.  Side effects are usually mild and short lived, if they occur at all.  The side effects include mild headache, weight loss and insomnia.  All of these side effects are dose related and will disappear if the dose is reduced.  It is maybe best to start with a low dose, and increase it over a period of weeks.  If insomnia occurs, try taking DMAE in the morning only.

How Supplied: 150 mg capsules – 200 capsules per bottle  $14.00

Dosage:  one capsule three or four times per day.

 Vinpocetine.

Vinpocetine was introduced into clinical practice 22 years ago, in Hungary, for the treatment of cerebrovascular disorders and symptoms related to senility. Since then, it has been used increasingly throughout the world in the treatment of cognitive deficits related to normal aging. Vinpocetine is a pharmaceutical extraction from the periwinkle plant.

It is well established that normal aging results in a reduction of blood flow to the brain and a decrease in the metabolic activity of brain cells. Vinpocetine functions via several important mechanisms to correct known multiple causes of brain aging. The biological actions of vinpocetine initially showed that it enhances circulation and oxygen utilization In the brain, increases tolerance of the brain toward diminished blood flow, and inhibits abnormal platelet aggregation that can interfere with circulation or cause a stroke.

More recent studies demonstrate that vinpocetine offers significant and direct protection against neurological damage caused by aging. The molecular evidence indicates that the neuroprotective action of vinpocetine is related to the ability to maintain brain cell electrical conductivity and to protect against damage caused by excessive intra- cellular release of calcium.

Vinpocetine enhances cyclic GMP levels in the vascular smooth muscle, leading to reduced resistance of cerebral vessels and increased cerebral blood flow. In one double blind clinical trial, vinpocetine was shown to effect significant improvement in elderly patients with chronic cerebral dysfunction. Forty-two patients received 10 mg of vinpocetine 3 times a day for 30 days, then 5 mg 3 times a day for 60 days. Placebo tablets were given to another 42 patients for the 90-day trial period. Patients on vinpocetine scored consistently better in all evaluations of the effectiveness of treatment, including measurements on the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale, the Sandoz Clinical Assessment-Geriatric (SCAG) scale, and the Mini-Mental Status Questionnaire (MMSQ). There were no serious side effects related to the treatment drug.

In another double-blind study, 22 elderly patients with central nervous system degenerative disorders were treated with vinpocetine or placebo. Patients received 10 mg of vinpocetine 3 times a day for 30 days, then 5 mg 3 times a day for 60 days. Another 18 elderly patients were given matching placebo tablets for the 90-day trial. Vinpocetine-treated patients scored consistently better in all evaluations of the effectiveness of treatment, Including measurements on the CGI and SCAG scales, and the MMSO.

According to CGI assessments, severity of illness decreased in 73% of the patients in the vinpocetine group at day 30 and in 77% of patients at day 90. Improvement was seen in 77% and 87% of the patients at days 30 and 90, respectively. Patients also showed statistically significant improvement for all SCAG Items except one at days 30 and 90. The physician rated the improvement in 59% of the vinpocetine-treated patients as "good" to "excellent." There were no serious side effects associated with the treatment drug.

Vinpocetine safety and efficacy were demonstrated in a study of infants who suffered severe brain damage caused by birth trauma. Vinpocetine caused a significant reduction or disappearance of seizures. The vinpocetine group also showed a decrease of the phenomena of intracranial hypertension and normalization of psychomotor development.

In a study to ascertain how vinpocetine boosts cognition, scientists measured the electrical firing effects In the neurons of anesthetized rats. The administration of vinpocetine produced a significant increase in the firing rate of neurons. The scientists noted that the dose of vinpocetine used to increase electrical firing corresponded to the dose range that produced memory-enhancing effects. These results provided direct electrophysiological evidence that vinpocetine increases the activity of ascending noradrenergic pathways and that this effect can be related to the cognitive-enhancing characteristics of the compound.

The effect of vinpocetine on memory functions was studied in 50 patients with disturbances of cerebral circulation. Improvement of cerebral circulation was observed after i.v. and oral administration of vinpocetine. Blood flow was most markedly increased in the gray matter of the brain. Improvement of memorizing capacity evaluated by psychological tests was recorded after 1 month of vinpocetine treatment. longer-term use was associated with alleviation or complete disappearance of symptoms of neurological deficit. No side effects attributable to the drug were observed. The doctors stated that vinpocetine is indicated in the treatment of ischemic disorders of the cerebral circulation, particularly in chronic vascular Insufficiency.

The benefits of vinpocetine are not restricted to the brain. One study showed beneficial effects in protecting the retina against uveretinal pathology caused by the hepatitis B virus. While hepatitis viruses primarily affect the liver, most people don't know that these viruses can also infect the heart muscle, retina, and other parts of the body.

Another study showed that vinpocetine administered to rats inhibited the development of gastric lesions induced by ethanol. Pretreatment with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin counteracted the protective action of vinpocetine against ethanol-induced damage. This study showed that vinpocetine protected against a wide range of gastric insults and ulceration, indicating its potential clinical value as a gastroprotective agent. In Russia, vinpocetine is a popular drug used by alcoholics to recover from gastric and neurological ethanol-induced toxicity.

Space motion sickness has been a perplexing problem In both the Soviet and U.S. manned space programs. Both the sensory conflict theory {neuronal signal mismatch) and the cephalic fluid shift concept explain the mechanism. Vinpocetine has been used successfully in offsetting space motion sickness in experimental test subjects.

How Supplied:  Vinpocetine 5mg  100 tablets  $18.00

Dosage:  One tablet three times a day.

Piracetam (2400 to 4800 9 a day). (PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION)

According to the scientific literature, piracetam is known to improve a whole series of mental activities and especially higher cortical functions. In animal experiments and in single-photon-emission tomography studies of patients with acute Ischemic stroke, piracetam improved microcirculation and neuronal metabolism, and enhanced transmitter functions. One study demonstrated that piracetam facilitates learning and memory in chicks by causing increased plasma levels of corticosterone, which acts on the brain to preserve long-term memories. Another study found that piracetam provides neurological and functional protection against deficits resulting from a moderate or severe stroke when administered within a few days. The study also noted that piracetam is well tolerated and is effective when taken orally and that other treatments have very limited efficacy. Research has demonstrated that piracetam's effect on circulation in the brain translates into improvements in aphasia (inability to speak) and level of consciousness, as well as fewer deaths.

How Supplied:  (prescription item) 800 mg capsules

Dosage:  800 mg three times a day. It takes up to one hour before the effects are realized.

Hyderglne (4 to 10 mg a day). (PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION)

Hydergine is approved by the FDA to treat individuals over age 60 who manifest signs or symptoms of mental incapacity. When one study showed that Hydergine was not effective in treating Alzheimer's disease, American physicians virtually stopped prescribing Hyderglne, even though the drug had never been approved as an Alzheimer's therapy.

Protection Against Brain Aging wIth Hydergine

Hydergine remains a popular supplement among health-conscious people seeking to slow age-related mental decline. Recent studies reveal new mechanisms by which Hydergine protects against brain aging.

A study (European Neuropsychopharmacology, 1998, Vol. 8, Issue 1, 13-16) showed that Hyderglne causes an increase of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase In the brain while decreasing toxic levels of monoamineoxidase (MAO).

What was Interesting about this study is that Hydergine was administered for only 20 days, but Its effects in the brains of the rats was dramatic. Hyderglne specifically increased SOD in the hippocampus and in the corpus striatum regions. These regions of the brain suffer severe oxidative damage from hydrogen peroxide and other free radical generating agents. Hydergine caused catalase levels to increase throughout the brain.

SOD and catalase are the body's natural antioxidants and are considered among the most effective free radical scavengers. Orally ingested SOD and catalase have not proven efficacious because these antioxidant enzymes are broken down in the stomach. Scientists have therefore concentrated on ways of prompting the body to produce its own cellular SOD and catalase. This study showed that Hydergine could increase brain levels of SOD and catalase after only short-term administration.

Another cause of brain aging is the elevation of an enzyme in the brain called monoamine oxidase (MAO). Elevated MAO levels damage brain cells and are a specific cause of age-related neuronal deterioration. Too much MAO has also been shown to cause pathological disorders such as Parkinson's disease.

Age-related depression has been linked to excessive production of MAO that occurs in the elderly. Drugs that inhibit MAO were widely used In the past to effectively treat depression. MAO- Inhibiting drugs are seldom used today because of potential toxicity. Hydergine appears to safely inhibit MAO levels, as extensive human testing has not found any of the classic toxic signs of excessive MAO inhibition.

The scientists who conducted this study concluded by stating that Decreasing MAO levels and supporting the antioxidant enzymes may underlie the efficacy of Hydergine in the treatment of age related cognitive decline.

Another study showed a mechanism of how Hydergine protects against brain aging and the development of Alzheimer's disease (Life Sciences, Vol. 58, No.8, 1996). This study identified a defect that occurs in brain cell membranes and showed that Hydergine could inhibit these degenerative changes. The scientists who authored the Life Sciences study identified specific antibodies that bind to brain cell membranes and then target the cell for destruction and removal by the immune system.

Young brains have significantly lower levels of these destructive antibodies compared to old brains. Hydergine-treated mice showed a reduction in these destructive antibodies, suggesting that middle-aged people who take Hydergine could retard the development of senile dementia caused by programmed immune destruction. The animals receiving Hydergine in middle-age maintained healthy brain cell metabolic activities compared to the control group who did not receive Hydergine. The scientists concluded that Hydergine therapy begun in middle age could protect against the initiation of the cascade that leads to Alzheimer's disease.

The scientists emphasized that once the Alzheimer's disease cascade begins. Hydergine would be of little value as the brain cells have already been inevitably marked and targeted for immune destruction.

The Life Extension Foundation has long advocated the use of Hyderglne by people of all ages to prevent the degenerative changes that lead to brain cell aging and Alzheimer's disease. Hydergine appears frequently in the scientific literature as therapy for a wide range of diseases ranging from asthma to stroke. Hydergine may be the most under-utilized drug in the United States because of its failure to treat advanced Alzheimer's disease.

Earlier published studies showed that Hydergine can:

• Improve blood supply to the brain.

• Increase the amount of oxygen delivered to the brain. .

• Increase oxygen use by the brain.

• Enhance metabolism in brain cells.

• Protect the brain from damage during periods of decreased or insufficient oxygen supply.

• Slow the deposit of age pigment (lipofuscin) in the brain.

• Prevent free radical damage In brain cells.

• Increase intelligence, memory, learning, and recall.

• Enhance the use of glucose by brain cells.

• Increase ATP levels in the brain.

• Stop blood from becoming sticky.

• Raise the brain levels of serotonin.

Hydergine is a popular 'smart drug' that people of all ages use to boost cognitive productivity now, and protect against brain aging in the future.

How Supplied:  (Prescription item)  Ergoloid mesylate tablet 5 mg (hydergine)

Dosage:  One tablet twice a day.

Hormones. Hormones are required to facilitate brain cell energy, maintain proper levels of acetylcholine, and protect brain cell membrane function. Neuro-hormones help restore youthful synchronization within the aging brain. Hormone supplementation is often required to achieve the requisite levels of the neuro-hormones.

Pregnenolone and DHEA

Pregnenolone and DHEA improve brain cell activity and enhance memory. (Pregnenolone is converted Into DHEA In the body.) DHEA Is the most plentiful steroid hormone in the human body, but its exact function Is unknown. What is known is that Its concentration plummets with age: Its daily production drops from 30 mg at age 20 to less than 6 mg at age 80. DHEA is naturally synthesized in abundance in young people from pregnenolone In the brain and the adrenal glands. It is known to affect the excitability of neurons in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory.

Current findings suggest that DHEA enhances memory by facilitating the induction of neural plasticity, the condition that permits the neurons (nerve cells of the brain) to change In order to record new memories. Studies have shown that DHEA not only Improves memory deficits, but also relieves depression in older people and increases perceived physical and psychological well being. DHEA has been shown to help preserve youthful neurological function. Together, pregnenolone and DHEA help to maintain the brain cells' ability to store and retrieve information in short-term memory.

Pregnenolone initiates the memory storage process by stimulating the activity of an important molecule known as adenylate cyclase, which is needed to activate and regulate enzymes crucial to cellular energy production. Pregnenolone then regulates the sequential flow of calcium ions through the cell membrane. The pattern of calcium ion exchange may determine how memories are encoded by neurons. Pregnenolone also modulates chemical reactions, calcium-protein binding, gene activation, protein turnover, and enzymatIc reactions Involved in the storage and retrieval of memory.

The suggested supplementation range for pregnenolone is 50 to 150 mg a day in three equal doses. The recommended dosage for DHEA is 25 to 50 mg a day. Women usually need less DHEA than men.

Melatonin

Melatonin, a naturally occurring hormone produced In the brain's pineal gland, also enhances cognitive function. It is one of the body's most potent natural antioxidants, making it ideal to prevent age-related dementias such as Alzheimer's disease that are thought to be caused, or at least exacerbated, by a lifetime of free-radical damage, especially since melatonin easily enters the brain from the bloodstream. Melatonin is also the primary regulator of brain cell synchronization, the body's internal clock, and is being researched as a possible treatment for various psychological conditions. Abnormally low levels of melatonin have been discovered in patients suffering from some kinds of depression. The suggested level of melatonin supplementation for enhancing neurological function in those over age 35 is 500 micrograms to 3 milligrams a night, one half hour before going to bed (melatonin has a sedative effect). Those over age 50 can take up to 6 milligrams before bedtime. 

Vitamins.

Vitamins can protect and enhance cognitive function. B vitamins in particular play an integral role in the functioning of the nervous system and help the brain synthesize chemicals that affect moods. A balanced complex of the B vitamins is also essential for energy and for balancing hormone levels. One recent study determined not only that low folate (a B vitamin) levels are associated with cognitive deficits, but also that patients treated with folic acid for 60 days showed a significant improvement in both memory and attention efficiency.

In a 6-year study to determine the relationship between nutritional status and cognitive performance in 137 elderly people, several significant associations were observed between cognition and vitamin status. Higher present and past intake of vitamins A, C, E, and B complex were significantly related to better performance on abstraction and visuospatial tests.

In addition to a direct effect, vitamins indirectly Impact mental function by altering the levels of harmful or beneficial substances in the body. For instance, elevated homocysteine (an amino acid) levels have been linked to heart disease and poorer cognitive function. In one study, vitamin B12 and folate, taken at higher than recommended dosages, reduced blood levels of homocysteine

The typical American diet does not always provide these essential vitamins, at least in high doses. Because vitamin C and the B complex are water soluble and excreted from the body daily, they must be replenished daily. Older people are at greater risk for vitamin deficiency because they tend to eat less of a variety of foods, although their requirements for certain vitamins such as B6 are actually higher. Older people may also have problems with efficient nutrient absorption from food. Even healthy older people often exhibit deficiencies in vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and folate, as well as zinc. The Life Extension Mix (dosage: 3 tablets with breakfast, 3 tablets with lunch, 3 tablets with dinner) provides high levels of the vitamins shown to significantly Improve mental function. Vitamin B12 deficiency is a special concern in the elderly and has been linked to neurological impairment. 

Antioxidants

Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms that can cause damage to cells by a process known as oxidation, which Impairs the Immune system and leads to infections and degenerative diseases. Free radicals occur in air pollutants, smoke, radiation, environmental toxins, and processed foods, and are also released in the human body through sun exposure and stress. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and help prevent such free-radical damage as normal brain aging. Their destructive activity has been implicated in many disease processes, including stroke and heart disease.

A recent study published in a premier American medical journal compared groups of older people over time and at a given moment with regard to antioxidant Intake and memory performance. The study found that free recall, recognition, and vocabulary were significantly related to vitamin C and beta-carotene levels. The levels of these antioxidants were found to be significant predictors of cognitive function even after controlling for possible confounding variables such as differences In education, age, and gender.

Life Extension Mix is a multi-nutrient formula that contains the Ideal potencies of antioxidants, vitamins C and E, and beta-carotene. It provides an easy and cost-effective way to supplement the optimal combination of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants. 

Conclusion

Age-associated mental Impairment can range in severity from forgetfulness to senility to dementia. It can be caused by a wide variety of specific disease processes, many of which are treatable, or by life events, such as the loss of a loved one. It can also result from brain aging. Whatever its form or cause, it need not be accepted as a consequence of growing older.

Behavioral modifications, such as increased physical and mental activity and a healthy diet, can Improve mental function both directly and indirectly by enhancing overall health. Memory can also be improved by using aids such as lists and routines, and by making connections to existing knowledge. Age-associated mental impairment can be treated safely and effectively with memory- enhancing nutrients that increase available acetylcholine, brain cell energy boosters (including naturally occurring substances like acetyl-l-carnitine, ginkgo biloba extract, Coenzyme Q10, NADH, and phosphatldylserlne, as well as FDA- approved and offshore drugs), hormones, and vitamins that become deficient (especially in older people), and antioxidants. It Is advisable to consult your physician prior to any treatment program and to Inform your physician of all supplements you take.

Minimal Cognitive Function Enhancement

1. Take Life Extension Mix (3 tablets with breakfast, 3 tablets with lunch, 3 tablets with dinner) to provide vital antioxidants and vitamins.

2. Take ginkgo biloba extract (120 mg a day)

3. Vinpocetine. 5mg three times a day

4. DMAE 120 mg, two in AM, two at noon, one at dinner time.

Standard Congnitive Function Enhancement (all of the above plus)

5. acetyl-L-carnitine (1,000 to 2,000 mg a day)

6. Phosphatidylserine (PS)  100 to 300 mg a day

7. Pregnenolone 50 to `50 mg a day in three equal doses

8. CoEnzyme Q10 (50 to 200 mg a day).

9. Take DHEA (25 to 50 mg a day).

Extend Cognitive Function Enhancement (all of the above plus)

10. Take melatonin (500 micrograms to 3 mg a night to maintain neuroiogical function; 3 to 10 mg a night for those who have an age-related degenerative brain disease) one half hour before bedtime.

11. Piracetam (2,400 to 4,800 mg a day) (Prescription item)

12. Hydergine (4 to 10 mg a day) (Prescription item)