Brain Health
Posted: Monday, February 01, 2010
by Dr. Ron Blankstein
Chesapeake Nutraceuticals
What have you done for your brain lately? Odd question? I know, we usually think of our brain as the magnificent nerve and message center of our body soundly encapsulated in our skull. We forget that there are literally hundreds of miles of capillaries that must remain open to nourish the millions of brain cells that keep us functioning clearly.(1)
Brain Cell Repair
Another misconception that many of us have is that any brain injury, whether from trauma, disease, or age, is not repairable. What a boon it would be if we could improve the nutrition to our brains so our own cells can repair themselves from the ravages of disease, injury, toxins, or time.(2)
New Applications of an Ancient Chinese Herb
Chinese folk medicine doctors have used the club moss plant, Huperzia serrata, to treat blood disorders, post trauma edema (swelling) and fever. A plant alkaloid is extracted from the moss in the form of the chemical Huperzine A. This is a more usable compound and has been a staple of Chinese Medicine for centuries.(3)
Modern Medical Research and Analysis
In the past several years much of medical research has been devoted to the study of what age does to our brain now that more of us are living longer. This especially applies to dementias such as Alzheimer's disease. So what specifically causes this increased slowing of the thought processes that effects not only our thinking but also our remembering.(4)
How Normal Brain Cells Function
Cells in the brain are like minute electrical transmitters. Electrical impulses carry messages from one end of the cell to the other. When the charge reaches the end of the cell it is transferred to the next cell in line without touching it. That is, it functions much like the spark gap in a spark plug. The main difference is that the spark must have a chemical to "gap" through. This chemical is a neurotransmitter enzyme named acetylcholine.(5)
Where Do We Get Acetylcholine?
Our bodies actually make acetylcholine out of an essential Vitamin B complex of nutrients called choline. We use the acetylcholine in brain cell transmissions as we have described. In addition it is found in nerve cells that connect to our muscle fibers. As such, it is the fuel that enables us not only to remember but also to move. We need a consistent supply of choline to keep us functioning clearly.(6)
OK, Where Does the Choline Come From?
The best sources are foods that are rich in choline. These are foods such as raw egg yokes, cooked whole eggs, chicken and turkey liver, bacon, almonds, artichokes, green peas, spinach, and red cabbage. These are listed in order of amounts of choline. So the best sources are eggs and organ meats.(7)
What Happens When Acetylcholine Amounts Are Reduced?
Researchers find that many diseases of the brain, including Alzheimer's, show reduced choline levels. Decreased choline equals reduced acetylcholine at the cellular level. Decreased amounts of acetylcholine result in loss of both mental and motor function. If brain cells have low levels of acetylcholine they steal it from the walls of other cells. This process is called "auto-cannibalism". Our brains are "eating themselves alive" in order to produce our normal daily functions. In addition to the loss of brain cells we are left with the waste products of dead cells. These toxins increase the breakdown of acetylcholine. This multiplying effect explains the very rapid memory deterioration of many Alzheimer's patients.(8)
Your Mental Clear Function
The latest nutritional research has shown that in the use of a supplement containing Huperzine A may help reduce the breakdown of acetylcholine by destroying the toxins released by the dead brain cells. This seems to be even more pronounced when it is given along with other "memory boosters" and bioflavonoids.(9) To get the whole story on our memory product that includes Huperzine A with a number of other key nutrients, simply click here.
Remember to discuss changes to your diet, exercise, or supplements with your doctor first.
References:
- http://huperzine.net/herbal-remedies/huperzine/how-huperzine-works.
- Xu SS, Gao ZX, Weng Z, et al. Efficacy of tablet huperzine-A on memory, cognition and behavior in Alzheimer's disease. Chung Kuo Yao Li Hsueh Pao. 1995; 16:391-395.
- He XC, Yu GL, Bai DL. Studies on analogues of huperzine A for treatment of senile dementia. VI. Asymmetric total synthesis of 14-nor-huperzine A and its inhibitory activity of acetyl cholinesterase. [Article in Chinese] Yao Xue Xue Bao. 2003; 38(5):346-349.
- Grunwald, J., Raveh, L., Doctor, BP. et al (1994) Huperzine A as a pretreatment candidate drug against nerve agent toxicity. Life Sci 54: 991-997.
- Dean Ward M.D. ‘Anti-Aging Nutrient Review and Update Part 4: DMAE Cognitive-Enhancing, Life Extending Nutrient' Vitamin Research News, September 2004, Vol. 18, Number 8, p. 1-4.
- Buchman AL, et al. Verbal and visual memory improve after choline supplementation. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2001 Jan-Feb;25(1):30-5.
- Cheng DH, Ren H, Tang XC. Huperzine A, a novel promising acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Neuroreport. 1996; 8:97-101
- Xu SS, Cai ZY, Qu ZW, Yang RM, Cai YL, Wang GQ, Su XQ, Zhong XS, Cheng RY, Xu WA, Li JX, Feng B. Huperzine-A in capsules and tablets for treating patients with Alzheimer's disease. Acta Pharmacol Sin 1999 Jun;20(6):486-90.
- Sun QQ, Xu SS, pan JL, Guo HM, Cao WQ (1999) . Huperzine-A capsules enhance memory and learning performance in 34 pairs of matched adolescent students. Zhongguo Yao Li Bao. L((( Jul;20(7):600-3. Xiaoshan Mental Hospital, Zhejiang, China.