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THIS INFORMATION (AND ANY ACCOMPANYING PRINTED MATERIAL) IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE THE ATTENTION OR ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN OR OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL. ANYONE WHO WISHES TO EMBARK ON ANY DIETARY, DRUG, EXERCISE, OR OTHER LIFESTYLE CHANGE INTENDED TO PREVENT OR TREAT A SPECIFIC DISEASE OR CONDITION SHOULD FIRST CONSULT WITH AND SEEK CLEARANCE FROM A QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL.
AGE-ASSOCIATED MENTAL IMPAIRMENT (BRAIN AGING)
Abstracts For Protocol Aging precipitates a progressive decline in overall cognitive function. Aging causes us to lose our ability to store and retrieve short-term memories and to learn new information. Many neurological diseases are directly related to aging. The Life Extension Foundation has evaluated thousands of published studies showing that brain aging can at least be partially controlled. Some of these studies demonstrate a preventive effect, while others show a benefit in reversing cognitive impairment caused by normal aging or by a specific disease of aging, such as stroke. There are several classes of agents that enhance cognitive function and protect against neurological aging. The most commonly used memory-enhancing nutrients are choline, lecithin and phosphatidylcholine, which are precursors to the chemical neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain. Acetylcholine helps brain cells communicate with each other, and plays an important role in learning and memory. Acetylcholine deficiency can predispose a person to a wide range of neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and stroke. Suggested dosage ranges are: 2,500 to 10,000 mg a day of choline 10,000 to 15,000 mg a day of lecithin 1,200 to 6,000 mg of phosphatidylcholine Take choline, lecithin phosphatidylcholine early in the day for maximum improvements in brain productivity throughout the day. Another mechanism of memory enhancement involves boosting the energy output of brain cells. Aging causes a decline in the ability of neurons to take up glucose and to produce mitochondrial energy. This decline in energy production causes memory and cognitive deficits and results in the accumulation of cellular debris that eventually kills brain cells. When enough brain cells have died from accumulated cellular debris, senility is usually diagnosed. Stroke and head trauma victims are especially in need of brain cell energy-enhancing agents, though everyone who undergoes normal aging will suffer from cerebral circulatory deficits and reduced brain cell energy output. Therapies that fit into the category of brain cell energy enhancers include: 1,000 to 2,000 mg a day of Acetyl-L-Carnitine 120 mg a day of ginkgo biloba extract 100 to 200 mg a day of Coenzyme Q10 2,400 to 4,800 mg a day of piracetam 250 to 1,000 mg a day of centrophenoxine 4 to 10 mg of Hydergine (ergoloid mesylates) 5 to 10 mg a day of NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) 100 to 300 mg a day of phosphatidylserine 50 to 100 mg three times a day of Picamilon 200 mg three times a day of pyritinol 30 mg three times a day of nimodipine The most important of the above to take on a daily basis are ginkgo biloba extract, Coenzyme Q10 and Acetyl-L-Carnitine . Thousands of published studies show that ginkgo, coQ10 and Acetyl-L-Carnitine play a critical role in brain cell energy metabolism both in healthy people and in those suffering from neurological diseases. For healthy people seeking to improve cognitive function, the other cerebral metabolic enhancers can be tried individually or in combination to assess their ability to boost memory and intelligence. The combination of centrophenoxine and piracetam is one of the more popular therapies in Europe to improve memory and enhance mental energy. The Russian drug Picamilon improves blood flow to cerebral vessels and enhances energy levels. Pyritinol has been used in Europe to enhance neuronal metabolism in order to help restore youthful cognitive function. Stroke and head trauma victims should consider multiple brain cell energy-enhancing therapies to help restore circulation and energy levels of cells damaged by transient ischemic attack. It is especially recommended that stroke and head trauma victims consider taking 30 mg of the prescription drug Nimotop (nimodipine) three times a day in addition to the nutrients, hormones and drugs recommended in this protocol. Nimotop is a calcium-channel blocking drug specific to the central nervous system. It dramatically improves cerebral blood flow and blocks excess calcium infiltration into brain cells. Nimotop is an FDA-approved drug that has been ignored by most neurologists treating victims of stroke and other age-related neurological diseases. Phosphatidylserine 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, thus enhancing brain cell energy metabolism, In order to take advantage of increases in brain cell energy, elevated levels of acetylcholine, and enhanced brain cell membrane function, it is important to take hormones to help restore the synchronization of youthful activity within the aging brain. Two hormones that are well documented to improve brain cell activity are DHEA and pregnenolone. Pregnenolone and DHEA have been shown to be memory-enhancing hormones. Pregnenolone is converted into DHEA within the body. DHEA helps to preserve youthful neurological function. Together, pregnenolone and DHEA help to maintain the "program" brain cells need to store and retrieve short-term memories. Pregnenolone initiates the memory-storage process by stimulating adenylate cyclase activity, which is needed to activate and regulate other critical enzymes required for cellular energy production. Pregnenolone then regulates the sequential flow of calcium ions through the cell membrane. The pattern of calcium ion exchange has great informational content and 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. Aging results in a severe deficiency of pregnenolone and DHEA. Without adequate pregnenolone and DHEA, we gradually lose the neuronal synchronization required for optimal cognitive function. DHEA is naturally synthesized in abundance in young people from pregnenolone in brain and adrenal cells. It is known to affect the excitability of hippocampal neurons. Current findings suggest that DHEA enhances memory by facilitating the induction of neural plasticity. Refer to the DHEA -Pregnenolone Precautions in this book before using DHEA or pregnenolone. The dosage range for pregnenolone is 50 to 150 mg in three divided doses. The recommended dosage DHEA is 25 mg three times a day for men, and 15 mg three times a day for women. Anyone planning to take pregnenolone or DHEA should have a DHEA-S blood test prior to the onset of DHEA therapy, and six weeks after initiating therapy, to help evaluate the correctness of the dosage. A convenient way of taking pregnenolone (which may convert to DHEA), along with phosphatidylserine and choline, is to take five capsules a day of the nutrient formula Cognitex. Five capsules of Cognitex contain the suggested daily doses of pregnenolone, choline, vitamin B5 and phosphatidylserine. Another hormone that may help prevent age-associated mental impairment is melatonin , which is secreted by the pineal gland. Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant that also plays a role in brain cell synchronization. The suggested dose of Melatonin for neurological function for people over age 35 is 500 micrograms to 3 milligrams (mg) a night. For people already afflicted with an aging-related degenerative brain disease, 3 to 10 mg a night of melatonin is suggested. Vitamins can protect and enhance cognitive function. A six-year study was done to determine nutritional status and cognitive performance in 137 elderly people. Several significant associations were observed between cognition and vitamin status. Intake of the B vitamins thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and folate resulted in better abstraction performance. Higher plasma vitamin C levels were associated with better visuospatial performance. Higher past intake of vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 was related to better performance on visuospatial recall and/or abstraction tests. The use of vitamin supplements was associated with better performance on a difficult visuospatial test and an abstraction test. In a study of 70 male subjects, aged 54 to 81 years, elevated homocysteine levels were associated with poorer cognitive function. Elevated homocysteine was an independent factor in cognitive deficit, as were low levels of vitamin B12, folate and vitamin B6. Another study showed that less-than optimal levels of vitamin B6, B12 and folic acid were shown to create a deficiency of S-adenosylethionine (SAMe). A deficiency of SAMe could be a cause of depression, dementia or demyelinating myelopathy. The neurotoxic effects of homocysteine may be a cause of psychiatric disturbances that are correctable by proper vitamin supplementation. Free radicals have been implicated as an initiator of DNA damage that results in the breakdown of brain cell metabolism. Scientists suggest that the consumption of antioxidants, especially vitamin E, can reduce the risk of senility. The daily dose of Life Extension Mix provides broad-spectrum antioxidant protection for brain cells. The standard dose of Life Extension Mix ( three tablets, three times a day) provides high doses of specific nutrients that may provide significant improvement in mental function based on several studies in well-nourished human populations. Vitamin B12 deficiency in particular is a major cause of neurological impairment in the elderly. Sublingual vitamin B12 tablets taste good and are a popular method for people to add an additional 1,000 to 2,000 micrograms a day of B12 to their diet.
Product availability: Cognitex, pregnenolone, DHEA , Acetyl-L-Carnitine, ginkgo biloba, DMAE, lecithin, Coenzyme Q10, Life Extension Mix, and melatonin are available from the Life Extension Buyers Club by calling 1-800-544-4440. Piracetam and centrophenoxine are available from overseas companies for personal use only. A list of these companies can be obtained by phoning 1-800-544-4440 or order OnLine at The Life Extension Foundation.
*MUCH MORE TO COME
