Acetylcholine is the primary neurotransmitter involved with thought and memory. It is the chemical messenger
that certain brain cells use to communicate with each other. Choline is the basis for the formation of acetylcholine.
A lack of dietary choline will produce a corresponding decrease in memory. Nutritional supplementation of choline or
phosphatidyl choline (lecithin) can help to restore the deficit.
Beta-Carotene
Beta-carotene has some unique properties of its own, independent of its function as a precursor of vitamin A. It is a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes two of the most damaging free radicals - polyunsaturated fatty acid radicals and the singlet oxygen free radical.
Biotin
Biotin acts as a coenzyme in many reactions and also helps to fight mild depression.
Chromium
Chromium is essential for the metabolism of glucose and the production of energy.
DMAE (Dimethylaminoethanol)
DMAE enhances memory and intelligence. It is a source of choline for the production of acetylcholine in the brain.
Folic Acid
Folic Acid is selectively concentrated in the brain and spinal fluid and is essential to the functioning of the brain.
Germanium
Germanium is an important nutritional discovery that appears to aid in the oxygenation of cells and tissue.
Ginkgo Biloba
Its herbal extract stimulates cerebral circulation and improves mental functioning.
Inositol
Inositol is a membrane stabiliser found in high concentrations in the cellular tissue of the brain. It reportedly promotes an anti-anxiety or calming effect.
L-cysteine
Cysteine is a sulfur-containing, antioxidant amino acid. It is especially good at protecting the sensitive cellular membranes of the brain from free radical damage. It also protects the brain from damage due to alcohol and cigarette
smoke and is a general stimulant to the immune system.
Note: The letter L in front of the names of amino acids indicates the natural form as found in nature rather than being synthetic. The L forms are more biologically active.
L-glutamine
Glutamic acid is the brain's backup or emergency source of energy. Glucose is the brain's primary source of energy. Whenever glucose is in short supply, the brain utilizes glutamic acid to keep things going. However, glutamine is the ingredient added to the brain/mind formulas, not glutamic acid. Glutamine is much more effective at getting across the blood-brain barrier than glutamic acid. Once in the brain, glutamine is converted into glutamic acid.
L-glutamine has also been effective in increasing the I.Q.s of mentally deficient children. L-glutamine is also the
precursor for the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid).
L-methionine
Methionine is another sulfur-containing, antioxidant amino acid that protects brain cells from damage. Methionine also prevents toxic heavy metals such as mercury and cadmium from accumulating in and damaging the brain. It plays an essential role in the production of neurotransmitters and energy production.
Magnesium
Magnesium, in particular, seems to have a profound effect on dementias of various types. Dr. J. Leslie Glick (199Oa,199Ob) of the Bionix Corporation reviewed the effects of 1000mg of magnesium in patients with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. He reports that magnesium in these doses "may improve memory and alleviate other symptons in patients with Alzheimer's". Magnesium has been reported to enhance cognitive abilities. Additionally, causes vascular dilation and is known to have anti-anxiety effects.
Manganese
Manganese is a cofactor in many enzyme medicated reactions. It is essential for the production of the antioxidant enzyme SOD.
Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that transmit messages between nerve cells. Neurotransmitters control a wide range of functions. In addition to thoughts and memories, they control moods such as anger, depression, and happiness. They also affect appetite, sex, sleep, and rate of breathing. However, each neurotransmitter is quite specific in its job and functions. At the beginning of the 1980s, scientists had only discovered a few neurotransmitters. Now they have
found over fifty!
However, here we will focus on the neurotransmitters that are involved with memory and mental functioning.
Norepinephrine
Norepinephrine (NE) is another neurotransmitter involved with thought and memory. It is the chemical messenger that plays an important role in mental functioning. It seems to be specifically involved with long-term memory. A decrease in norepinephrine also produces a corresponding decrease in mental acuity or mental sharpness.
Phosphatidlyserine
Evidence indicates that phosphatidlyserine helps improve memory and prevent age-related memory loss.
It actually resides in brain cell membranes where it activates the release of acetylcholine and enhances the transmission of nerve messages between brain cells.
Potassium
Potassium is responsible for transmitting electrical impulses. It is highly active in the tissues of the brain
and nervous system.
Selenium
Selenium is one of the most important nutritional discoveries of the twentieth century. It is a nutrient that no individual
can afford to overlook. Every one of the sixty trillion cells in your body needs a small amount of selenium in order to
be protected and function properly. Toxic metals affect the brain and nervous system before they affect the other organs
of the body, just as many nutritional deficiencies do. Selenium is one of the most powerful detoxifiers of poisonous heavy
metals.
Taurine
Taurine is a non essential amino acid possessing a bipolar chemical structure. Its bipolar nature reportly enables
it to function as a charge stabilizer in the conduction of electrical impulses along nerve pathways.
Vitamin B-1 (Thiamine)
Thiamine is essential for the health of brain and nerve tissue. It is also involved in the chemical reactions that cause the release of acetylcholine in the brain.
Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin)
Riboflavin functions as an antioxidant cofactor, taking part in the antioxidant reactions involving both superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase.
Vitamin B-3 (Niacin)
A deficiency of niacin produces memory failure. It functions in over fifty metabolic reactions, especially those producing energy. Niacin has two forms, nicotinic acid and niacinamide. Either or both forms can be utilized in nutritional formulations.
Vitamin B-5 (Pantothenic Acid)
Vitamin B-5 acts as an antioxidant. It is also required for the conversion of choline to acetylcholine.
Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine)
Vitamin B-6 acts as an antioxidant. It is required for the conversion of amino acids into neurotransmitters in the brain. For example, the conversion of phenylalanine to norepinephrine requires Vitamin B-6.
Vitamin B-12 (Cobalamin)
Vitamin B-12 is a coenzyme that is particularly important in the brain and nerve tissues. It is necessary for the synthesis of DNA and RNA; it enhances the action of Vitamin C and several amino acids; and it is required to build the walls of brain cells.
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Vitamin C is a major antioxidant. It is precursor for the production of the neurotransmittersnorepinephrine, epinephrine, and serotonin. For example, the production of norepinephrine has been shown to be severely inhibited in Vitamin C-deficient subjects.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a powerful lipid membrane antioxidant that protects brain cells from free radical damage.
Zinc
The brain contains substantial concentrations of zinc. It is a necessary cofactor in over twenty different enzymatic
reactions and is essential for the production of the antioxidant enzyme SOD. It also helps prevent the accumulation of lead
that is toxic to the brain.
