Word: braining
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...that boost the expression of genes essential to shoring up the connections among neurons?the physical process that is thought to turn immediate experiences into long-term memories. Cortex Pharmaceuticals in Irvine, Calif., meanwhile, is testing compounds that accomplish something similar more indirectly. Those molecules amplify the response of brain chemicals called AMPA receptors, among the first players in a long biochemical cascade that takes place in the neuron as it encodes memory. The first of those ampakine molecules has been shown in a recent study to boost the attention and mental performance of healthy, sleep-deprived men. The more...
Those issues don't seem to bother the Americans who pop pills and snap up supplements touted as brain enhancers. The latter are often a waste of money. Studies examining the cognitive benefits of supplements have either proved inconclusive or shown only modest effects. There's some evidence that the popular herb ginkgo biloba boosts cerebral blood flow and improves mental functioning, particularly when taken with ginseng. But there's also evidence that it doesn...
Some of the most popular brain supplements, including deanol, are stimulants, but they have not been shown to improve cognition. "Americans like to have the five-Starbucks-triple-latte effect," says complementary-medicine guru Dharma Singh Khalsa, who sells his own line of "brain longevity" supplements. He recommends a regimen of antioxidants like vitamins E and C and co-enzyme Q10 to keep the brain healthy. Beyond that, one of his favorite nootropic formulations is a combination of ginkgo, phosphatidylserine (a molecule essential to the health of neural-cell membranes) and omega-3 fats (found in fish oils). But Khalsa...
...BRAIN BOOSTERS Some drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease increase the levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which plays a key role in attention and memory. One of the drugs, donepezil, was shown in a study of helicopter pilots to enhance mental performance. These drugs, however, are not widely abused...
MEANWHILE, IN HEALTH STORES... ...the shelves are filled with herbs and supplements advertised as brain boosters. Few, if any, clinical trials have assessed their efficacy, but here's what we know about some of the more popular ingredients in these concoctions...