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Phosphatidylserine
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. Phosphatidylserine is found on the
surface of membranes in brain cells and synapses (the connections
between nerve cells). Among the most important of its many effects
is activation of protein-kinase C, an 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.
Scientists have been conducting animal experiments with
phosphatidylserine since the mid-1970s. These tests show that the
substance increased the availability of glucose in the brain,
stimulated the production of a number of important brain chemicals
(including protein-kinase C, acetylcholine and dopamine). More
recent tests show that phosphatidylserine protected against
stress-induced behavioral changes and improved learning and memory
in old rats.
Perhaps the most eye-opening evidence regarding phosphatidylserine
comes from studies of human patients with Alzheimer's disease. In
a 1988 Italian trial in which scientists gave phosphatidylserine
to 70 Alzheimer's patients for three months, the researchers found
that memory improved in all patients, and the improvement was
maintained three months after the drug was withdrawn. In a more
recent American test at the National Institute of Mental Health,
150 otherwise healthy people who suffered from age-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."
No serious side effects have been noted. Phosphyatidylserine is
often prescribed in Europe for patients with Alzheimer's disease
and other forms of degenerative brain disease.
*Statements
contained herein have not been evaluated by the
Food and Drug Administration. These products are
not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or
prevent disease. Always consult with your
professional health care provider before
changing any medication.**
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