About Some Memory Boosting Nootropics

Phosphatidylserine:

  • Essential component of neuronal cell membranes .
  • Increases aetylcholine release from cortical slices in aged rats.
  • Enhances brain glucose metabolism. Important, since abnormal brain glucose metabolism promotes inflammation and neurodegeneration. Indeed, some have characterized Alzheimer Disease as diabetes of the brain.
  • Increases NGF (Nerve Growth Factor) activity
  • Recognized by FDA as beneficial

Vimpocetine:

  • A vasoactive alkaloid derived from the Periwinkle plant
  • Neuroprotective against numerous neurotoxic substances
  • Anti-inflammatory by reducing TNF-α-induced pro-inflammatory molecules
  • Increases blood flow to the brain via phosphodiesterase type-1 inhihibition
  • Upregulates receptors for acetylcholine, serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine
  • Cerebral antioxidant

Huperziine-A

  • Derived from Huperzia Serrata
  • Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
  • Neuroprotective via NMDA receptor antagonism
  • Promotes hippocampal neurongenesis  
  • Click here to see article abstract
  • Enhances memory consolidation and neuroplasticity

Bacopa Monnieri:

  • Protects cells in hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and striatum against cytotoxity and DNA damage
  • Protects cholinergic neurons
  • Inhibits acetylcholinesterase comparable to donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine
  • Reduces stress-induced (cortisol toxicity) hippocampal damage
  • Neuroprotective via nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation
  • Reduces hippocampal β-amyloid deposition
  • Improves speed of visual information processing, learning rate, and memory after 3 months.

    Click here to see a brief video on the benefits of Bacopa Monnieri

N-Acetyl-L-Carnitine:

  • Improves energy status through β-oxidation in mitochondria
  • Decreases oxidative stress
  • Promotes neuronal survival in animal model of Parkinson Disease
  • Prevents cell death in animal models of adult, pediatric, and neonatal brain injury
  • Precursor for acetylcholine
  • Acetyl portion incorporated into lipids for myelination and cell growth

St. John’s Wort:

  •  St Johns’ Wort statistically significantly increased levels of GAP-43 and SYP, respectively in the hippocampi and prefrontal cortex in rats.
  • Improves hippocampus-dependent spatial working memory in stressed and corticosterone-injected rats.
  • Ameliorates depression (which impairs memory) via several mechanisms

L-Glutamine:

  •  L-Glutamine is used in the synthesis of the neurotransmitters Glutamate and GABA.
  • Glutamate is the primary excitatory transmitter in the brain and is connected to memory formation, recall and synaptic plasticity.
  • Glutamate can not only improve memory, but also reasoning, verbal fluidity, and creativity.
  • GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.
  • GABA reduces anxiety, promotes relaxation, and enhances focus.