The Brain Gain: Improving Brain Health

by Danielle Citrolo, PharmD

Diseases affecting the brain are an area of ever-increasing prevalence and concern in the health of our nation. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s disease – a progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the nerve cells of the brain – currently affects more than 5 million people in the US. The drastic increase in recent Alzheimer’s diagnoses has even led Congress to unanimously pass a national plan, known as the National Alzheimer’s Project Act, that will aggressively address the issue with increased funding for scientific research, similar to previous work done for the AIDS crisis and cancer.

Still, despite ample awareness of brain health issues, the brain itself remains one of the biggest mysteries of human anatomy due to its unparalleled complexity. Yet, with today’s highly sophisticated technology, doctors and scientists are learning new ways to tap into the brain’s full potential and improve brain function. These brain specialists study the connections within the various parts of the brain to discover ways to help our memory and attention as we age and develop disease.

Science has taught us that the brain powers 100 billion neurons, which constantly fire messages (like tiny electrical charges) across trillions of microscopic gaps between the brain’s cells. As with all functions in the human body, the brain draws on energy housed within the mitochondria within each and every cell of the human body. So, what additional steps can be taken to improve the brain’s mitochondrial function and potentially combat cognitive decline?

First, an active lifestyle and healthy eating habits provide a great foundation. Steven Pratt, MD, author of Superfoods Rx: Fourteen Foods Proven to Change Your Life, suggests foods such as blueberries and broccoli as healthful options to help protect the brain against oxidative stress. Other foods, such as fish, eggs, milk, and algae-derived supplements, contain omega-3 essential fatty acids that are imperative for brain function. Finally, nuts and seeds provide a good source of vitamin E, of which adequate levels are linked to less cognitive decline.

Second, according to the Mayo Clinic, social activity can help fight cognitive decline and depression, and in turn boost brain health. There have also been reports that mentally stimulating games, such as crossword and Sudoku puzzles, can help keep the brain sharp.

Finally, nutrients or a well-researched dietary supplement, such as citicoline, can also contribute to better brain function when ingested in the body. Citicoline is referred to by the scientific community as a “brain nutrient” because of its ability to support healthy mitochondria activity required for sustained mental effort. While the brain produces its own levels of citicoline naturally to protect its cell membranes’ integrity and help ward off disease, numerous studies show that oral supplementation may be beneficial when natural citicoline levels are insufficient due to stress, illness, or possibly aging. Several clinical studies also suggest that citicoline supplementation can work to increase brain energy and function, including supporting memory and concentration in study participants

[SEE SIDEBAR.]

Remarkably, consumer awareness of citicoline remains very low, despite the positive research results and potential impact on preservation of brain health.

Studying Citicoline Supplementation

In healthy adult women:

The Brain Institute conducted a study focused on the administration of citicoline oral supplements to healthy adult women. The randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial involved 60 healthy adult women – ages 40 to 60 – who were administered a daily oral dose of 250 mg citicoline or 500 mg citicoline over a 28-day period. The results concluded that participants who were given either dose of citicoline produced better results in a cognitive inhibition test; and findings suggest that supplementation with citicoline positively affects cognitive scores, attention, and performance after only a 28-day timeframe.

In the aging population:

In another placebo-controlled study, a group of elderly subjects who exhibited memory deficits (not including dementia) were observed after oral administration of 1000 mg and 500 mg of citicoline. After a 4-week administration period, the results indicated that citicoline, compared with a placebo, improved memory in free recall tasks and resulted in significant improvement in word recall. The study suggests that citicoline improved memory deficits in these elderly subjects.

In healthy adolescent males:

Recently, a study conducted by the Brain Institute found that oral supplementation with citicoline enhanced motor skills and attention in healthy adolescents. The double-blind, placebo-controlled 28-day trial took place with 75 adolescent males who received oral supplementation of 250 mg or 500 mg of citicoline daily. The research indicates that individuals who were administered citicoline – regardless of dosage – showed multiple improved cognitive domains, measures of attention, and motor speed. The study was groundbreaking not only in its results, but for its rarely tested young, healthy population.

As hard-working researchers continue to investigate ways to boost the efficiency of the brain, ward off deterioration, and enhance the longevity of overall brain health, it’s important to keep all options open. While there is likely no single solution, what scientists and nutritionists have discovered and will continue to discover is important to take into consideration​. ​As the market for brain health grows, consumers, marketers, and​ regulators will continue to seek out efficacious ingredients backed by science and free of safety concerns.

Danielle Citrolo, PharmD

Registered Pharmacist

Technical Services Manager

Kyowa Hakko USA Inc.

212-792-9446; fFax: 212-421-1283; c

Cll: 646-256-0145 Citrolo@kyowa-usa.com