Great article I found… grab a cup of coffee and check it out…

Is Coffee the Best New Memory Booster?

by Jacqueline Metcalfe

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Study reveals caffeine’s impact on brain activity; other natural compounds may make better options

For a nation devoted to ever-popular and over-packed coffeehouses and the caffeinated beverages they sell, new research suggests that you may be getting more than just a wake-up rush of physical energy with every latte or espresso shot. Scientists now confirm that coffee can provide a jolt of mental alertness and cognitive functioning as well as enhance short-term memory.

During an Austrian study of healthy men ages 26 to 47, functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) detected significant activity in the brain’s memory centers 20 minutes after the men consumed 100 mg of caffeine. The caffeine significantly boosted brain function beyond what would be expected; yet the effect diminished 45 minutes after consumption. One of the researchers said: “This effect takes part in the distinct [region] of the working memory network that controls attention and concentration” (Peck, 2005).

While this may whet your appetite for a hot cup o’ Joe, there are alternate, and perhaps better-suited, choices. For those who can’t have, or don’t want, caffeine- or calorie-laden beverages, specific natural herbal or nutritional supplements display similar supporting characteristics for memory concerns.

Fuzzier Than a Latte’s Froth
This is great news because more than 75% of Americans suffer from everyday memory lapses, decreased alertness and/or forgetfulness. It can begin as early as age 30. You don’t have to be in your 60s or 70s to struggle to remember particular details, but loss of mental sharpness certainly worsens with age. In addition to memory deficits due to normal aging, you may also experience more frequent mood swings, stress-related problems, emotional withdrawal and other manifestations of cognitive impairment usually associated with getting older.

Unfortunately, memory-related effects of aging can be amplified by side effects from medication, substance abuse, metabolic and neurological difficulties, infections, trauma, toxins, hormonal changes, tumors, depression and circulatory disorders (Familydoctor.org, 2005). When these occur, the communication between nerve cells becomes more difficult and less reliable. These nerve miscues usually occur in the temporal lobes of the cerebral cortex, where memory is influenced in the brain.

The Austrian coffee trial seems so intriguing because the researchers detected increased activity in the anterior cingulate, frontal, and interior partial cortexes when caffeine was introduced. But the research is inconclusive on how sound a steady diet of java beverages would be and if the mental benefits of coffee outweigh other risks associated with its regular consumption. So, while an occasional cup of coffee may be fine for a quick fix every now and again, natural methods may be preferable for daily assistance with enhancing memory and alertness.

Clears Stress-Related Mental Fog
For some time now, Ginkgo Biloba has been touted as a natural supplement to promote health memory and brain function. A recent study conducted at the University of Adelaide in Australia adds to the preponderance of evidence supporting its use, although the research is ongoing and not yet conclusive. The 12-week experiment assessed Ginkgo’s effects on cognitive abilities, mood, attention and executive function in healthy older adults and discovered significant long-term memory improvement in within those taking the herb (Burns et al, 2005).

A recent animal study in Poland looked at post-stress memory dysfunction and the role Ginkgo played in alleviating the problem. Scientists outlined how psychosocial stress in humans can impact cognitive functions and impair the ability to recall, but that ingesting Ginkgo prior to the stress-related incident may ease the recall impairment (Walesiuk et al, 2005). Earlier research identified the genes involved with human stress responses, antioxidant defenses and those that encode brain transcription, and found that Ginkgo may have a neuroprotective effect on these genes (Soulie et al, 2002).

Enhances Neurotransmitters
While most have heard of Omega-3 Fatty Acids found in fish oil, along with its related health benefits, another compound in fish may be just as beneficial for overall wellness. Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) has been shown to increase brain power and have a positive impact on memory lapses and cognitive disorders. DMAE is thought to speed the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in activities such as learning, memory and recall. Studies as far back as 1974 demonstrated that DMAE significantly improved test scores of those with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as others who had learning or behavioral problems related to the attention span (Laifer, 2004).

Another nutrient favorably indicated in the treatment of memory and mental alertness is Vinpocetine. The Hungarian National Stroke Center recently found that Vinpocetine in supplement form increased regional and global cerebral blood flow in patients whose mental functions had been altered by stroke (Szilagyi et al, 2005). This study builds on earlier research conducted at the University of Leeds in England, which tested the effects of Vinpocetine on those with drug-induced memory difficulties. The researchers found that use of Vinpocetine was associated with improvements in short-term memory processes (Bhatti & Hindmarch, 1987).

Mental Jolt Without the Jitters
While science suggests that these individual compounds work well to support healthy memory, it seems wise best to find a formula that combines or incorporates Ginkgo Biloba, DMAE and Vinpocetine, along with other potential brain-supporters such as Acetyl-L-Carnitine (see “Nutrient Spotlight”). Daily intake of this combination, preferably in a soft-gel pill form, would embody a well-rounded plan of action to enhance memory and brain function. Best of all, you don’t have to worry about those morning jitters that accompany a caffeine buzz, either.

 

References:
Ames, B.N. & Liu, J. (2004). Delaying the mitochondrial decay of aging with Acetylcarnitine. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1033, 108–116.

Bhatti, J.Z. & Hindmarsh, I. (1987). Vinpocetine effects on cognitive impairments produced by flunitrazepam. International Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2(4), 325–331.

Burns, N.R., Bryan, J. & Nettelbeck, T. (2005). Ginkgo biloba: No robust effect on cognitive abilities or mood in healthy young or older adults. Human Psychopharmacology, 21(1), 27–37.

Familydoctor.org. (2005). Memory loss with aging: What’s normal, what’s not. July. Retrieved online January 14, 2006 from http://familydoctor.org/124.xml.

Laifer, S. (2004). All about supplements: DMAE. LE (Life Extension) Magazine, October 29. Retrieved online December 2, 2005 from http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2004/nov2004_aas_01.htm

Peck, P. (2005). RSNA: Coffee boosts short-term memory. MedPage Today. November 30. Retrieved online December 2, 2005 from http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/DietNutrition/tb/2238.

Soulie, C., et al (2002). The Ginkgo Biloba extract EGb 761 increases viability of hnt human neurons in culture and affects the expression of genes implicated in the stress response. Cellular and Molecular Biology (in French), (6), 641–646.

Szliagyi, G. et al (2005). Effects of Vinpocetine on the redistribution of cerebral blood flow and glucose metabolism in chronic ischemic stroke patients: A PET study. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 229–230, 275–284.

Veracity, D. (2005). How Acetyl-L-Carnitine prevents Alzheimer’s disease and dementia while boosting brain function. NewsTarget.com. December 7. Retrieved online December 22, 2005 from http://www. newstarget.com/015553.html.

Walesiuk, A., Trofimiuk, E., Braszko, J.J. (2005). Ginkgo Biloba normalizes stress- and corticosterone-induced impairment of recall in rats. Pharmacological Research: The Official Journal of The Italian Pharmacological Society, 53 (2), 123–128.