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Page 34 | Abby's Magazine - www.AbbysHealthAndNutrition.com exerted anti-inflammatory effects and possibly reduced amyloid beta aggregation in 27 subjects with probable Alzheimer's. Nutritional Interventions Studied in Cognitive Decline and Dementia 1. Vinpocetine Vinpocetine, derived from the periwinkle plant, has neuroprotective properties and increases cerebral circulation. It also protects against excitotoxicity. Vinpocetine has been used as a drug in Eastern Europe for the treatment of age-related memory impairment. In a controlled clinical trial, 10 mg of vinpocetine three times a day improved a variety of measures of cognitive function among subjects with vascular senile cerebral dysfunction. 2. Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is an important nutrient that stimulates the growth of new mitochondria in aging cells, and promotes mitochondrial protection and repair. Mitochondrial decay contributes to many age- related diseases, including Alzheimer's. Laboratory studies indicate PQQ may inhibit the development of Alzheimer's disease. PQQ protects neurons from amyloid beta and the protein alpha-synuclein, which contributes to neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease. Supplementation with 20 mg per day of PQQ resulted in improvements on tests of higher cognitive function in a group of middle-aged and elderly people. These effects were significantly amplified when the subjects also took 300 mg per day of CoQ10. 3. Phosphatidylserine Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a naturally occurring component of cell membranes. In a study conducted in Japan on 78 elderly people with mild cognitive impairment, supplementation with PS for six months resulted in significant improvements in memory functions. In another study, 18 elderly subjects with age-related memory decline took 100 mg of PS 3 times daily for 12 weeks. Tests at 6 and 12 weeks showed cognitive gains compared to baseline measurements. A group of researchers studied the safety and efficacy of phosphatidylserine-containing omega-3 fatty acids (PS-omega-3) in eight elderly patients with memory complaints. They found that PS-omega-3 had favorable effects on memory functions. Researchers are now finding that phosphatidylserine supplementation works optimally along with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). 4. Glycerophosphocholine Glycerophosphocholine (GPC) is a structural component of brain cell membranes and a precursor to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. In Alzheimer's disease, the concentration of GPC increases in the CSF due to the breakdown of cell membranes during neurodegeneration. Supplementation with GPC and other nutritive substances like acetyl-L- carnitine, docosahexaenoic acid, α-lipoic acid and phosphatidylserine improves cognitive functions in mice. A clinical trial on 261 patients with dementia of the Alzheimer's type showed improvement in cognitive symptoms with an acetylcholine precursor. A larger trial also revealed significant cognitive improvement when patients recovering from stroke were given 1,000 - 1,200 mg of alpha-GPC for 5 months. Additional Nutritional Support for Cognition 1. Coffee and Caffeine A review of several studies revealed that coffee consumption is associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Long-term caffeine administration to mice can reduce brain amyloid beta deposition through suppression of beta- and gamma-secretase. An animal model showed that caffeine appeared to synergize with another coffee component to increase