Apr 9, 2008 11:36 pm US/Eastern
Study Looks At Memory Enhancing Supplement
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
If you feel like your mind just isn't as sharp as it used to be, you're probably right. Experts say our brain power begins to wane at the tender age of 25. Things like misplacing the car keys or walking into a room and forgetting why you're there become increasingly common as we get older. "It's just the early stages of wear and tear on the brain," explained Dr. Perry Renshaw of McLean Hospital in Belmont.
Renshaw has been studying the brain for more than 20 years, and he says most of us will experience this type of forgetfulness. "For people in middle age, like myself, we notice that it's harder to recall words, it's harder to remember names of people we just met," he said.
Renshaw and a team of scientist wanted to see if Citicoline, a simple nutritional supplement, would improve brain function.
The researchers took a group of volunteers and put them in an MRI to measure the energy needed to make our brains work. Then they told the volunteers to take Citicoline every day. After six weeks the volunteers were put back into the MRI to see if there were any changes. "The unanticipated and somewhat remarkable result that we found was that the brain energy supply... is actually increased in critical brain regions by this supplement," said Renshaw.
Dr. Renshaw said some of the subjects didn't notice much of a change, but most said they felt great. "The kinds of words they used to describe how they felt were sharper, a little bit more alert, more productive at work, more energetic," said Renshaw.
Doctors have found Citicoline to be beneficial in elderly people who have impaired brain function. It's also been used overseas to help stroke patients. But this is the first time it has been tested on healthy middle-aged people. "This is really rather surprising," said Renshaw. "We've been looking for this kind of an effect for a long time. The only other thing that seems to have this kind of effect for the brain is sleep," he explained.
Dr. Renshaw says he took Citicoline himself and he said he felt better too, but he says he isn't ready to recommend everyone take it. "This study is sort of an initial foray to really try to figure out what these products do and don't do," he said.
The McLean Hosptial study was funded in part by one of the many manufacturers of this supplement. Citicoline is available at many health food stores. We found a bottle at Cambridge Naturals in Porter Square. It was $29.95 for 60 capsules.
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