By Andrew Gaeddert
Many older Americans suffer from loss of cognitive function. After Alzheimer’s, the second leading cause of dementia is cerebrovascular disease. Patients who suffer from TIS (Transient Ischemic Attacks) or stroke may suffer losses in motor skills and cognitive functioning which can range from mild to severe impairment. Recent research has uncovered a breakthrough new treatment for these patients that also provides significant benefits for healthy younger and older patients. The therapy studied is Alpha-GPC (Alpha-Glyceryl Phosphoryl Choline), which is extracted from soy lecithin. It is available from Health Concerns as CogniSpark™. The results of this treatment are dramatic because studies have shown that this therapy produces consistent improvements in mental function that begin in the first month of treatment and increase over time. Using several of the most widely accepted testing modalities, patients treated with Alpha-GPC have been shown to make dramatic improvements in mental functioning. These results show the potential of this compound to significantly increase quality of life and ability to function independently in this patient group.
RESEARCH
One of the largest studies on this treatment was conducted across multiple treatment centers in Italy. The study assessed and tracked mental functioning in 2,044 patients who had suffered from acute ischemic cerebral attacks (Barbagallo Sangiorgi et al., University of Palermo, Italy, 1994). In the first 28 days of the study, Alpha-GPC was administered intramuscularly at a dosage of 1,000 mg/ day. At the beginning of the study, 66% of the patients studied were assessed as being “more deteriorated”, having scores of less than 65 on the Mathew Scale. Thirty-four percent of patients were classified as “less deteriorated”, with scores of over 65. After 28 days of treatment, this same group had only 19% of patients assessed as “more deteriorated”, and 81% were now in the “less deteriorated” group scoring over 65 on the Mathew scale. This represents a significant improvement in cognitive functioning after only four weeks of treatment. The group went from a majority falling into the category of “more deterioration” to the majority of the group having “less deterioration” after 28 days of treatment.
The second segment of this study tracked the progress of this same patient group through month six. Dosage was switched to oral treatment with Alpha- GPC, at a dosage of 400 mg TID (1,200 mg per day). On the 28th day, 60% of the patients were classified as having an abnormal level of cognitive functioning as assessed by the Mini Mental State test. By the sixth month, only 35% of participants had abnormal deterioration, with the remaining participants in the study (65%) having reached a normal level of cognitive functioning. There were few side effects noted from Alpha-GPC. Blood pressure and heart rate remained the same. Liver and renal function were also tracked, with no negative effects. A small percentage of the participants (2.14%) noted mild side effects including heartburn, nausea, insomnia, and diarrhea.
WHAT IS ALPHA-GPC?
Alpha-GPC is a nutrient that is naturally present in high concentrations in human breast milk. It is naturally found in all human cells throughout life, though concentrations drop as we age. Alpha-GPC is a major source of choline, essential for brain functioning and other metabolic processes, including cell maintenance and repair and nerve transmission. While choline is essential for human biochemistry, it is difficult for the human body to utilize in its free form. Free choline is chemically unstable within the blood. Because of this, very little free choline is present in the human body. Most choline in the human body is buffered within the structure of larger molecules that lessen its destabilizing properties. The major carrier molecules for choline in the human body are Phosphatidyl Choline (PC), Sphingomyelin (SPH) and Alpha -GPC. Out of these three molecules, Alpha-GPC is the only form of active choline the brain can use easily, and its presence raises levels of choline in the brain. Alpha-GPC also serves as an osmotic buffer not only for the brain, but for the liver and kidneys as well. Throughout the body, choline serves as a building block for the phospholipids that underlie the formation of all cell membranes.
ALPHA-GPC EFFECTIVE IN HEALTHY ADULTS
The effects of Alpha-GPC have also been tested in normal, healthy patients, including young, middle-aged and elderly subjects. All groups studied showed meaningful improvements. These improvements include increased mental agility, ability to concentrate, improved reaction time, and improved response to stimulus. In two double-blind studies that tracked results in male and female volunteers aged 18-38, Alpha-GPC improved concentration and short-term memory. Alpha-GPC improved baseline levels of functioning at levels higher than the pharmaceuticals idebenone and aniracetam.
TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA
CogniSpark™, available exclusively from Health Concerns, is highly recommended for use in patients with vascular dementia, and mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. In these cases we recommend that it be administered along with Vinpurazine™ for best results. Vinpurazine improves cerebral circulation, protects memory and nerve cells, and aids in treatment for Myasthenia Gravis, stroke recovery, and Alzheimer’s disease One primary ingredient, Huperzine A, has been studied and shown to improve memory, cognitive and behavioral functions and may reduce injury to cells from strokes, epilepsy, and other disorders. Vinpocetine, another primary ingredient, has been used for more than 20 years as a treatment for cerebrovascular disorders. Laboratory experiments indicate that it dilates blood vessels, improves circulation to the brain, improves oxygen utilization, increases glucose metabolism in the brain, and inhibits platelet aggregations. For vascular dementia, we also recommend adding Flavonex™ to improve circulation. Flavonex is formulated with a new, more potent extract that contains at least 24% ginkgo flavonoids and 6% lactones. Ginkgo flavonoids have been proven to reduce and prevent dementia and memory loss.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANTI-AGING AND PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT
CogniSpark™ is also recommended for use as a beneficial supplement for healthy middle-aged and older patients interested in improving and protecting cognitive functioning. It can be used in all adult age groups to enhance mental performance, and may have other important anti-aging effects related to improving levels of Human Growth Hormone. It may be helpful for patients seeking to improve physical fitness and improve their muscle/fat ratio. For patients seeking to improve their levels of HGH and lean body mass, the supplement should be prescribed in conjunction with a nutritional and exercise program, and treatment of any sleep disorders.
CONCLUSION
While standard approaches have not been able to offer much help to patients with dementia and age-related declines in functioning, alternative treatment therapies such as Alpha-GPC can offer new hope for your patients, backed by scientifically proven clinical results. Patients may be embarrassed to mention losses in cognitive functioning that occur with aging, or may accept them “as an unavoidable part of aging.”
Discuss cognitive issues such as memory, ability to concentrate, and mental agility with your patients, and keep them informed about the newest treatments available that may help them preserve mental functioning as they age, while helping to reverse age-related losses they may have already experienced.
FORMULAS MENTIONED IN THE TEXT
Cognispark has been clinically shown to improve cognitive functioning. INGREDIENTS: ALPHA-GPC EXTRACTED FROM SOY LECITHIN
Flavonex contains at leat 24% ginkgo flavonoids and 6% lactones with supportive herbs. Ginkgo flavonoids have been proven to reduce and prevent dementia and memory loss. INGREDIENTS: PUERARIA ROOT (GE GEN), ILEX ROOT (MAO DONG QING), SALVIA ROOT (DAN SHEN), LONICERA FLOWER (JIN YIN HUA), EUCOMMIA BARK (DU ZHONG), ACORUS RHIZOME (SHI CHANG PU), CISTANCHE HERB (ROU CONG RONG), HO-SHOU-WU ROOT (HE SHOU WU), MORUS FRUIT (SANG REN), ROSA FRUIT (JIN YING ZI), LYCIUM FRUIT (GOU QI ZI), ZIZYPHUS SEED (SUAN ZAO REN), TANG-KUEI ROOT (DANG GUI), SCHISANDRA FRUIT (WU WEI ZI), GINKGO LEAF EXTRACT (YIN GUO YE: 24% FLAVONOIDS; 6% LACTONES).
Vinpurazine improves cerebral circulation, protects memory and nerve cells, and aids in treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, Myasthenia Gravis, and stroke recovery. INGREDIENTS: ROSEMARY LEAF EXTRACT, CLUB MOSS EXTRACT (100 MCG HUPERZINE A PER CAPSULE FROM HUPERZIA SERRATA), VINPOCETINE (FROM VINCA MINOR).