The Neuro-Protective Lifestyle

Have you heard the news?

A simple OTC (over-the-counter) dietary supplement may hold the key to slowing or even preventing the onset of Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Parkinson’s is a devastating movement disorder that progresses as dopamine-producing neurons in the brain slowly die. In a recent study however, Parkinson’s patients with the highest uric acid levels, were the least likely to require prescription medication. No small feat when it comes to Parkinson’s disease.

But what does uric acid have to do with inosine?

Inosine is smack-dab in the middle of the metabolic pathway for the conversion of dietary purines (meat, nutritional yeast, certain vegetables) to uric acid. Supplemental inosine increases blood and cerebral spinal fluid levels of uric acid. While excess uric acid can cause gout in certain susceptible individuals, urate†, the physiologic form of uric acid is nothing but good news.

Here’s why:

1. Urate, (uric acid at normal blood pH) is a powerful antioxidant with more potency than vitamin C.
In fact, uric acid may very well represent a vitamin C substitute since humans are unable to synthesize ascorbic acid (vitamin C).

2. Intravenous inosine has neuroprotective and neuroregenerative properties. In fact, inosine is currently being investigated for the treatment of spinal cord injuries.

3. Inosine has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties. You’ll remember that neuroinflammation is the hallmark of most neurodegenerative disorders.

4. Inosine reverses endothelial cell dysfunction. Endothelial cells line our blood vessels and regulate blood flow. Endothelial cell dysfunction is common in diabetics and people with heart disease and the metabolic syndrome. Overly reactive blood vessels will constrict when they should relax contributing to heart attack and stroke.

5. Because of it’s unique chemical structure, inosine possesses anti-arrhythmic (arrhythmia prevention) properties. Think atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia etc.

6. Inosine readily enters both cardiac and skeletal muscle ramping up ATP production and increasing the transfer of oxygen from red blood cells to heart and skeletal muscle.

7. One recent study concluded that: “inosine should be considered as a potential preventative therapy in humans susceptible to developing Type 1 diabetes and as a possible antirejection therapy for transplant recipients”.

8. In another study, inosine prevented the onset of colitis in an experimental form of the disease.

9. When mice were exposed to gamma radiation, inosine prevented oxidative damage to their DNA and dramatically decreased free-radical production.

10. Inosine protects against multiple environmental toxins such as chlorinated solvents, fluorocarbons and methylene chloride poisoning in particular.

†The Michael J. Fox Foundation announced a $5.6-million award to drive a Phase 2 clinical trial to investigate the potential of inosine — a naturally occurring chemical that gives rise to urate in the body — to slow or stop the progression of Parkinson’s disease.

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Get ready for the next generation of “smart drugs” to flood the anti-aging arena. With a rapidly aging baby-boomer population, the demand for bleeding-edge cogniceuticals will dominate the psychoneuropharmacology market for the next several decades.

A cogniceutical includes any substance that improves cognition (brain function) by augmenting memory, learning and attention.

The ideal neuroprotective formula would both minimize neuronal damage and stimulate neuronal function. Since neuroinflammation represents the final common pathway for neuronal damage, a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory is essential.

Excess dietary arachidonic† acid triggers a biochemical cascade resulting in increased levels of the pro-inflammatory leukotrienes. The enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), catalyzes the reaction. The leukotriene inflammatory cascade is like a nuclear strike to both the cardiovascular and central nervous system and is the subject of intense research for that reason. Enter the 10,000 year old Boswellia plant. Well known in Ayurvedic medicine, the boswellia plant has been used for centuries as an anti-inflammatory agent and now we know why! An extract of the boswellia plant known as AKBA (3-O-acetyl-11 keto-ß-boswellic acid), selectively inhibits the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme. Unlike other boswellic acids that only partially inhibit 5-LOX, AKBA binds directly to 5-LOX making a metabolic road-block and halting the onslaught of inflammatory traffic (metaphorically speaking of course).

A generous supply of neurochemicals to feed the cholinergic neurotransmitter system of the brain is the second cogniceutical of choice. Nothing does that better than CDP-choline (also known as cytidine 5’-diphosphate choline). CDP-choline is unique in that it is a neuro-nucleotide. In the lab, cytidine is cleverly bonded to choline to create a truly remarkable cognitive enhancer. A daily dose of CDP-choline enables the brain to ramp-up acetylcholine synthesis. Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter responsible for short-term memory, learning and synaptic plasticity (think rewiring your brain).

Unfortunately, as fast as acetylcholine is produced, acetylcholine esterase gets busy breaking it down if it lingers just a little too long in the synaptic gap. Most drugs for neurodegenerative diseases (think Alzheimer’s), target acetylcholine esterase and exploit the potential of having acetylcholine linger a nanosecond longer thereby enhancing cognition. Most drugs also carry some pretty intolerable side effects like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Fortunately, naturally occurring acetylcholine esterase inhibitors exist. Huperzine A is an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor extracted from Huperzia serrata (Icelandic clubmoss). To date, Huperzine A is considered the most potent short term memory enhancer available without a prescription.

Factoring in what we know about neurophysiology and extrapolating from previously published studies, a well balanced cogniceutical formulation should look something like the following:

Boswellic acid 375 - 500 mg per day - antiinflammatory, neuroprotective
CDP-choline 250 - 500 mg per day - increases acetylcholine levels boosting memory
Huperzine A 25 - 50 mcg per day - acetylcholine esterase inhibitor, enhances CDP-choline

Cogniceuticals can’t change everything, but in this new neurosociety you’re going to want to stick with what works. But hey, don’t take my word for it. Try it yourself and tell me what you think (pun intended).

† sources of dietary arachidonic acid include meat and dairy products something that we consume far too much of in this part of the world. It’s all about balance. Consider balancing omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid intake for mood stabilization and improved cognition.

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