Five Letters For Preventing Age-Related Dementia: PS­DHA

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Five Letters For Preventing Age-Related Dementia: PS­DHA

 

Phosphatidylserine improves DHA’s bioavailability to your

brainScientists have long known that the omega 3

fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is vital to proper brain

development and maintenance. In fact most quality infant formulas in the

United States contain this vital nutrient to support infant brain

development.

And phosphatidylserine (PS), approved by the FDA for two health claims

related to cognitive function, is a critical constituent of brain

membranes and brain-related biochemical pathways. Now scientists

have found a way to mimic nature and combine these two distinct nutrients

into one conjugated compound. The result, PS-DHA, duplicates nature, and

this natural form of PS literally carries the vital DHA past the Blood

Brain Barrier (BBB) directly into the brain.

 

 

 

 

PS-DHA supplementation could quite possibly be the answer for those

concerned about age-related dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

The natural process of PS delivering DHA is fairly straightforward. But

before we get into that, let’s look at each of these compounds

individually.

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is crucial for normal brain

activities and functionsThe main function of PS is

to help maintain proper membrane permeability, which has implications on

most brain membrane functions. PS protects the integrity of brain cell

membranes, facilitates the efficient transport of energy-producing

nutrients into cells (including DHA), and enhances brain cell energy

metabolism. Another related function of PS is its role in controlling the

normal balance of stress hormones and assist in maintaining adequate

glucose utilization in the brain.

Soy versus bovine-based PSPS derived

from soy has been shown to be

safe

1 and effective. Because of the global concerns about mad cow

disease, commercial sources of PS, once derived from cows, are now made

from soy. A study back in 2000 compared the results of soy PS with

bovine-derived PS, and found that 18 elderly volunteers with age-related

cognitive decline experienced a significant improvement from the

soy-based

PS.

2 Although this is significant because most of the studies indicating

the effectiveness of PS on cognitive decline have been done using

bovine-derived PS, the scientific community is eager for the results of a

larger double-blind study. In the meantime, PS has been sanctioned by the

FDA and they have approved two claims that state:

 

Consumption of phosphatidylserine may reduce the risk of dementia in

the elderly. Consumption of phosphatidylserine may reduce the risk of cognitive

dysfunction in the

elderly.

3

 

 

 

Human clinical studiesPS has been the

subject of numerous human clinical trials of memory loss, mood, and

cognitive performance such as learning ability, concentration, and

processing. Many of the studies show that PS can be helpful for those

with age-related memory impairment. It can even enhance cognition and

mental function in those with no cognitive impairment. PS plays a crucial

role in many membrane-associated nerve cell processes and by increasing

the number of neurotransmitter receptor

sites.

4 The increased number of receptor sites may explain why the

memory-enhancing effects last for up to a month even after the supplement

is discontinued.

 

 

 

“It can even enhance cognition and mental function in those

with no cognitive impairment.”

 

 

 

 

Improvement in normal, healthy people Thomas

Crook and his colleagues studied 149 individuals who suffered from

age-associated memory impairment. These people had no overt illnesses,

but showed signs of memory loss that normally occurs with aging. Those

who took PS showed improvement in memory and learning. As with many other

studies of this kind, the people who functioned the worst in the

beginning were the most likely to improve. The researchers concluded that

“the compound may be a promising candidate for treating memory loss in

later

life.”

5

Treating depression and senility in the

elderlyIn a study at the University of Milan,

Italy, 10 elderly women with depressive disorders were given placebos for

15 days, then 300 mg of PS for 30 days. The study showed that PS

alleviated depression and improved memory and general behavior. No

adverse effects were noted in any of the

patients.

6 Other studies have found similar, positive results. PS has also

proved effective in treating early and mild Alzheimer’s

disease

7 and

senility.

8

 

 

 

“… without choline, we couldn’t move, think, sleep, or remember

anything. We would not be alive!”

 

 

 

 

The importance of the omega 3 fatty acid

DHAThe human brain is rich in long chain omega 3

fatty acids. DHA, the major omega 3 fatty acid found in the brain, is

highly enriched in neuronal cells. There is a growing body of evidence to

support the essential role of DHA in neuronal functions. Studies have

shown various neurological diseases to be associated with a deficient DHA

status, implying the influence of this fatty acid in neuronal

function.

9

It is well known that DHA is essential for visual and neurological

development in infants. Supplementation appears to be helpful for

premature infants’ brain development. DHA supplementation is especially

important for premature infants who are not breastfed, as breast milk has

DHA and many of the commercial infant formulas do not. Deficiencies are

most often found in formula-fed premature infants.

 

 

 

“The study showed that PS alleviated depression and

improved memory and general behavior.”

 

 

 

 

The usefulness of DHA does not end with infancy, however. It has also

been shown to decrease aggressiveness in adolescent males. Other patients

who exhibit DHA deficiencies include children with Attention Deficit

Disorder

(ADD)

10 and Alzheimer’s

patients.

11

DHA and other omega 3 fatty acids are also required for maintenance of

normal brain functions in adults. The enrichment of diets with omega 3

fatty acids has been shown to improve learning abilities, whereas

deficiency has been associated with learning deficits. DHA is taken up by

the brain in preference to other fatty acids. And, as it turns out, PS is

the natural delivery system for getting DHA into the brain, and the fact

that science has now found a way to conjugate these two compounds bodes

well for those interested in a dietary supplement that may prevent

age-related dementia.

How does PS-DHA work?Like all

phospholipids, PS is built on a molecule with a backbone in which one

position is occupied with a phosphate group to which is attached the

amino acid­L-Serine, hence the name phosphatidylserine. The other

two positions contain a variety of fatty acids. The fatty acid

composition is controlled by the source of the phospholipids and its

physiological function. PS-DHA conjugate is the natural form of PS, as it

is found in the human brain and a mother’s breast milk. It is also a

functional form of brain PS.

In order for DHA to exert its full cognitive and mental benefits, it must

be delivered to the brain and cross the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB). PS-DHA

has been designed to do just that. The phospholipid PS acts as

delivery platform, enabling improved bioavailability of DHA to the

brain.

12

Furthermore, PS-DHA provides the brain with the exact building block it

requires, saving the body energy usually needed to biosynthesize it.

 

 

 

 

“The enrichment of diets with omega 3 fatty acids has been shown to

improve learning abilities, whereas deficiency has been associated with

learning deficits.”

 

 

 

 

Brain-health conditions and PS-DHAMany

brain-health conditions result in a reduction in the sufferer’s quality

of life. These conditions can affect all age groups. Such brain-health

conditions include learning disorders like Attention Deficit Disorder

(ADD) which affects many young and older children. Others include

depression and conditions related to the aging process of the brain which

leads to the reduction in cognitive abilities, also known as

dementia.

 

 

 

“Furthermore, chemical drugs do not offer solutions to all the

brain-health conditions, especially those related to brain aging.”

 

 

 

 

In recent years there is a growing demand for natural active ingredients

that address such brain-health conditions and that promote cognitive and

mental quality of life.

Although the pharmaceutical world has offered drugs to address

brain-health issues, many of these solutions have severe side-effects

which affect the quality of the patient’s life. Furthermore, chemical

drugs do not offer solutions to all the brain-health conditions,

especially those related to brain aging.

PS-DHA supplementation just might be the natural solution for preventing

cognitive dysfunction. If you are concerned about your long-term brain

health and protecting yourself from Alzheimer’s or age-related dementia,

you should consider PS-DHA supplementation.

 

References

 

Jorissen BL, Brouns F, Van Boxtel MP,

Riedel WJ. Safety of soy-derived phosphatidylserine in elderly people.

Nutr Neurosci. 2002 Oct;5(5):337-43.

 

 

Abstract

Schreiber S, Kampf-Sherf O, Gorfine M, Kelly D,

Oppenheim Y, Lerer B. An open trial of plant-source derived

phosphatydilserine for treatment of age-related cognitive decline. Isr

J Psychiatry Relat Sci. 2000;37(4):302-7.

 

Abstract

 

 

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ds-ltr36.html Klinkhammer P, Szelies B and Heiss WD. Effect of

phosphatidylserine on cerebral glucose metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease.

Dimentia (Switzerland) 1(4): 197-201, 1990. Crook TH, Tinklenberg J, Yesavage J, Petrie W,

Wells C, Nunzi MG and Masari DC. Effects of phosphatidylserine in

age-associated memory impairment. Neurology 41

(5) : 644-9, May 1991.

 

 

Abstract

Maggioni M, Picotti GB, Bondiolotti, GP, Paneral

A, Cenacchi T, Nobile P and Brambilla F. Effects of phosphatidylserine

therapy in geriatric patients with depressive disorders. Acta

Psychiatr Scand 81(3): 265-70, March 1990.

 

Abstract

Engel, RR, Satzger W, Gunther W, Kathmann N, Bove

D, Gerke S, Munch U and Hippius H. Double-blind cross-over study of

phosphatidylserine vs. placebo in patients with early dementia of the

Alzheimer type. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol

(Netherlands) 2(2): 149-55, June 1992.

 

Abstract

Dean W, Morgenthaler J, Fowkes SW. Smart Drugs

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Horrocks L, Yeo YK. Health benefits of

docosahexanoic acid (DHA).Pharmacological Res 1999: 40

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Abstract

Burgess JR, Stevens L, Zhang W, Peck L. Long-

chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in children with attention-deficit

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Abstract

Soderberg M, Edlund C, Kristensson K, et al.

Fatty acid composition of brain phospholipids in

aging and in Alzheimer’s disease. Lipids 1991;26:421–25.

 

 

Abstract

MozziR, Buratta S, Goracci G. Metabolism and

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Neurochem Res. 2003 Feb;28(2):195-214.

 

 

Abstract

- Smart Publications