{"id":5708,"date":"2021-04-11T08:13:51","date_gmt":"2021-04-11T17:13:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.donovancarper.com\/?p=5708"},"modified":"2021-04-17T02:08:19","modified_gmt":"2021-04-17T11:08:19","slug":"wired-for-success-brain-and-nerve-nootropics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.donovancarper.com\/index.php\/2021\/04\/11\/wired-for-success-brain-and-nerve-nootropics\/","title":{"rendered":"Wired for Success! Brain and Nerve Nootropics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Can natural compounds found in plants enhance the health and function of our brain cells and nerve cells? (Image credit: Markus Spiske)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Can you optimize your brain and nerve health with antioxidants, certain herbs, and \u201cnootropics?\u201d\u00a0 What does the current research say about brain and nerve boosting herbs and nootropics?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And\u2026what exactly is <\/em>a \u201cnootropic?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brain and nerve nootropics: reduce disease risk and optimize health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nootropics<\/a> are compounds, both synthetic and natural, that are believed to improve the function of nerves\u2013as manifested by improvements in memory, creativity, motivation, or attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sound far-fetched?\u00a0 Not so much\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caffeine is a natural substance we all know<\/strong>, and it is considered a nootropic<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 Caffeine supports memory, motivation, and attention indirectly\u2013predominantly through its stimulant properties.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The effects found in research<\/a> are mixed, but there is research to suggest improvements in brain and nerve function from caffeine consumption.\u00a0 These results may be more pronounced in situations involving fatigue, as well as for elders versus younger persons.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, habitual caffeine intake may slightly reduce the rate of cognitive decline<\/a>\u2026again, the research is mixed.\u00a0 Perhaps more promising, caffeine appears to protect<\/a> against the risk of developing Parkinson\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caffeine:\u00a0 a powerful nootropic against Parkinson\u2019s disease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Drinking 3 cups per day significantly drops risk of Parkinson\u2019s disease according to numerous, massive studies\u2026I\u2019m feeling up to the challenge! (Image credit: Julia Florczak)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

While the protective effects of caffeine against general memory loss, along with day-to-day brain-enhancing effects remain debatable, caffeine\u2019s protective effects against Parkinson\u2019s disease<\/strong> specifically appear to be supported by a wealth of research.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, a prospective study followed over 8,000 Japanese-Americans for a period of 30-years, evaluating their risk of developing Parkinson\u2019s disease by age 65.\u00a0 Those that drank approximately 784mg\/ kg of coffee per day had a 5-fold lower risk of developing Parkinson\u2019s disease<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similar results were repeatedly demonstrated in much larger studies<\/a>, including a systematic review of 120 observational studies, a meta-analysis of 13 studies involving over 900,000 participants<\/strong> (26% Parkinson\u2019s disease risk reduction<\/a> for every 200mg of caffeine per day, max effects at 3 cups of coffee)<\/strong>, as well as the Health Professionals\u2019 Follow-Up Study<\/em> and the Nurses\u2019 Health Study<\/em>\u2013which combined involved approximately 130,000 individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The optimal dose based on all these studies?\u00a0 The research<\/a> repeatedly suggests around 3 cups of coffee daily on average<\/strong> (approximately 300 mg of caffeine<\/a>) for maximal effects.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hate coffee?\u00a0 Drink tea.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Not a fan of coffee? That\u2019s ok, the risk reduction for Parkinson\u2019s disease appear to be linked to caffeine as opposed to coffee. Green tea and matcha are great ways to get caffeine and antioxidants! (Image credit: Matcha & CO)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

So, is it the caffeine, or the coffee?\u00a0 The protective benefits appear to be linked to specifically the caffeine<\/strong>, as decaffeinated coffee did not offer the same risk reduction according to the research trials.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caffeine appears to work its magic in protecting nerve cells by binding with adenosine A2A<\/sub> receptors<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 In blocking these receptors, caffeine appears to protect neurons against toxins, reduce nerve cell destruction, reduce nerve cell inflammation, and protects against over-stimulation (excitotoxicity) of these nerve-cell receptors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interesting enough, in animal research (which allows for more direct observation of effects of caffeine on brain cells), caffeine protected nerve cells<\/a> from progressive damage after exposure to a known neuro-toxin\u2014even when caffeine was administered 2-weeks after<\/em> the toxin exposure.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caffeine also has research-backed support<\/a> for its ability to reduce the symptom severity of mood and cognitive disorders<\/strong> that occur with Parkinson\u2019s disease.<\/strong>\u00a0 Recently, the FDA approved a drug as an add-on therapy (in addition to levodopa) for Parkinson\u2019s patients that works similar to caffeine in binding to the same receptors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, the research is clear, natural substances can be found in the plant-world that protect our nerves against various diseases.\u00a0 Nootropics are a \u201cthing,\u201d and a number of plant-substances in addition to caffeine are being researched for their potential nerve-cell protecting\/ enhancing effects.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brain and nerve nootropics: how do they work?\u00a0 <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nootropic substances appear to protect brain and nerve health through a variety of functions.\u00a0 These include<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n