Citicoline in the News: Study Looks At Memory Enhancing Supplement

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Study Looks At Memory Enhancing Supplement

http://wbztv.com/seenon/citicoline.improve.memory.2.695774.html

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. 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.