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Keeping A Sharp Focus

The word “focus” can mean two things. One is clarity of vision, the sharp definition of objects and contrast of colors. The other is our ability to concentrate on a particular thought, sensation or perception. Unfortunately, as we age, we lose a little in both areas. The lens of the eye stiffens and is less able to focus, resulting in blurred vision. At the same time, changes in brain chemistry make it harder to pay attention, learn, store and retrieve information. 

Scientists are discovering that both types of focus can be improved by replenishing the brain with a nutrient called citicoline, a natural substance the brain uses to maintain its health and efficiency. The brain uses citicoline to build and repair cell membranes – an important component of healthy functioning -- as well as to synthesize neurotransmitters, the “chemical messengers” that enable brain cells to communicate. Young brains produce plenty of citicoline for these functions, but the supply diminishes in older individuals. 

Citicoline in eye health

Images we see are conveyed to the brain via the optic nerve, which acts like an electrical cable containing more than a million wires. In one type of vision loss, glaucoma (a leading cause of blindness in the U.S.), this vital cable is damaged by pressure from a buildup of fluid inside the eye. Peripheral vision becomes blurry, resulting in “tunnel vision” that gradually progresses to total blindness. The risk of developing glaucoma increases significantly with each decade after age 50. In a study of elderly individuals with mild to severe glaucoma, high-dose citicoline improved vision and retinal function in those who had the most common form of glaucoma.[i] 

Citicoline was also shown to improve the vision of people suffering from “amblyopia,” a condition in which sight is dim in one or both eyes and/or the eyes do not focus properly together (“lazy eye”). All subjects in this study had improvements in visual acuity (sharpness of focus), sensitivity to contrasting shapes and colors, and other measures of visual function after 15 days of supplementation with high-dose citicoline.[ii]

It is thought that citicoline exerts its benefits in eye health by stimulating the body’s ability to synthesize and repair key components of cell membranes, such as those of the neurons (nerve cells) that form the optic nerve,[iii] and by helping to maintain elasticity of the proteins in the lens.[iv] These actions would benefit aging eyes in general, not only those with conditions such as glaucoma and amblyopia.

Citicoline in mental sharpness

Age-related changes in the brain include a reduction in physical size, with a corresponding reduction in the number of neurons. In many older people, blood flow to the brain is impaired by fatty deposits that accumulate on the walls of blood vessels, depriving the neurons of an adequate supply of nutrients and oxygen. There is also a decreased production of neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine, important for forming, storing and retrieving memories, and dopamine, important in controlling mood and sleep patterns. 

These changes contribute to a subtle decline in various cognitive functions, including our ability to think quickly and clearly, to make and retrieve new memories, and to focus our attention on a mental task. 

Citicoline, sold under the brand name Cognizin®, has been shown to support healthy cognitive function through its abilities to increase neurotransmitter synthesis and support healthy cell membranes. Supplementation with citicoline has improved attention in studies of senile patients,[v]^,[vi] as well as those with cognitive impairment due to cerebral vascular disease (impaired blood flow to the brain).[vii]^,[viii]^,[ix]^,[x] 

In one large, double-blind clinical trial, the positive cognitive effects of citicoline persisted even after the patients stopped taking the supplement, suggesting that long-term benefits may accrue from the ability of citicoline to repair and maintain neuron function.[xi] 

The improvements in concentration and attention seen in these studies translated into improvements in memory and performance on a battery of psychological tests. Other studies have shown that stimulating synthesis of the compounds needed for healthy neural cell membranes improves reaction time as well as general cognitive capacity.[xii]

Thus, scientists continue to provide proof that age-related cognitive and neural declines can be counteracted, at least to some extent, by increased intake of specific brain nutrients such as citicoline. As the huge Baby Boomer segment of our population moves into its sixth decade and beyond, supplementation with citicoline may help this generation keep a sharp focus both mentally and visually.