Your Brain Is Ageing - But You Can Slow Down The Clock

Your brain contains billions of neurons, the specialized cells of the central nervous system that are able to communicate with each other using chemical and electrical signals. Unlike other cells in the body, most neurons cannot divide to reproduce themselves and replace worn out and damaged cells. Thus, when brain cells are lost to injury, disease or aging, they are lost forever. That may be one reason why Nature provides so many to start with! 

Beginning at about age 22, normal adults begin to lose neurons at the rate of about one per second, or 31 million per year. Eventually the brain begins to shrink in size. In particular, there is a decrease in volume of the cerebral cortex – the “gray matter” of the brain that governs higher intellectual functions and performance.  

Age-related changes also include a decrease in the number and efficiency of the connections between neurons (called “synapses”) and a decreased production of neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers of neurons. As a result, cells can become sluggish in their communications with each other, which we experience as forgetfulness, slower reaction times and diminished sensory capacities. In some people, such cognitive decline can become debilitating. 

For these reasons, many people today are seeking ways to preserve their cognitive abilities using natural means such as lifestyle and nutritional supplements. Scientific evidence is accumulating to support the notion that certain “brain nutrients” can indeed stave off some of the ravages of time.

Beneficial effects of citicoline on brain cells

Promising results have been seen in studies using the supplemental brain nutrient called “citicoline,” which is sold under the brand name Cognizin®. Citicoline belongs to the same family of nutrients as the essential B vitamin, choline. In fact, citicoline is broken down in the body into choline and another compound called “cytidine.” Both of these enter the brain via the circulation and play critical roles in brain chemistry and function.[i]

Choline and cytidine are used by neurons to build and repair at least three major types of the primary structural components of cell membranes, the phospholipids (foss-foh-LIP-ids).¹ This is important because cell membranes surround and regulate the activity of every neuron as well as its internal structures. Another critical function, unique to neuronal membranes, is serving as conductors in the transmission of nerve impulses. Since neurons cannot be replaced, repair and maintenance of the membranes of existing neurons is imperative. This is one of the actions of citicoline.

Aging of the brain results in decreased amounts as well as changes in the phospholipids of neuronal membranes, leading to impaired membrane function and ultimately mental and behavioral dysfunction. Citicoline has been shown to delay brain cell membrane damage and even to reverse some kinds of membrane damage in animal experiments.¹

In other animal experiments, citicoline has been shown to prevent membrane destruction by preventing degradation of the phospholipids and, at the same time, promoting the synthesis of new phospholipids.[ii]

As important as it is to rebuild cell membranes, this is not the only beneficial action of citicoline in the brain. Citicoline is also used to produce neurotransmitters, especially acetylcholine (ah-SEE-til-koh-leen) or ACh, a key player in memory and cognition. 

Production of ACh requires choline. If choline supplies are depleted, ACh is so important that the body will steal choline from the phospholipids of cell membranes in order to make enough of it. By donating choline for the synthesis of ACh, citicoline is said to have an additional protective or “sparing” effect on neuronal cell membranes.¹

Benefits of citicoline on brain activity

How do these protective effects at the cellular level translate into benefits at the real-life level of an individual’s cognitive function and memory? 

There have been many studies in which citicoline has been given as a supplement to groups of elderly people with various cognitive disorders, and in general, improvements have been seen in measurements of memory, attention, behavior and reaction time.² These benefits were attributed to the ability of citicoline to restore and maintain healthy functioning of neurons through all the mechanisms mentioned above: preventing degradation of phospholipids in neuronal membranes, increasing levels of choline, increasing the synthesis of new membrane phospholipids, and increasing the production of neurotransmitters. 

Recently, studies conducted in healthy normal adults revealed that citicoline can boost brain function even in people who are already performing at a high level, especially for tasks that require attention and memory. In one such study, taking supplemental citicoline enhanced mood, focus and concentration in a group of successful corporate executives, compared to a similar group who took a dummy pill or placebo.[iii] 

In a study of mentally healthy older adults, supplementation with citicoline significantly improved immediate and short-term memory, suggesting beneficial effects on the underlying cognitive processes of memory retrieval and storage.[iv]

With the use of sophisticated brain imaging techniques, it is now possible to see and measure the effect of citicoline on brain activity. In one such study conducted by the Harvard Medical School, brain activity in middle-aged adults before and after citicoline supplementation was measured using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. These brain scans showed that citicoline increased activity in brain regions responsible for memory processing and sustained attention.[v]

Implications for anti-aging strategies

While other research has shown that positive lifestyle habits such as exercise and avoidance of harmful substances can help preserve cognitive function, this research with citicoline adds another exciting dimension to the self-help arsenal. Those who wish to maximize their chances for a lifetime of healthy mental performance may consider adding Cognizin® citicoline to their existing regimen of diet, exercise and healthful habits.