Lec 7 - nootropics Flashcards
nootropics
- what they do (5)
- mechanism?
ENHANCE COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE
- enhance memory, abiilty to learn
- help brain fct under disruptive conditions (hypoxia, electroconvulsive shock)
- protect brain from chemical/physical assaults (anti-cholinergic drugs, barbiturates)
- increase efficiency of neuronal firing ctrl mechanisms
- not toxic, no or few side effects
mechanism not well undersrtood, but not sedative/stimulant
PAM of glutamate R AMPA
acts on ion channels/carriers
how do nootropics work? (6)
- brain energy
- brain chemicals
- cerebral blood flow
- brain waves
- neuroprotection
- brain regeneration
orage: energy gouttes d'eau: chemicals grosse rivière: blood flow avec le vent: waves faut se proteger du temps: neuroprotection reparer les degats: brain regeneration
1) Brain energy
- enhance metabolic activity of mito
- enhance fatty acid transport to mito
- enhance O2 + nutrient uptake
2) Brain chemicals
- Supply precursors,
- increase synthesis,
- increase R sensitivity,
- inhibits breakdown of nT
ACh (memory, learning, basic cognition) DO (mood and motivation, reward) 5-HT (relaxation, satisfaction) EP (adrenaline, energy) NEP (attention, intense focus) GABA (sedation, calmness)
3) cerebral blood flow
- promote NO activation and relaxation of blood vessels
- inhibits homocysteine and oxidative damage to cells
- inhibits advanced glycation end-products
4) brain waves
some can raise alpha brain waves (for mild, meditative state for creativity)
5) neuroprotection
- increases brain’s antioxidant capacity
- fights formation of irregular protein clusters
- remove neurotoxins from brain tissue
- protects against negative effects of stress
6) brain regeneration
- bost natural brain-boosting growth factors
- provide raw neuronal building block material (ex: choline)
- maintain brain cell membrane flexibility and plasticity
synthetic nootropics
- racetams
- CNS stimulants (adderall, ritalin)
- eugeroics (modafinil): sleepiness (narcolepsy, sleep apnea: orexin issue
natural nootropics
Ginseng, Gingko, bacopa, indian coleus, lion’s mane
gingko
4 mechanisms
Colin m’a gavé
- living fossils
- for memory loss, skin sores, diarrhea
mechanisms:
- cholinergic
o enhances release of ACh
o hippocampus: increased presynaptic uptake of choline BC more uptake transporters
- monoamine
o increases uptake of 5HT
o inhibit MAO
o reduce beta adrenergic binding and activity
o reverses age related declined in a-2 adrenergic receptors - GABA
o elevates GABA levels
o increases glutamic acid and decarboxylase activity (glutamate to GABA) - vascular
o inhib platelet aggregation factor –> CVD
o nitric oxide dependent vasodilation: improves sexual fct by increasing NO
Bacopa
4 things it does
Ayurvedic medicine: memory, anxiety, epilepsy
- antioxidant, neuroprotection: prevent lipid peroxidation (involved in Alzheimer, parkinson, dementia…)
- cerebral blood flow and vasodilation: NO released
- neurotransmitter potentiation (increase in 5HT?)
- ADHD (reduce symptoms)
EFFECTS
- lowers inflammation
- increases blood flow to heart and brain
- may help with: deentia, mental performance, anxiety
ginseng - mechanisms of action
- cholinergic: increase ACh release and nicotinic binding
- monoamines: turnover of DA, NEP, EP, 5HT modified
- NO: enhanced epithelial synthesis (heart, lungs, kidneys)
- neurotropic: increases Nerve Growth Factor expression
EFFECTS:
- lowers inflammation
- may improve: memory, behaviour, mood, erections, ag cancer, fatigue…
- CA2+ flux: inhibits Ca2+ channels
firmoss
compound?
Huperzine A is AChesterase inhibitor and NMDA antagonist –> can prevent neurons death from ecotoxicity
Indian coleus
combined with artichoke
Forskohliin stimulates release of stored fat
- increases intracellular levels of cAMP through adenylate cyclase activation: more responsiveness to extraCR stimuli: UNIQUE
- inhibits AChesterase: more ACh
- anti-inflammatory effects
artichoke: luteolin: phosphodiesterase (PDE4) inhbitor
PDE4 degrades cAMP (intraCR messenger, produce proteins needed for neurons and synapses G)
Lion’s mane
Hericenones and erinacenine enhance NGF (maintenance, survival and regeneration of neurons)
BDNF
= brain-derived neurotropic factor: protein related to NGR, found in brain and PNS
- supports nerve health, encourages growth and specialization of new nerves and synapses
- active in brain areas responsible for learning, memory and higher thinking
increase it with:
- natural envt
- exercise
- sun
- sleep
- meditation
- polyphenols (tea, coffee, chocolate)
- hypoxia
- intermittent fasting
decrease it with stress, sugar, social isolation
