Alpha GPC
Alpha-GPC (Alpha-glycerophosphocholine or in some cases just glycerophosphocholine) is a choline- consisting of supplement that, although discovered in a variety of foodstuff that are also rich in choline, appears to be pharmacologically active at greater dosages. Alpha-GPC is mainly marketed due to it conferring dietary choline to the body following oral ingestion, and being the most efficient choline prodrug at doing so (able to affect both systemic and brain concentrations of choline).
Oral supplements of alpha-GPC is of interest for nootropic functions, as it appears to have cognitive-enhancing properties (no human evidence exists to support this in otherwise-healthy youth, however it does have assistance in rodents) and attenuate the rate of cognitive decrease in the senior. In regards to lowering the rate of cognitive decrease, alpha-GPC at high dosages (1,200 mg) does appear to be rather efficient in moderate to moderate Alzheimer's disease and works nicely with the basic therapy (acetylcholinesterase inhibitors).
The loss of neurons that use the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is an early event in the development of Alzheimer's disease . Nevertheless, no studies have taken a look at whether alpha-GPC improves cognition in healthy people or prevents Alzheimer's illness. In one open-label research study, patients with mild cognitive impairment reported that alpha-GPC treatment slightly improved cognition over 90 days, and this result seemed more noticable in patients without APOE4, the genetic threat element for Alzheimer's illness .See more at What Is Alpha Gpc
Alpha GPC Benefits More Info
Preclinical research studies suggest that alpha-GPC increases the levels of acetylcholine in the brain and can improve cognition in models of memory disability or brain aging [3; 4]. In a design of accelerated aging, alpha-GPC had no effect on brain levels of beta-amyloid, a biological marker of Alzheimer's illness . However, in a model of hypertension, alpha-GPC reduced inflammation around blood vessels in the brain, although it did not protect the integrity of brain capillary.
For additional information on what the APOE4 gene allele means for your health, read our APOE4 info page. One research study reported that alpha-GPC enhanced cognition and function in patients with mild to moderate dementia over six months. Nevertheless, the patients were not taking currently approved Alzheimer's drugs which also increase levels of acetylcholine in the brain .