Can Alpha-GPC improve cognition?

Basic introduction about alpha-GPC

Alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine is also known as alpha-GPC, choline alfoscerate, choline phosphoglyceride, glycerol lecithin. GPC is a naturally occurring water-soluble phospholipid metabolism intermediate in the human body, and also an important neurotransmitter: the biosynthetic precursor of acetylcholine (acetylcholine) and phosphatidylcholine (PC). Breast milk also contains GPC. Human cognitive abilities include: observation, memory, imagination, and attention. According to the “cholinergic damage hypothesis”, the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (memory, cognitive impairment, etc.) is closely related to the lack of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. If the level of acetylcholine in the brain is increased, the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease can be significantly improved.

Alpha GPC benefits

GPC can cross the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain, resulting in the following benefits:

1. As a choline donor, it helps the synthesis of acetylcholine and phosphatidylcholine.

2. Promote the synthesis of phospholipids in the brain, thereby providing more phospholipid compounds for signal transmission in the central nervous system.

3. Acetylcholine helps the brain perform learning, memory and cognitive activities and controls light sleep and muscle activity.

Human trials show that alpha-GPC supports healthy memory, learning, attention and other cognitive functions at all ages. Alpha-GPC improves learning and behavior in children. Alpha-GPC improves attention and word recall in young healthy adults. Alpha-GPC supports healthy mental performance in middle-aged people. Alpha-GPC supports memory, learning, mood, and social skills in older adults. In a double-blind trial involving 32 subjects, the subjects were divided into four groups to take GPC for 10 consecutive days and scopolamine (scopolamine can cause temporary cognitive paralysis – amnesia) on the eleventh day.

The findings suggest that GPC can antagonize scopolamine-induced attention and memory impairments. α-GPC can be supplemented by oral supplementation by in vitro supplementation, that is, oral or intravenous injection, and can be absorbed in the small intestine and the site of intravenous injection. After absorption, it can quickly increase the level of choline in the blood, and the effect can last for more than 10 hours. Dosage Most supplements recommend a daily intake of 300-600mg. Most clinical trials using a daily intake of 1200 mg (3 divided doses of 400 mg) have shown cognitive benefits, but higher doses may only be appropriate for people with dementia. Therefore, it is best to start with 300mg, evaluate the effect, and then increase the dose if necessary.