If you're like us, you're always looking to be at your peak performance both physically and mentally. Looking after your brain could be the most important thing you do for obvious reasons.
There are multiple chemicals that promote & enhance the cognitive abilities that you can get from specific foods as well as supplements.
These chemicals are not a magic pill and will not 'make you instantly smarter' but they will help optimise your brain to be as sharp as possible.
What Is Alpha-GPC?
Alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine (Alpha-GPC) is a supplement that is believed to improve cognitive function, specifically memory and learning. It is a precursor to acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that is involved in learning and memory.
Alpha-GPC is made in the body naturally from choline, however there are many foods & supplements that can help you sufficient levels of it for optimal brain health.
(Image of the choline chemical structure)
There is some evidence to suggest that Alpha-GPC may be effective in improving cognitive function in people with Alzheimer's disease, as well as in healthy individuals.
One study found that Alpha-GPC improved memory and cognitive function in individuals with Alzheimer's disease, while another study found that it improved memory and learning in healthy young adults.
Another study shows the effects of Alpha-CPC & Caffeine vs Placebo in physical performance, measuring people's vertical jump. The participants who consumed Alpha-GPC had the highest vertical jump, followed by the people who had consumed caffeine.
To be transparent, how exactly Alpha-GPC works to improve cognitive function is not fully understood, but it is thought that it may work by increasing the synthesis of acetylcholine in the brain.
Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in learning and memory, and a deficit in acetylcholine has been linked to age-related cognitive decline.
By increasing acetylcholine synthesis, Alpha-GPC may help improve memory and cognitive function.
It is worth noting that the research on Alpha-GPC and cognitive function is still limited, and more research is needed to fully understand its effects and how it may be used to improve cognitive function.
Here are the top 7 benefits of Alpha-GPC:
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Improves cognitive function: Some research suggests that Alpha-GPC may be effective in improving memory and cognitive function, particularly in people with Alzheimer's disease.
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Enhances physical performance: Alpha-GPC has been shown to improve power output and muscle strength in athletes, which may be due to its effects on acetylcholine synthesis.
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Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression: Some research suggests that Alpha-GPC may be effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, possibly due to its effects on acetylcholine synthesis.
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Protects against age-related cognitive decline: Alpha-GPC may help protect against age-related cognitive decline by increasing acetylcholine synthesis and reducing inflammation in the brain.
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Improves sleep quality: Alpha-GPC has been shown to improve sleep quality in people with sleep disorders, possibly due to its effects on acetylcholine synthesis.
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Reduces symptoms of ADHD: Alpha-GPC may be effective in reducing symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), possibly due to its effects on acetylcholine synthesis.
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Improves symptoms of schizophrenia: Some research suggests that Alpha-GPC may be effective in improving symptoms of schizophrenia, possibly due to its effects on acetylcholine synthesis.
Are there any side effects?
We always make sure we are looking at both sides of the story and want to be sure to know the pros and cons...
There have been hundreds of studies done testing the effectiveness of Alpha-GPC and there have been no recorded negative side effects from taking Alpha-GPC.
Links To All Studies Mentioned & More
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4595381/
https://journals.prous.com/journals/servlet/xmlxsl/pk_journals.xml_summary_pr?p_JournalId=6&p_RefId=795632&p_IsPs=N
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3776389/