Magnesium supplement helps boost brainpower
Magnesium, an essential element is found in dark leafy vegetables like spinach and some fruits. Those who are less than 400 mg daily, are at risk for allergies, asthma and heart disease, among other conditions. In 2004 Guosong Liu and his colleagues at MIT discovered that magnesium may have a positive impact on learning and memory.
They followed the development of a new magnesium compound - magnesium L-threonate (MGT) - this is more effective than conventional oral supplements in the promotion of magnesium in the brain, and tested it on rats.
They followed the development of a new magnesium compound - magnesium L-threonate (MGT) - this is more effective than conventional oral supplements in the promotion of magnesium in the brain, and tested it on rats.
"We have found that elevation of brain magnesium significant improvement in spatial and associative memory in both young rats and led," said Liu, now director of the Center for Learning and Memory at Tsinghua University. "If MgT is proving to be safe and effective in humans, these results may be a significant impact on public health." Liu is co-founder of Magceutics, a California-based company developing drugs for the prevention and treatment of age-related memory decline and Alzheimer's disease.
"Half the population of industrialized countries have a magnesium deficit, which increases with age. If normal
or even higher levels of magnesium can be maintained, we may be able to significantly slow age-related loss of cognitive function and perhaps prevent or treat of diseases that affect cognitive function, "says Liu.
To the molecular mechanisms of these MGT-induced memory enhancement to understand, the researchers examined the changes in the functional and structural properties induced by synapses. They found that in young and old rats, MgT increased plasticity at synapses, the connections between neurons, strengthened, and the density of synapses in the hippocampus, a brain region critical for learning and memory.
Helped Susumu Tonegawa at MIT Picower Institute for Learning and Memory implementation of the first experiments, the behavioral changes showed that magnesium increases memory in aged rats. Min Zhou lab at the University of Toronto, the show helped increase the synaptic plasticity in magnesium-treated rats.
This study highlights not only the importance of adequate daily diet with magnesium, but also suggests the benefits of magnesium-aging treatments for the associated memory decline, "said Tonegawa. Clinical studies in Beijing are now studying the relationship between body magnesium status and cognitive function in elderly and Alzheimer patients.
More information: "Enhancement of Learning and Memory by Elevating brain magnesium," Inna Slutsky, Nashat Abumaria, Long-Jun Wu, Chao Huang, Ling Zhang, Bo Li, Zhao Xiang, Arvind Govindarajan, Ming-Gao Zhao, Min Zhuo, Susumu Tonegawa and Guosong Liu published in Neuron 28th January 2010.
2 comments:
Hi,
Most people know that calcium is beneficial for improving bone health. But it is actually calcium and magnesium combined that support bone strength and density. A balance of calcium and magnesium together is a good way to support your overall bone strength.Magnesium plays a role in balancing your blood sugar, to help reduce your risk of diabetes and other blood sugar disorders. It also supports your blood pressure, to reduce stress on your heart and body. Magnesium plays an important role in relieving hypertension.
-- Health Care Tips
Hi all,
New research finds that an increase in brain magnesium improves learning and memory in young and old rats. The study, published in the issue of the journal Neuron, suggests that increasing magnesium intake may be a valid strategy to enhance cognitive abilities and supports speculation that inadequate levels of magnesium impair cognitive function, leading to faster deterioration of memory in aging humans. Thanks for sharing it.....
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