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Smart Drugs & Nutrients:

How to Improve Your Memory and Increase Your Intelligence Using the Latest Discoveries In Neuroscience

VOLUME 1 in the Smart Drugs Series

by Ward Dean, M.D. & John Morgenthaler
$12.95 - 224 pages, softcover (Out of Stock)

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Sec 5: Other Cognitive Enhancers

Acetyl­L-Carnitine (ALC) | Caffeine | Centrophenoxine (Lucidril) | Choline & Lecithin | AL721 (Egg Lecithin) | DHEA | DMAE | Gerovital (GH­3) | Ginkgo Biloba: A Nootropic Herb? | Ginseng | Hydergine | Idebenone | Phenytoin (Dilantin) | Propranolol Hydrochloride (Inderal) | Thyroid Hormone | Vasopressin (Diapid) | Vincamine | Vitamins | Xanthinol Nicotinate

Acetyl‑L-Carnitine (ALC)

This naturally-occurring molecule is involved in the transport of fats into the mitochondria, the energy-producing part of all living cells, and is found in some common foods such as milk. Acetyl-L-carnitine is related to choline compounds, both chemically and in clinical effects.

In animal studies, long-term administration of ALC preserves spatial memory in aged rats (Ghirardi, 1989), and improved learning and memory in mice and rats (Bossoni, 1986, Drago, 1986).

ALC may also have some important properties of protecting the brain from the effects of aging. NMDA-sensitive glutamate receptors in the brain are important for learning, but they decrease with age. One study of these receptors in rat brains found that ALC has a neuroprotective and neurotrophic (brain-cell nourishing) effect during aging.

Of great interest to researchers is ALC's ability to inhibit the formation of lipofuscin in the brains of aged laboratory animals (Kohjimoto, 1988). The buildup of these fatty deposits in the nerve cells is associated with a reduction of cognitive powers.

In human studies, ALC has increased attention span and alertness in people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of senility. One study using 2000mg of ALC per day showed small but significant improvements in short-term memory in people with Alzheimer's disease (Rai, 1990). Another recent study, reported at the 14th International Congress of Gerontology, found that ALC increased brain levels of choline acetyltransferase. Low levels of this enzyme are found in Alzheimer's patients, and is the major reason for their severe deficiency of acetylcholine (Pearson and Shaw, 1990).

One study treated 20 patients with 1500mg ALC per day for six months. All patients had involutional symptoms (the regressive changes in the body occurring with old age). They were being treated by a rehabilitation therapist for their concomitant decrease of motor activities. This long term study found that the patients improved on measures of cognitive ability, depression, and self‑sufficiency. It also found an improvement in social life and motor activity in these patients (Fiore, 1989).

Another study gave 500mg of ALC per day to a group of 20 persons with senility (20 others were given placebo). The researchers found a significant improvement in several measures of senility (Bonavita, 1986).

In one study of hospitalized geriatric patients, ALC was shown to be effective for the treatment of depression (Tempesta, 1987).

Precautions: Studies on humans have not found any toxic effects or significant side effects (Bonavita, 1986, Tempesta, 1987). This does not mean that there are no negative effects. It only means we have not seen any evidence for negative effects.

Dosage: 1000mg-2000mg per day in two divided doses.

Sources: We know of no source in the U.S. for ALC, although since it is a naturally-occurring substance it could be legally sold in health food stores (Snoswell, 1975). Therefore, we would expect health-food-industry distributors to add this compound to their product line very shortly after they find out about it from this book. ALC is available in Europe and by mail order from the sources listed in Appendix A (see page 165). Other names for ALC include: Alcar, Branigen, levacecarnine hydrochloride, n-acetyl-l-carnitine, Nicetile, and ST‑200.

References:

Albano, C. "Evaluation of the Activity of Acetyl‑L‑Carnitine in the Senile Dementia Alzheimer Type." Abstract of IVth World Congress of Biological Psychiatry, Philadelphia, 1985, p. 106.

Bonavita, E. "Study of the Efficacy and Tolerability of L‑Acetylcarnitine Therapy in the Senile Brain." Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Therapy, and Toxicology. 1986, 24, pp. 511‑6.

Bossoni, G., Carpi C. "Effect of Acetyl-L-Carnitine on Conditioned Reflex Learning Rate and Retention in Laboratory Animals." Drugs Under Experimental and Clinical Research. 1986, 12 (11) pp. 911‑6.

Cucinotta, D., Ventura, S., Passeri, M., Iannuccelli, M. Orfalian, Z., Senin, V., Parnetti, L., Bonati, P.A. "Clinical Experience with Acetyl‑L‑Carnitine in the Treatment of Signs and Symptoms of Senile Mental Deterioration in the Aged." 5th Capo Boi Conference on Neuroscience. 1987 (Abstract).

Drago, F., Continella, G., Pennisi, G., Alloro, M.C., Calvani, M., Scapagnini, U. "Behavioral Effects of Acetyl-L-Carnitine in the Male Rat." Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior. 1986, 24 (5) pp. 1393‑6.

Fiore, L., Rampello, L. "L-acetylcarnitine Attenuates the Age‑Dependent Decrease of NMDA-Sensitive Glutamate Receptors in Rat Hippocampus." Acta Neurologica. 1989, 11 (5), pp. 346‑50.

Guarnaschelli, C., Fugazza, G., Pistarini, C. "Pathological Brain Aging: Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Pharmacological Aid." Drugs Under Experimental Clinical Research. 1988, 14 (11) pp. 715‑8.

Ghirardi, O., Milano, S., Ramacci, M.T., Angelucci, L. "Long-Term Acetyl-L-Carnitine Preserves Spatial Learning in the Senescent Rat." Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry. 1989, 13 (1‑2) pp. 237‑45.

Kohjimoto, Y., Ogawa, T., Matsumoto, M., Shirakawa, K., Kuwaki, T., Yasuda, H., Anami, K., Fujii, T., Satoh, H., Ono, T. "Effects of Acetyl‑L‑Carnitine on the Brain Lipofuscin Content and Emotional Behavior in Aged Rats." Japanese Journal of Pharmacology. 1988, Vol. 48, pp. 365‑71.

Pearson, D., Shaw, S. Durk Pearson & Sandy Shaw's Life Extension Newsletter. January-February 1990, Vol 2, Number 10, pp. 84‑6.

Rai, G., Wright, G., Scott, L., Beston, B., Rest, J., Exton-Smith, A.N. "Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Study of Acetyl‑L‑Carnitine in Patients with Alzheimer's Dementia." Current Medical Research and Opinion. 1990, 11 (10) pp. 638‑47.

Snoswell, A.M., Linzell, J.L. "Carnitine Secretion Into Milk of Ruminants." Department of Agricultural Biochemistry, Waite Agricultural Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, S. Australia 5064, Austra­lia.

Tempesta, E., Casella, L., Pirrongelli, C., Janiri, L., Calvani, M., Ancona, L. "L-acetylcarnitine in Depressed Elderly Subjects. A Cross-Over Study vs. Placebo." Drugs Under Experimental Clinical Research. 1987, 13 (7) pp. 417‑23.