A deficiency of acetylcholine, another neurotransmitter, can also lead to depression. Deaner®, a prescription drug, increases acetylcholine levels in the brain. It is both an active analogue and a precursor of acetylcholine and is effective in
many old people as an antidepressive—it reduces apathy and increases motivation, as well as improving memory and learning in old subjects and hyperkinetic children.
Choline and lecithin (which contains phosphatidyl choline), are both
acetylcholine precursors that have been shown to improve memory and learning in normal human subjects and can be expected to have antidepressive effects in many people as well. Three grams a day of choline or 80 grams a day of lecithin are reasonable doses for many persons. Your brain’s conversion of choline or lecithin into acetylcholine requires
ample vitamin B-5 (pantothenic acid or calcium pantothenate). Inadequate B-5 may be why some people, especially institutionalized older people, do not have a good mental response to choline or lecithin. Our experiments with choline have always involved supplemental B-5 and have been quite
promising. The acetyl group that must be added to choline to convert it to acetylcholine is transferred by an enzyme called acetylcoenzyme-A. Half this molecule is vitamin B-5, and the remainder can be manufactured by your body. The universal energy molecule ATP is also required for the conversion, and ATP production in the Krebs cycle, see here, requires plenty of B-5. (For example, rats given extra B-5 can swim far longer in cold water than rats receiving normal levels of B-5.) We suggest starting with about 100 milligrams per day of B-5, gradually increasing the dose to 1 gram per day.
Since vitamin B-5 increases choline conversion to acetylcholine in the gut, and the acetylcholine makes the gut muscles contract, too much too soon may result in a laxative action or a stomachache. (In fact, large doses of B-5 are an excellent laxative; most laxatives are either irritants, lubricants, or water balance-modifying diarrhea inducers, whereas B-5 is a specific
peristaltic stimulant.
WARNING: Acetylcholine precursors should not be used in the depressive phase of manic-depressive psychosis-since they can deepen this type of depression.
Hydergine® (Sandoz), which is discussed in detail in the last post, “Re-
vitalizing Your Brain Power,” gives a lift like coffee but without the letdown or jitters you get with coffee. It can be very effective in many cases of old age apathy, lack of self-care, confusion, and related symptoms, if used for an adequate length of time (it may take from several weeks to six months
for noticeable effects and up to two years or so for full therapeutic effects to develop). Hydergine® stabilizes brain metabolism, even under conditions of great stress (such as low oxygen, low blood sugar, or alcohol intoxication). It improves human memory and learning, slows lipofuscin (age pigment,a waste product) accumulation in the nerve cells, and even
stimulates nerve regeneration in the brain, since one of its biochemical actions: simulates the natural hormone nerve growth factor.)
Excessive stimulation, headache, irritability, and insomnia can occur in a few people who use Hydergine® with caffeine (coffee, colas) or theophylline (tea). Although this is not dangerous, it can be uncomfortable. Reducing or eliminating these stimulants will solve the problem.
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