Research
In: Neurology (1991 May) 41(5):644-9
Effects Of Phosphatidylserine In Age-Associated Memory Impairment
We treated 149 patients meeting criteria for age-associated memory impairment (AAMI) for 12 weeks with a
formulation of phosphatidylserine (100 mg BC-PS tid) or placebo. Patients treated with the drug improved relative to those treated with placebo on performance tests related to learning and memory tasks of daily life. Analysis of clinical subgroups suggested that persons within the sample who performed at a relatively low level prior to treatment were most likely to respond to BC-PS. Within this subgroup, there was improvement on both computerized and standard neuropsychological performance tests, and also on clinical global ratings of improvement. The results suggest that the compound may be a promising candidate for treating memory loss in later life.
Institutional address: Memory Assessment Clinics Inc. Bethesda MD 20814.
Khalsa DS
In: Altern Ther Health Med (1998 Nov) 4(6):38-43
Integrated Medicine And The Prevention And Reversal Of Memory Loss.
This article, based on scientific research and clinical observations, suggests that memory loss is not an inevitable consequence of aging and that Alzheimer''s disease can be prevented and reversed using an integrated medical approach. Three new associations with memory loss other than age, heredity, and genetics are described. They include a high-fat diet, chronic unbalanced stress with its attendant risk in the adrenal hormone cortisol, and the presence of cardiovascular disease. A 4-pillar integrative medical program on brain longevity is presented. The program includes a diet consisting of 15% fat and supplementation with brain-specific nutrients such as vitamin B complex, vitamin E, ubiquinone, ginkgo biloba, and phosphatidylserine. In addition, stress-relieving meditation, mind- body and cognitive exercise, antiaging drugs like L-deprenyl citrate, as well as hormones such as dehydroepiandrosterone and pregnenolone complete the program. Patient benefits such as greater wisdom and spiritual happiness are also explored.
Institutional address: Alzheimer''s Prevention Foundation Tucson Ariz. USA.
In: Immunopharmacology (1990 May-Jun) 19(3):185-95
Phosphatidylserine Counteracts Physiological And Pharmacological Suppression Of Humoral Immune Response.
Guarcello V, Triolo G, Cioni M, Morale MC, Farinella Z, Scapagnini U, Marchetti B
Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a necessary cofactor for protein kinase C (PKC) activation, and changes in the synthesis of PS have been shown to participate in the mechanism(s) involved in the transmembrane signaling of interleukin 1 (IL-1). In view of the age-associated defects in T-cell functions, in the present study we have addressed the question of whether an in vivo treatment with PS might interfere with such processes. Furthermore, the effect of an in vitro treatment with PS in human peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC) or splenocytes activated with a lectin mitogen, on the expression of IL-2 receptor, was assessed. While the process of ageing was accompanied by a marked decline of humoral response monitored by anti-BSA antibodies (of the IgG class) production, following immunization with BSA in complete Freund adjuvant, chronic treatment with PS (50 mg/kg, in drinking water), reversed this effect, raising specific antibody titers to levels practically indistinguishable from those measured in young animals. Pharmacological depression of humoral immune response induced by a treatment of adult animals with dexamethasone was similarly reversed by a chronic treatment with PS. While only a pharmacological concentration (10(-5) M) of PS significantly increased IL-2 receptor expression in activated human PBMC, simultaneous treatment of PBMC with inactive doses of PS and the pharmacological activator of PKC (phorbol myristate acetate, PMA, 10(- 8) M) resulted in a synergistic stimulation of Tac+ cells. Furthermore, in cultures of rat splenocytes PS (10(-6) M) significantly stimulated the expression of IL-2 receptor, and concomitant addition of PS (10(-7) M) to Con A-stimulated splenocytes produced a significant potentiation of IL-2 receptor induction. The present results indicate that in vivo treatment of ageing animals with the specific phospholipid PS is able to reverse the physiological decline of the humoral immune response induced by the ageing process. Moreover, treatment of young rats with PS reversed the pharmacological associated depression of specific antibody production. The in vitro effects of the phospholipid on human PBMC and rat splenocytes might suggest that PS is implicated in T-cell activation through its action on IL-2 receptor.
Institutional address: Department of Pharmacology Medical School University of Catania Italy.
In: Eur J Clin Pharmacol (1992) 42(4):385-8
Blunting By Chronic Phosphatidylserine Administration Of The Stress- Induced Activation Of The Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis In Healthy Men.
Monteleone P, Maj M, Beinat L, Natale M, Kemali D
The effect of chronic administration of phosphatidylserine derived from brain cortex on the neuroendocrine responses to physical stress has been examined in a placebo-controlled study in 9 healthy men. Phosphatidylserine 800 mg/d for 10 days significantly blunted the ACTH and cortisol responses to physical exercise (P = 0.003 and P = 0.03, respectively), without affecting the rise in plasma GH and PRL. Physical exercise significantly increased the plasma lactate concentration both after placebo and phosphatidylserine. The results suggest that chronic oral administration of phosphatidylserine may counteract stress-induced activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary- adrenal axis in man.
Institutional address: Institute of Psychiatry First Medical School University of Naples Italy.
Monteleone P, Beinat L, Tanzillo C, Maj M, Kemali D
In: Neuroendocrinology (1990 Sep) 52(3):243-8
Effects Of Phosphatidylserine On The Neuroendocrine Response To Physical Stress In Humans.
The activity of brain cortex-derived phosphatidylserine (BC-PS) on the neuroendocrine and neurovegetative responses to physical stress was tested in 8 healthy men who underwent three experiments with a bicycle ergometer. According to a double-blind design, before starting the exercise, each subject received intravenously, within 10 min, 50 or 75 mg of BC-PS or a volume-matched placebo diluted in 100 ml of saline. Blood samples were collected before and after the exercise for plasma epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), cortisol, growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL) and glucose determinations. Blood pressure and heart rate were also recorded. Physical stress induced a clear-cut increase in plasma E, NE, ACTH, cortisol, GH and PRL, whereas no significant change was observed in plasma DA and glucose. Pretreatment with both 50 and 75 mg BC-PS significantly blunted the ACTH and cortisol responses to physical stress.
Institutional address: Institute of Medical Psychology and Psychiatry First Medical School University of Naples Italy.
In: Neurobiol Aging (1985 Spring) 6(1):11-5
Behavioral Effects Of Phosphatidylserine In The Aged Fischer 344 Rat: Amelioration Of Passive Avoidance Deficits Without Changes In Psychomotor Task Performance.
Corwin J, Dean RL 3d, Bartus RT, Rotrosen J, Watkins DL
A series of studies was conducted to evaluate the effects of phosphatidylserine (PS) in aged Fischer 344 rats. No effects were observed in any of four psychomotor tasks in which aged rats normally show deficits, nor on measures of shock sensitivity. However, significant dose-related effects on retention of passive avoidance were observed when PS was given both 30 min prior to training and retention. Further, in a second experiment similar positive effects were observed when PS was given only 30 min prior to training, as well as only 5 min following training. These results suggest that one effect of PS may include an ability to enhance neural events involved in the encoding or consolidation of new information into memory.
