Phosphatidyl serine, a fat-soluble natural nutrient, may improve
cognition and fight ADD.
By
Norine Dworkin, published on January 01, 2000 - last reviewed on October 12, 2005
MEMORY
Have you ever opened a closet door and then forgotten what you
needed? Do phone numbers or names take what seems like forever to recall?
If so, phosphatidyl serine may be the thing to remember.
While forgetfulness was once considered an inevitable part of
growing older, some scientists now believe that certain dietary
supplements may protect our brains from wear and tear.
Phosphatidyl serine (PS), a fat-soluble nutrient found naturally in
our bodies, seems to restore memory and improve cognition. Research
has shown that people taking PS have better
recall of names, faces, numbers and written information. Though most of
this work has been done abroad, American scientists like Parris Kidd,
Ph.D., a cell biologist in El Cerrito, California, and Thomas Crook,
Ph.D., a research psychologist formerly of the National Institute of
Mental Health, are now studying PS with positive results. "It can turn
back the clock 12 to 15 years," says Kidd.
PS is a building block for every cell membrane in the body, but it
is particularly concentrated in the brain, where it assists communication
between neurons and regulates certain hormones and neurotransmitters.
Just how dietary PS works to restore memory is still a puzzle. But Kidd theorizes that although we don't lose PS as we age,
we eventually need more of it to build new pathways critical for memory
and mental sharpness.
Beyond memory, PS appears to have other applications, from reducing
stress to alleviating attention deficit disorder. "We've had an 85
percent success rate in getting ADD under control," says Kidd, of his
current study on PS and ADD in children ages 4 to 19.
If you want to try PS to improve memory, Kidd recommends a
month-long starter dose of 200 to 300 mg each day, then a daily
maintenance dose of 100 mg. He notes, however, that PS alone isn't enough
to get you into Mensa: "You also need exercise and brain stimulation to
integrate new cells into brain tissue."
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