While the significance of the brain was not fully appreciated until modern times, today, the importance of our nervous system is widely recognized. A turning point in raising awareness about the brain was when George H.W. Bush declared the 1990s as “the decade of the brain.” This declaration brought substantial financial support for brain health research and initiatives aimed at making neuroscience research more accessible to the public.
Neuroscience is a multidisciplinary field encompassing the study of the nervous system, including its cellular, behavioral, functional, evolutionary, computational, molecular, and medical aspects. This scientific progress has taken us far beyond Aristotle’s belief that the brain was merely a mechanism for cooling the blood.
Yet, our understanding of the brain is continually evolving, as the complexity of its functions remains a challenge to fully comprehend. Emerson M. Pugh once remarked, “If the human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we couldn’t.”
The integration of research across various subfields of neuroscience, including cognitive, clinical, affective, neuroimaging, developmental, and more, has significantly expanded our knowledge of the human brain in recent years.
Did you know that your brain, despite constituting only 2 percent of your body mass, requires a staggering 25 percent of your daily energy consumption? It is hypothesized that most of this energy is expended on sustaining ongoing cognitive activities and maintaining the health of brain cells.
Brain scans have shown that our brains remain highly active around the clock, even during sleep. Consequently, the choices we make regarding our energy levels, lifestyle, and sleep quality profoundly affect our brain’s performance.
Let’s delve into how we can support and optimize our brain health, exploring topics such as peptides for cognitive enhancement, nootropics, neurohacking, neurostimulation, neurotherapeutics, and nutritional strategies for brain health.
Measuring Brain Health
Given the intricate nature of the brain, a comprehensive measure of its general health, function, and connectivity remains elusive. Brain activity can offer insight into whether the brain is functioning normally and help diagnose psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression or schizophrenia) and neurodegenerative diseases.
Historically, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) have been the established tools for measuring and tracking brain activity. However, emerging startups are exploring alternative methods, such as detecting the tiny magnetic fields emitted by the brain.
To assess brain health and function, we can consider various factors:
Electrical Signaling: Neurons communicate through electrical signals generated by the flow of ions through their plasma membranes. Measuring this electrical activity using EEG can provide valuable insights into brain health and the presence of neural diseases.
Neuronal Firing: Different regions of the brain exhibit distinct signaling patterns, making the measurement of neuronal firing crucial for identifying potential neural issues.
Levels of BDNF: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is essential for neurogenesis, the growth and differentiation of nerve cells. It significantly impacts memory and learning. Lower levels of BDNF have been associated with certain neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Amino Acids, Neurotransmitters, and Hormones: Neurotransmitters and hormones play pivotal roles in neural communication and signal transmission throughout the body. Disruptions in their activity can serve as indicators of underlying issues. Amino acids, which are building blocks for hormones and peptides, can also provide insights into brain health.
Cognition: Cognitive functions like short and long-term memory, focus, alertness, and flexibility are excellent indicators of brain health. Prolonged impairment of these functions may suggest an underlying condition.
Positive Lifestyle Changes to Boost Brain Function
Efforts to enhance brain function have given rise to a new field known as neurohacking, which involves applying science and technology to optimize brain and body function to enhance the subjective experience. If you’re wondering how to improve brain health, consider some proven lifestyle adjustments to boost cognition:
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): HIIT not only offers numerous health benefits but has been shown to stimulate the production of BDNF. This can lead to improved cognition in various age groups and even individuals with conditions like multiple sclerosis.
Neurostimulation: This involves techniques that utilize electric currents to treat conditions such as chronic pain. Neurostimulation holds promise for enhancing cognition, particularly in epilepsy patients and those in addiction recovery.
Ketogenic Diet: A low-carb, high-fat ketogenic diet mimics a fasting state, using ketones as an efficient source of energy for the brain. Studies suggest that the keto diet can improve cognitive performance, working memory, and may have potential benefits for neurodegenerative conditions.
Moderate Alcohol Intake: Excessive alcohol consumption can impair brain functions. However, moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with improved cognitive performance in some studies.
Antioxidants: Antioxidants help combat free radicals generated during metabolic processes. These free radicals can damage cells and DNA. Consuming antioxidant-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables, or taking supplements like resveratrol and EGCG, can boost memory and performance.
Nootropics and Supplements: Nootropics like Alpha-GPC, ginkgo, vinpocetine, ashwagandha, Rhodiola Rosea, methylcobalamin, C8 MCT, and Bacopa monnieri, can enhance brain health.
Diet for Brain Health: A healthy diet is crucial to optimizing brain health, promoting a balanced gut microbiome, and improving neurotransmitter signaling. Foods rich in vitamin D, B vitamins, magnesium threonate, zinc, NAC, curcumin, and fish oil can reduce inflammation and support brain health.
Quality Sleep: Adequate sleep is essential for cognitive functioning. Techniques like meditation and breathing exercises can help improve sleep quality.
Continuous Learning: Learning new skills and knowledge keeps your brain engaged, strengthens neural circuits, and enhances cognitive capabilities.
Peptides for Better Brain Health and Cognition
Peptide therapy is one of the most effective ways to optimize brain health and cognitive function. Peptides, which are essential components of proteins, offer benefits for various bodily functions, including inflammation reduction, enhanced emotional states, and improved processing speed.
Here are some notable peptides for cognitive enhancement:
RG3: RG3, often administered as a nasal spray, can suppress inflammation-mediated neurotoxicity. This low-level inflammation is associated with brain fog, and RG3 can help enhance focus, attention, and memory.
Dihexa: Dihexa shows great potential in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It works by repairing brain synapses, altering gene expression, and receptor sensitivity, leading to restored brain function and mental clarity.
Semax: Semax can boost memory and learning ability by increasing BDNF levels, which help alleviate anxiety and depressive disorders. Semax affects gene expression and modulates the immune system, acting as a neuroprotectant and potentially benefiting stroke, Parkinson’s, and other neurological disorders.
Cerebrolysin: Cerebrolysin focuses on nerve regeneration and repair and can cross the blood-brain barrier to directly reach neurons. Users report improved mental clarity, reduced fatigue, and enhanced motivation. It stimulates BDNF and reduces inflammation, making it valuable for various conditions, including traumatic brain injuries and stroke.
Selank: Selank is used to treat generalized anxiety disorder by affecting GABA neurotransmitters. It can increase BDNF levels and is being investigated for its potential to address neurodegenerative disorders.
FGL: FGL can influence neurotransmitter, hormone, and nerve growth factor levels. It promotes better cognitive performance, memory, and can reduce feelings of depression. FGL is associated with neural repair, making it beneficial for recovery after acute ischemic stroke.
Selecting the most suitable peptides for your brain health depends on your specific needs and responses. This might require some trial and error. For fatigue and autoimmune support, combinations like DIHEXA and Cerebrolysin, upregulated with Semax and Selank, are often used. BPC 157, which promotes blood flow, inflammation reduction, and neuron regeneration, is employed alongside Semax and Cerebrolysin for various situations.
For focus, attention, and memory concerns, RG3 can be paired with nootropics such as oxytocin, theanine, citicoline, or lion’s mane. For conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer’s, Dihexa, Cerebrolysin, Semax, and Selank may be prescribed based on individual cases.