From: Anders Sandberg (asa@nada.kth.se)
Date: Sun May 04 2003 - 11:22:26 MDT
On Fri, May 02, 2003 at 11:43:46PM -0000, cryofan@mylinuxisp.com wrote:
> Boosting GABA in elderly primates helps brain function.
...
> http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993686
The real article is GABA and Its Agonists Improved Visual Cortical
Function in Senescent Monkeys by Audie G. Leventhal, Yongchang Wang,
Mingliang Pu, Yifeng Zhou and Yuanye Ma, Science Volume 300, Number
5620, Issue of 2 May 2003, pp. 812-815.
Abstract:
Human cerebral cortical function degrades during old age. Much of this
change may result from a degradation of intracortical inhibition
during senescence. We used multibarreled microelectrodes to study the
effects of electrophoretic application of gamma-aminobutyric acid
(GABA), the GABA type a (GABAa) receptor agonist muscimol, and the
GABAa receptor antagonist bicuculline, respectively, on the properties
of individual V1 cells in old monkeys. Bicuculline exerted a much
weaker effect on neuronal responses in old than in young animals,
confirming a degradation of GABA-mediated inhibition. On the other
hand, the administration of GABA and muscimol resulted in improved
visual function. Many treated cells in area V1 of old animals
displayed responses typical of young cells. The present results have
important implications for the treatment of the sensory, motor, and
cognitive declines that accompany old age.
> Yeah, but who did the study? The company that has the GABA-enhancing
> patent, I wonder? Anyway, here is the link:
GABA is unpatentable, but there are plenty of pharma companies with
patents for GABA-enhancers, since they are often used as
anti-epileptic drugs (wouldn't age-dependent decline in GABA
sensitivity increase epilepsy? My guess is that the decline in the
other neuromodulators and neurotransmitters helps to balance this
risk). The researchers were from the University of Utah School of
Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China and the
Kunming Institute of Zoology - no stated conflicts of interest.
> Any clue as to over the counter sources?
Doesn't bodybuilders eat GABA? I seem to recall from a time when I
looked up GABA/GHB metabolism that eaten GABA increases HGH levels for
some reason. I think I have seen it in GNC stores when I last visited
the US. Unfortunately (or fortunately) GABA does not pass the
blood-brain barrier, so you need to take some agonist that does.
However, I wouldn't recommend it - unspecific increases of inhibition
have depressing effects.
-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Anders Sandberg Towards Ascension! asa@nada.kth.se http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/ GCS/M/S/O d++ -p+ c++++ !l u+ e++ m++ s+/+ n--- h+/* f+ g+ w++ t+ r+ !y
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