Nootropic Stacks: The More the Merrier
Shane Minor 31 Aug 2014
Hello all,
It has been awhile since I've talked about Nootropics, mainly because the Mr Happy Stack didn't work out to my benefit the way that I intended it to. You could say that I was a little mortified to have spent so much money on something with months of guided research. I had a lot of confidence going into the stack that I personally crafted for maximum benefit, and like most Nootropics I've taken, the results were sadly not as good as I anticipated.
That being said, I have trialed many nootropic(s), and for people interested in taking nootropic stacks I hope you find this article as insightful as you should before considering taking anything from online pharmacies, or other nootropic vendors.
First thing is first, I want to to elaborate on Choline transmission, and its roles in the human brain....
Most Choline Precursors like CDP-Choline (Citicoline), Choline Bitartrate, and Alpha GPC help deliver larger quantities of Choline in the brain in order to insure there isn't any Choline depletion when taking a Racetam like Piracetam. Many people report getting headaches on Piracetam, and report dissipation after taking an extra source of Choline. Although the exact mechanism of Piracetam is fairly inconclusive, it has been studied with many years of clinical research providing evidence that it can potentially help with memory-- further more, lets call this Memory Induced Learning since Piracetam is marketed off as a Nootropic...
Choline has been directly related to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Dementia.. Which is why acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are used for the treatment of Alzheimer's patients- rather than a cure... However, being that the exact causes of diseases like Alzheimer's are still being investigated, something we should really pay attention to is the fact that a good memory, does not equal high Intelligence. In fact, as we look into this myth we will understand more thoroughly the undeniably bad sales pitches even good memory enhancers like Huperzine-A and Phosphatidylserine are handed out by online nootropic dispensers looking to get a little extra money in their pocket.
IQ is directly related to fluid intelligence, and one thing we know for certain about fluid intelligence is the areas of the brain being used during problem solving.. This is known as the executive network, where areas such as the prefrontal cortex are operating. Instead of having to do with memory, it has to so with ones ability to solve problems, and find solutions at best. Usually, a good memory does not make someone more intelligent, but for the sole purpose of allowing you to recall information, it certainly would help utilize your intelligence more efficiently.
So a good memory is a necessary aid for intelligent people, not really much of correlation.. which is why Alzheimer's can affect anyone, even medical physicians....
However, we do know this--- a process known as Neurogenesis increases the size of the hippocampus, even as adults. Although this might not make us more intelligent, it would definitely help us retain the information that we've learned.... Right now, to fully take advantage of neurogenesis i'm not going to ask you to take a pill, in fact this method will cost you no money.... EXERCISE!!!
In fact, not just exercise... but environmental enrichment drastically increases the size of of the hippocampus, allowing the brain to have more memories, and retain more information.... environmental enrichment does this through a process known as synaptogenesis, where more stimulating environments, say a rock concert will enhance capillary vasculation, thus providing the neurons with extra energy. This causes the neuropil to expand, which thickens the cortex. In layman terms, this helps for better neurogenesis.
More information on how exercise and Environmental enrichment increases the size of the Hippocampus.
http://www.ncbi.nlm....ubmed/16411242
The purpose of this article was not to lure you into buying more nootropics, rather to make you more aware of the alternatives to taking them, where actual exercise has been proven to be more beneficial than taking these advertised supplements....
Here is a list of Nootropic supplements that I've wasted money on, those that promise to give you memory enhancements... tisk tisk
Piracetam
Ashwagandha
Bacopa Monnieri
Uridine 5' monophosphate disodium salt
CDP-Choline
Choline Bitartrate
Phosphatidylserine --> [This actually helps] Not that significantly though.
Lots of interesting supplements, with many interesting reviews, great sales pitches, and horrible results...
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I will be buying some more supplements.. preferably dopamine precursors like L-Phenylalanie with some added vitamin B6... I also plan on tweaking the Ciltep Stack so that I can get it to do what it is supposed to do, as I'm a big fan of Long Term Potentiation.....I would also like to add, if people are interested in taking Ciltep--- I'm not sharing exactly how I plan on modifying this stack, but do not take Ciltep with Caffeine.... Caffeine inhibits the effects of Forskolin Stimulated Cylic AMP.... you have that in addition to artichoke not being that good of a PDE4 Inhibitor, completely destroying the acclaimed purpose of Ciltep.... So, they added ALCAR to give that energy, but if you still don't get enough from that I recommend you do some research, and find another way to keep out the drowsiness associated with Forskolin....
Here I'll provide a study on caffeine disrupting the effects of Forskolin providing more cAMP..
http://www.sciencedi...1429999090231T
Thank you for taking the time to read this Article.... If my upcoming stacks work out for me, I'll be glad to share them with you but until then, I do not plan on doing so.....
The best of luck,
~ Shane
Bateau 01 Sep 2014
You lost me when you "tisk"ed Bacopa.
If you've done months of guided research I have no idea why you would ever stop taking or belittle bacopa, barring random negative side-effects. Also Ashwagandha is generally not considered a cognitive enhancer. Anxiolytic and good for the brain, but not a memory booster, so that one is kinda on you.
Here's 9 different double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, peer-reviewed trials that show memory enhancement in healthy humans from taking bacopa. There's no other nootropic in the world with half the evidence bacopa has behind it.
Edited by Bateau, 01 September 2014 - 01:35 AM.
Bateau 01 Sep 2014
Also there's nothing unique behind the mechanisms of Ciltep. Literally everything that phosphorylates CREB in the brain should mimic the promotion of LTP that increasing brain cAMP promotes.
This gives you tons of choices but Id suggest Polygala tenuifolia, Centella asiatica, Blueberries and Longan fruit as the more promising nootropics. You will be disappointed though if you were disappointed in Bacopa.
Shane Minor 01 Sep 2014
First thing is first, just for anyone paying attention to this thread....
http://www.ncbi.nlm....ubmed/23354535
http://www.med.nyu.e...ChunkIID=35549
The results of Bacopa are controversial, and there as as many studies providing evidence for the benefits of Bacopa as there are studies providing evidence for the benefits of Phosphatidylserine. Infact, at least the studies for other remedies provide fMRI scans to support the findings in placebo controlled studies, as with phosphatidylserine and hippocampus size.... You could go even further and say they've found more evidence supporting the benefits of exercise that throw these supplements out the window.... Exercise not only increases the hippocampus size, but it is also the best way to achieve neurogenesis-- something you know about, since you recommended an MAO inhibitor... "Polygala Tenuifolia"... That's more expensive than taking a Blueberry or Bilberry extract containing at least 30% Anthocyanins, which is also shown to inhibit both MAO-A and MAO-B ....... When it comes to increasing cAMP BTW, CREB is primarily for Spatial and Long term memory... it is an element binding protein that responds to camp, given the name (cAMP Response element-binding protein) rather than increasing your levels of cAMP which is what the Ciltep stack promises to do... The only problem with the Ciltep stack is that Artichoke Extract (Luteolin) is not a significant PDE4 Inhibitor, and Caffeine inhibits the effects of Forskolin on the AMP cycle.... Two things would need to be replaced. A, you'd need a better PDE4 Inhibitor, and B. A substitution for Caffeine, maybe ALCAR or Adrafinil....
I'm guessing if I wanted to increase the effects of having more cAMP I could take something that phosphorylates CREB..... Inhibiting MAO would actually most likely increase cognition by up-regulating dopaminergic activity... but to be honest, I'd rather just take l phenylalanie, and wherever MAO inhibition works best would probably be for memory, and again I'd rather just exercise because it works better .... Bacopa was added to the Alpha Brain Stack, and most of the people that I know do not recommend Alpha Brain primarily due to the fact that it's ingredients like Bacopa, and Phosphatidylserine aren't all that great... plus they tried Bacopa, and Phosphatidylserine by themselves for months without any results, including me for Bacopa... Phosphatidylserine did help with memory, but not so significantly that i'd be promoting it......
Best of luck,
~ Shane
Shane Minor 02 Sep 2014
I did some more research... I'm not going to be experimenting with Ciltep... Thanks Bateau, because after talking with you I actually started doing more research on CILTEP, also listened to many personal testimonials.... Most people report issues with working memory. Another red flag, Forskolin Inhibits acetylcholine by increasing acetylcholinesterase....... You did recommend blueberry extract, another MAO Inhibitor which is a good recommendation... I might also try some curcumin... Might because results of it are controversial.. I don't like controversial results :D
Thanks a lot Bateau... still don't like Bacopa but I really do appreciate the Inquiry.