Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Food Food: 100 Brain Optimization Tips
Food Food: 100 Brain Optimization Tips
www.brainprotips.com
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15640516
Eggs Food Eggs are highly nutrient-dense, containing ~180 mg of choline, an
acetylcholine precursor
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4145317/
Salmon Food Salmon contains astaxanthin (which confers the pink color), and
omega-3 fatty acids, a primary structural component of the brain
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24500933
Walnuts Food Rich in phytochemicals, including copious polyunsaturated fatty
acids, and offer benefits to brain health
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19641487
Flax seeds Food A rich source of B vitamins and alpha-linolenic acid, which increases
neurogenesis
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4008828/
Advocados Food May increase brain perfusion and prevent hypoxia-induced cell
death
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/83/2/355.full
Green tea Food Associated with reduced prevalence of cognitive decline
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/83/1/108.full
Sea weed (seriously!) Food Contains iodine, needed for the synthesis of thyroid hormone,
which is crucial to brain function (this is evident from the cognitive
effects of hypothyroidism)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25567069
Brazil nuts Food The best selenium food source is brazil nuts, and selenium is an
important neuroprotectant
Work less (if possible) and spend Habits Life enjoyment improves mood, positively affecting mental health
more time doing things you enjoy
Solve puzzles/mind games Habits Learning and complex mental activity results in beneficial synaptic
remodelling/synaptogenesis
Build a memory pallace Habits Learning and complex mental activity results in beneficial synaptic
remodelling/synaptogenesis
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4008828/
Vigorous exercise Habits Multiple mechanism (e.g., enhanced neurogenesis, increased brain
perfusion)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3514552/
Lifting weights Habits Increased muscle mass may be neuroprotective
https://www.med.upenn.edu/uep/user_documents/dfd3.pdf
Get more sleep Habits Multiple mechanisms. Sleep is needed for memory consolidation,
synaptic pruning, etc.
https://www.med.upenn.edu/uep/user_documents/dfd3.pdf
Practice good sleep hygiene Habits Multiple mechanisms. Sleep is needed for memory consolidation,
synaptic pruning, etc.
Improve your vocabulary Habits Learning and complex mental activity results in beneficial synaptic
remodelling/synaptogenesis
Maintain high levels of mental activity Habits Learning and complex mental activity results in beneficial synaptic
remodelling/synaptogenesis
Stop using a calculator Habits Learning and complex mental activity results in beneficial synaptic
remodelling/synaptogenesis
Allocate time for personal Habits Positively affects mental health
development
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181832/
Learn effective stress management Habits Mild stress is protective, extreme stress is neurotoxic
https://www.med.upenn.edu/uep/user_documents/dfd3.pdf
Use the Flux app Habits Flux decreases nighttime bluelight exposure, improving circadian
rhythym
Ditch the GPS Habits Learning and complex mental activity results in beneficial synaptic
remodelling/synaptogenesis
Learn a new language Habits Learning and complex mental activity results in beneficial synaptic
remodelling/synaptogenesis
Learn to code on CodeAcademy Habits Learning and complex mental activity results in beneficial synaptic
remodelling/synaptogenesis
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24371130
Be slightly hungry Habits Hunger facilitates long-term potentiation via ghrelin/leptin signaling
Cultivate critical thinking and learn to Habits Learning and complex mental activity results in beneficial synaptic
spot logical fallacies remodelling/synaptogenesis
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18212333
Socialize and cultivate friendships Habits In late adulthood, cognitive function is tightly linked to socializing
http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/how-facebook-makes-us-
Limit time on Facebook Habits Facebook invites comparisons which promote depressive unhappy
symptomatology
Read one book a week Habits Learning and complex mental activity results in beneficial synaptic
remodelling/synaptogenesis
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19638195
Sunlight Habits Multiple mechanisms. Circadian rhythym entrainment plus
enhanced vitamin D synthesis.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23822747
Sexual activity Habits Multiple mechanisms, e.g. sexual activity is an "environmental
novelty" that increases neurogenesis
Education Habits Learning and complex mental activity results in beneficial synaptic
remodelling/synaptogenesis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_therapy
Early-morning bright light therapy Habits Increases amplitude of circadian rhythym
Spending time in nature Habits Positively affects mood and subjective wellbeing
Walk 10,000 steps everyday Habits There's nothing special about 10,000 steps; any physical activity is
beneficial. For >95% of the population, more exercise is better.
Brain training (e.g. Lumosity) Habits Controvsial, since a recent study demonstrated little benefit, but I
maintain the study had methodological flaws. For a priori reasons, I
think that that brain training of nearly any kind (vs mental inactivity)
confers cognitive benefits
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23173330
Shark or swordfish consumption Neurotoxins to Shark and swordfish are among the highest methylmercury-containg
(methylmercury) avoid foods; methylmercury is a potent neurotoxin
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22820538
Fluoride (in toothpaste) Neurotoxins to Fluoride inhibits the glycolysis enzyme enolase, impairing cognitive
avoid development and ability (controversial)
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/omcl/2011/213286/
Acetaldehydre Neurotoxins to One mechanism by which alcohol is neurotoxic (others inlcude
avoid vitamin B1 deficiency)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23541332
Acrylamide (potato chips, french fries) Neurotoxins to Acrylamide directly inhibits the neurotransmitter release machinery
avoid
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1671748
Lead (pipes and paint) Neurotoxins to Multiple mechanisms: blood brain barrier disruption, impaired
avoid calcium signaling, diminished neuronal acitivity
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2525487/
Shellfish (domoic acid) Neurotoxins to Excitotoxicity
avoid
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2872345/
Excessive alcohol consumption Neurotoxins to Multiple mechanisms: Vitamin B1 deficiency, excitotoxicity, etc
avoid
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2933398/
Anticholinergic drugs (long-term use; Neurotoxins to Central acetylcholine receptor blockade impairs memory and
high doses) avoid promotes cognitive decline
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4159609/
Benzodiazepines (long-term use; high Neurotoxins to Antiamnesic effects; dose-dependent increases the risk of
doses) avoid Alzheimer's disease
http://www.brainprotips.com/article/adderall-neurotoxicity/
Amphetamines (long-term use; high Neurotoxins to Neurotoxic to dopaminergic neurons
doses) avoid
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17453879
n-propylbromide (dry cleaner, spray Neurotoxins to Unknown mechanisms; associated with neuropathic pain, headache,
adhesive, degreaser, aerosol solvent) avoid distal hearing loss, spastiticy
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24436061
Organophosphates (pesticides) Neurotoxins to Associated with Parkinson's disease
avoid
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12006732
Piracetam Nootropics Decreases rate of brain aging (tentative)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1786500
Pramiracetam Nootropics Cognitive ability in youth who experienced brain trauma is improved
with prolonged usage of pramiracetam, suggesting neuroprotective
effects
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21626817
Phenylpiracetam Nootropics Cognition is improved in persons suffering from cognitive decline,
organic brain lesions, and epilepsy. There are currently no studies
conducted in otherwise healthy youth
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18461272
Coluracetam Nootropics High-affinity choline-uptake enhancer
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9203170
CDP-choline Nootropics CDP-choline (citicholine) is a nootropic compound that converts to
both choline and cytidine upon ingestion, the latter of which
converts into uridine in the body. It appears to confer cognitive-
promoting properties as a prodrug for these two compounds.
http://examine.com/supplements/alpha-gpc/
Alpha-GPC Nootropics Cholinergic, anti-dementia compound
http://discovermagazine.com/2014/march/13-nicotine-fix
Nicotine (low-dose, sublingual Nootropics Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist that robustly enhances
administration) working memory
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20590480
Bacopa monnieri Nootropics Although general and requiring a long time to take effect (4-6
weeks), bacopa appears to reliably and effectively improve memory
in both healthy persons and during cognitive decline
http://www.brainprotips.com/article/methylene-blue-nootropic/
Methylene blue Nootropics Enhances mitochondrial bioenergetics; BBB permeable antioxidant,
abnormal tau phosporlyation inhibitor
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23540352
Modafinil Nootropics Orexin/histamine; glutamate/GABA; neuronal gap junctions;
catecholamines
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23540352
Armodafinil Nootropics Orexin/histamine; glutamate/GABA; neuronal gap junctions;
catecholamines
http://examine.com/supplements/l-tyrosine/
L-tyrosine Nootropics Amino acid precursor of dopamine and norepinephrine
http://examine.com/supplements/panax-ginseng/
Panax ginseng Nootropics An increase in cognition is seen acutely and thought to be due to
anti-fatigue effects, with nonfatigued individuals not experiencing
an increase in cognitive performance
http://examine.com/supplements/d-serine/
D-serine Nootropics NMDA-type glutamate receptor co-agonist at the glycine binding
site
http://examine.com/supplements/rhodiola-rosea/
Rhodiola rosea Nootropics Notably effective assuming fatigue is being reduced. There is
insufficient evidence to evaluate rhodiola's effects on cognition
without the fatigue reduction aspect
http://examine.com/supplements/sarcosine/
Sarcosine Nootropics NMDA-type glutamate receptor co-agonist at the glycine binding
site
http://examine.com/supplements/l-carnitine/
L-Carnitine Nootropics Improvements in general cognitive capacity has been noted in
elderly persons and in disease models
http://examine.com/supplements/melatonin/
Melatonin Nootropics Neuroprotective antioxidant; sleep quality enhancement
http://examine.com/supplements/s-adenosyl-methionine/
S-adenosyl methionine Nootropics Methyl doner; antidepressant; increases synthesis of monoamines;
reduced in Alzheimer's disease