7 Essential Amino Acids to Improve Cognitive Function

Cognitive decline is a major concern as individuals age. One potential risk factor for developing senile dementia is protein (amino acid) malnutrition (Suzuki et al., 2020). As with many areas of health, prevention truly is the best medicine - and a recent study suggests that one of the key ways you can improve cognitive and psychological function as you age is by ensuring your obtaining adequate amounts of seven essential amino acids.

What Are Amino Acids?

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and essential to the body’s functioning (U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d). The body uses amino acids to grow, repair damaged tissue, make hormones and other chemicals in the brain, support your immune system, they act as an energy source within the body, and more. While many amino acids are made in the body, essential amino acids (of which there are nine), cannot be made in the body, and have to instead come from either the food you eat or supplementation.

The Study

In 2020, researchers conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to assess the effect of a composition of seven essential amino acids on cognitive, psychological, and social functioning in middle-aged and older adults. The composition included the following seven essential amino acids: leucine, phenylalanine, lysine, isoleucine, histidine, valine, and tryptophan (Suzuki et al., 2020). The study consisted of 105 participants aged 55 and older, who were asked to take a composition of powdered amino acids daily over a period of twelve weeks (Suzuki et al., 2020). Results of the study demonstrated that individuals who took the amino acid composition daily over the course of twelve weeks had significantly improved cognitive function, social interaction, and psychological health compared to the placebo (Suzuki et al., 2020). Improved cognitive function markers included attention and cognitive flexibility. The improved psychosocial functioning is important, as high pyschosocial functioning has been linked to reduced cognitive decline.

Good News

Incorporating these 7 essential aminos daily is easier than ever - all 7 are included in WiseMED’s Muscle Pro Aminos supplement! Muscle Pro Aminos is a tasty (really, it’s fruit punch flavored) and convenient powder that easily mixes in to water, and is perfect for post-workout recovery.

Reference

Suzuki, H., Yamashiro, D., Ogawa, S., Kobayashi, M., Cho, D., Iizuka, A., Tsukamoto-Yasui, M., Takada, M., Isokawa, M., Nagao, K., & Fujiwara, Y. (2020). Intake of Seven Essential Amino Acids Improves Cognitive Function and Psychological and Social Function in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Frontiers in nutrition, 7, 586166. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2020.586166

U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Amino acids: Medlineplus medical encyclopedia. MedlinePlus. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002222.htm