The human brain uses a tremendous amount of energy every day. This energy is important for normal brain functions like thinking and remembering information and events. The process of accessing that energy creates damaging compounds (called free radicals or reactive oxygen species) as a byproduct. This means that our brains need a lot of antioxidants every day to protect against these damaging molecules. We get these powering antioxidants through our diet by eating fruits and vegetables (and supplementing with certain Pharmanex products), but our bodies are also able to produce intrinsic (internal) antioxidants. One intrinsic antioxidant is called glutathione and is especially important in the brain. Glutathione is important because it helps get rid of some of these damaging compounds in the brain and helps protect the brain against other harmful compounds. In other words, it has neuroprotective effects – it protects neural (brain) tissue.

The problem is, as we get older, our glutathione levels start to decline. This leaves our brains more vulnerable to these damaging compounds. On top of that, the amount of energy available to cells in the brain starts to decline too. This decline can impact areas of brain health like memory and normal brain function.

Study Method

Pharmanex scientists were interested in seeing what the effects of ageLOC Youth had on brain health. They organized a clinical study to look at how ageLOC Youth impacted brain compounds related to neuroprotection and brain energy levels. The study included 63 healthy men and women, ages 40-60, who were divided into two groups. One group was given ageLOC Youth, and the other was given a placebo (a pill that doesn’t do anything). Subjects underwent a non-invasive brain imaging process and again after 6 weeks. This measurement looked at changes in brain chemistry of specific brain compounds, including glutathione and a few other compounds that are biomarkers or indicators of energy levels in the brain.

Conclusion

These results are important because they show that taking ageLOC Youth for 6 weeks increased key brain compounds linked with neuroprotection and improved energy levels in the brain. In other words, ageLOC Youth increased brain compounds that help protect the brain against harmful substances and that are an indicator of improved energy levels in the brain.* To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that a nutritional supplement blend increases compounds involved in neuroprotection and improved energy levels in brains of healthy humans. 

If you are really into the science, you are welcome to read the full study here that has a lot of scientific details and jargon.

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Resources:

Mastaloudis A, Sheth C, Hester SN, et al. Supplementation with a putative calorie restriction mimetic micronutrient blend increases glutathione concentrations and improves neuroenergetics in brain of healthy middle-aged men and women. Free Radic Biol Med. 2020;153:112‐121.