Nutraceuticals and nootropics for anti-aging

Huperzine A is being studied as low-cost Alzheimer’s treatment

Huperzine A is an alkaloid found in a plant called ‘Chinese club moss’ — a plant related to the fern family. The huperzines are inhibitors of the enzyme ‘acetylcholinesterase’ which is the enzyme that deactivates the neurotransmitter ‘acetylcholine’. [pronunciation: ass-SEE-til-KOH-leen]

A major task of acetylcholine in the body is to carry signals from nerve cells to muscle cells. When signals travelling along nerve cells reach their target muscle cells, the nerve cells release acetylcholine into the ‘synaptic’ space between the two. This activates receptors on the muscle cells, triggering the muscle cells to contract. The enzyme acetylcholinesterase then cleaves the acetylcholine molecules to prevent them from accumulating and putting the muscles into a permanent state of contraction. A similar process occurs in the brain, where acetylcholine transfers signals from one nerve cell to another rather than to muscle cells.

Alzheimer’s disease is associated with a lack of acetylcholine in certain parts of the brain. It has been suggested that the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease might be reversed if one could increase the amount of acetylcholine in the brain — for example, by slowing down the activity of enzyme that destroys it. Hence, there is now an interest in testing Huperzine A as an Alzheimer’s treatment.

Researchers at Rush University in Chicago are now recruiting Alzheimer’s patients for a six-month study of Huperzine A.

Huperzine A has a good safety record because of its long history of usage in Chinese medicine. It is widely used and appreciated as a cognitive enhancer by people with perfectly normal mental abilities as well as by those with mild memory problems.

Link to news article:

Researchers test whether huperzine A can effectively treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease

Link to basic facts about Huperzia serrata alkaloids:

Huperzia serrata

Link to brief discussion of neurotransmitters:

McGill University tutorial on neurotransmitters

Link to good review of Huperzine A as a cognitive enhancer:

PDRHealth summary of Huperzine A

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Huperzine research in China is at a more advanced stage than it is in the United States. Huperzine A is currently in phase III trials in China for the treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Link to status report:

Huperzine A status

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LifeLink carries Huperzine A in 50 mcg tablets.