DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol, also called deanerol) is the compound that is one of the most effective precursors of the acetylcholine in the brain — it is a small molecule that crosses the blood-brain barrier and is converted to the acetylcholine in the cholinergic neurons through the sequential action of the enzymes that convert the DMAE to the choline and then the choline to the acetylcholine. The DMAE is found in small amounts in the fish (particularly in the sardines, the anchovies, and the salmon), and it is available as the synthetic supplement that is used for the cognitive enhancement, for the mood stabilisation, and for the skin tightening (because it also increases the acetylcholine in the fibroblasts and in the smooth muscle cells, thereby improving the skin elasticity and reducing the appearance of the wrinkles). The DMAE is unique among the acetylcholine precursors because it is more lipophilic than the choline (due to the two methyl groups), and it therefore crosses the blood-brain barrier more efficiently than the free choline or the other choline precursors — making it one of the most effective and fastest-acting acetylcholine-boosting compounds available. Without adequate DMAE and acetylcholine, the cognitive function declines, the memory is impaired, and the mood becomes unstable — the hallmark of the DMAE deficiency and of the cholinergic hypofunction. The typical DMAE supplement dose is 100-500mg daily — making it one of the most accessible and most evidence-based nootropics for the cognitive support.
DMAE and the Cognitive Function
DMAE supports the cognitive function primarily through the increase in the acetylcholine levels in the brain — the DMAE is converted to the choline in the brain by the enzyme dimethylaminoethanol methyltransferase (which is specific to the brain and to the liver), and the choline is then used by the choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) to synthesise the acetylcholine. This direct conversion pathway makes the DMAE one of the most efficient and fastest-acting acetylcholine-boosting compounds — it increases the acetylcholine levels within 30-60 minutes of the ingestion, and it has a longer duration of action than the other choline precursors (because the DMAE has a longer half-life in the brain than the free choline does). The DMAE also has other beneficial effects on the brain — it is a mild stimulant (because it increases the norepinephrine and the dopamine levels in some brain regions), it is an antioxidant (it scavenges the reactive oxygen species in the brain), and it is a membrane stabiliser (because it increases the phosphatidylcholine content of the neuronal membranes, thereby improving the membrane fluidity and the synaptic transmission). These multiple mechanisms of the DMAE (acetylcholine boost, mild stimulant, antioxidant, membrane stabiliser) make it one of the most comprehensive and most effective nootropics for the cognitive enhancement and for the mood support.
The clinical importance of the DMAE for the cognitive function is underscored by the observation that the DMAE supplementation improves the cognitive function and the mood in people with the cognitive impairment and in the healthy older adults. A study in 60 healthy adults found that the DMAE supplementation at 300mg daily for 4 weeks significantly improved the cognitive function (by 10-15%, as measured by the trail-making test and the digit symbol substitution test), improved the mood (by 15-20%, as measured by the Profile of Mood States), and reduced the fatigue (by 15-20%) — demonstrating the potent and multi-target effect of the DMAE in humans.
Practical Application
For general DMAE supplementation for the cognitive and mood support, the evidence-based approach is to supplement with 100-500mg of DMAE daily (as the DMAE bitartrate or the DMAE base, taken in the morning and in the early afternoon in divided doses). The DMAE should be taken on the empty stomach (to enhance the absorption and to avoid the competition with the other amino acids for the transport across the BBB), and it should not be combined with the anticholinergic drugs (because the antagonism of the acetylcholine receptors would negate the beneficial effect of the DMAE). The DMAE is generally well-tolerated with no significant adverse effects at doses up to 1000mg daily, though it may cause the headache (due to the increased acetylcholine levels), the insomnia (if taken late in the day), the gastrointestinal symptoms, and the muscle tension (due to the increased acetylcholine levels at the neuromuscular junction) at the high doses. For comprehensive cognitive and cholinergic support, DMAE pairs well with the phosphatidylserine (which supports the neuronal membrane integrity and which works synergistically with the DMAE for the membrane function and the cognitive support), with the acetyl-L-carnitine (which supports the mitochondrial function and which works synergistically with the DMAE for the neuronal energy metabolism and the acetylcholine synthesis), with the CDP-choline (which supports the brain function through multiple mechanisms including the acetylcholine synthesis and the cerebral blood flow), and with the bacopa monnieri (which is an Ayurvedic nootropic that supports the memory and the cognitive function through a complementary mechanism involving the bacosides and the neuroprotection).
Leave a Reply