Why do people use Alpha-GPC?
People who self-experiment with Alpha-GPC often state they use it to improve their:
- Memory
- Learning
- Focus
- Problem solving
- Energy
- Physical performance
There is a lack of scientific evidence for the effectiveness of Alpha-GPC for any of these purposes, especially in healthy humans
What time of day should you take Alpha-GPC?
There's no high-quality scientific evidence available to make decisions based on regarding which time of day to take Alpha-GPC for optimal results. It does increase both certain forms of generally stimulating and generally relaxing neuronal activity, which means it might both promote and impair sleep. However, it is very hard to make any valid conclusions with confidence as regards the impact of Alpha-GPC on sleep.
Some users report stimulating effects. If you experience stimulating effects, it is likely best to take it in the morning to prevent sleep problems.
What substances may stack well with Alpha-GPC?
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
An acetylcholinesterase inhibitor is a drug that reduces the activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase in the brain. This enzyme is responsible for the breakdown of acetylcholine in the brain. The inhibition of acetylcholinesterase through the use of an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor will likely result in higher brain acetylcholine levels, perhaps especially if there is an abundant supply of choline to the brain.
The combination of Alpha-GPC and an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor enhances cholinergic neurotransmission more than either of the two alone, suggests two animal studies. [5][6] It has also been found that the combination of donepezil (an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor) and Alpha-GPC resulted in prolonged cognitive benefits in people with brain injury. [8]
Racetams
Many nootropics users like to use choline sources, such as Alpha-GPC, with racetam nootropics.
All racetams are similar in chemical structure but different in nootropic effects.
Racetam compounds that are used by some self-experimenters for cognitive enhancement include:
- Piracetam
- Oxiracetam
- Phenylpiracetam
- Omberacetam, also known as Noopept (sometimes classified as a racetam, sometimes not)
- Fasoracetam
- Pramiracetam
- Aniracetam
- Coluracetam
- Nefiracetam
Before combining any drugs or supplements, talk with your trusted medical professional about the risks involved.
What other choline sources can I use?
Other than Alpha-GPC, many people use the following choline sources for nootropic purposes:
How does Alpha-GPC work to enhance cognition and memory?
The neuropsychopharmacological effects of Alpha-GPC have not yet been fully discovered by researchers.
Here are some of the mechanisms which researchers have explored and found involved in the effects of Alpha-GPC on cognition and memory:
- Enhances cholinergic neurotransmission in the brain area known as the hippocampus (in rats) [12]
- Increases brain acetylcholine levels when reduced by a memory-impairing drug (in the hippocampus and cortex, but not in the striatum, of rats) [13]
- Increases acetylcholine release in the hippocampus (in rat brain slices following potassium stimulation) [14]
- Increases hippocampal neurogenesis (in rats when given three weeks after seizure-induced hippocampal neuronal death) [15]
- Increases GABA release and exerts noradrenergic activities (in rats) [16]
- Increases dopamine in the frontal cortex and cerebellum (in rats) [17]
- Increases serotonin levels in the frontal cortex and striatum (in rats) [18]
- Increases dopamine plasma membrane transporter activity in the frontal cortex and cerebellum (in rats) [19]
- Increases inositol phosphate synthesis (in rat brain slices and neuronal cultures when given for prolonged periods) [20]
- Increases growth hormone secretion (in healthy young people) [21]
- Increases Protein kinase C activity (in rats and rat cortex brain slices) [22]
- Potentiates receptor-stimulated phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis in cortical synaptoneurosomes (from young and old animals of undefined species) [23]
- Potentiates potassium stimulated intrasynaptosomal calcium oscillations in purified synaptosomes (from the hippocampus in young but not old animals of undefined species) [24]
- Increases striatal dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) (in rats) [25]
- Increases K+ stimulated dopamine release (in rats) [26]
Is Alpha-GPC neuroprotective?
Alpha-GPC protected rats against drug-induced behavioral deficits and amnesia, and enhanced cholinergic neurotransmission in the hippocampus of rats. [27][28] It also protected against seizure-induced neuronal death and cognitive impairment in rats. [29]
It is likely that the neuroprotective effects of Alpha-GPC depend on what the factor that is damaging neurons in the brain is. For example, lack of oxygen or dangerously high glutamate levels in the brain can lead to increased neuronal death. Alpha-GPC is likely to protect neurons from some forms of neurochemical toxicity but not from everything you might expose your brain to.
There’s a need for more high-quality scientific information about the safety and effectiveness of Alpha-GPC. Specifically, there’s a great degree of individual variance in how people respond to nootropics in general and Alpha-GPC in particular. This means that if you use Alpha-GPC, you may not experience the same effects as those that were seen in scientific studies on it.
It is currently largely unknown what factors play a role in whether a nootropic will be effective for a person.
While we wait for science to explain who is likely to respond to which nootropics, patient self-experimentation with nootropics that have been found safe and effective in placebo-controlled studies in healthy humans is a proven strategy to feel and perform better with the help of nootropics.
