A study published last week (Velazquez 2019, open paper) investigated the impact of lifelong choline supplementation on Alzheimer's disease and associated cognitive deficits. The mice were divided into two groups: control choline diet (1.1 g/kg choline chloride) and choline supplemented diet (5 g/kg choline chloride). At 10 months of age they were all tested in the Morris water maze. The mice on choline supplemented diet showed better spatial memory. The mice were then sacrificed to study the changes in their brains. Besides improved spatial memory choline supplementation was associated with:
1) A reduction in Aβ pathology
2) Reduced expression of activated microglia (in Alzheimer's disease microglia are overactivated which leads to brain inflammation and then neuronal death)
3) Altered expression of α7nAchR (choline is a precursor of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter)
4) Altered expression of sigma‐1 receptor (σ1R modulates brain expression)
How to get choline through diet?
Choline is an essential nutrient found in plant sources such as wheat germ, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and peanuts (or peanut butter). Animal sources include beef liver, eggs, milk, chicken, salmon.
Do you supplement choline or monitor your dietary intake? If you have increased your choline intake (either through diet or supplements) have you noticed any improvements in terms of memory or cognition? This intervention might be especially important for people with a family history of Alzheimer's disease.
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