Menin, D-serine, and Neurological Age Reversal
There is a new report published in PLOS Biology by a Chinese group led by Lige Leng that provides evidence of a correlation between decline in the protein Menin secreted by the hypothalamus and a decline in neurological function. They also found evidence that delivering the gene for Menin into the hypothalamus of elderly (20-month-old) mice produced reversal of the decline. In addition, they found that remarkably, similar benefits on cognition, though not on the peripheral signs of aging, could be induced by three weeks of dietary supplementation with D-serine, which promotes the production of Menin.
This suggests ARF-style self experimentation by taking a daily D-serine supplement. Therefore, I checked the usual sources (Amazon, Swanson, ...) to determine of such supplements are available. As it turns out, L-serine (the mirror image of the D-serine molecule, which would not produce the same effect) is much more readily available than its mirror twin. Many of the would-be suppliers have D-serine either out of stock, only available in powder form, or only available in Europe. Fortunately, I did find one supplier in the USA that was not out of stock.
It was Relentless Improvement®, PO Box 19220, Reno NV 89511, (925) 294-5795. They sell a bottle containing 90 x 700mg D-Serine vegecaps for $22.95. I just ordered two bottles. I will report observable benefits, if any, after my wife and I have been taking them for a month or so.
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Followup on D-serine
I just looked 3 hours after the above post, and Relentless Improvement is now sold out of D-serine. I guess I triggered a stampede. Maybe others (Life Extension, Swanson, ...) will be encouraged to offer the supplement.
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JGC Thanks for the information. I hope you will post updates, positive or negative. I don't like the idea of adding another supplement, but if it works I will.
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It might not be a good supplement to take.
d-serine levels in Alzheimer's disease: implications for novel biomarker development - PMC (nih.gov)
..."Consistent with this pattern, we found increased d-serine levels in the hippocampus and parietal cortex of AD brains compared with nondemented controls, but no differences in the occipital cortex.."
And
"These observations are consistent with a scenario in which regional elevations in d-serine levels trigger localized deregulation of NMDAR-dependent synaptic plasticity and, ultimately, NMDAR-related excitotoxicity and neuronal injury, culminating in cognitive decline in AD."
