Cognitive function tends to declines as we age. For most people the decline is\u00a0modest. This \u201csemi-normal\u201d decline is thought to be due in part to a decrease in\u00a0the ability of cells to form communication contacts called synapses between one\u00a0cell and another. A similar defect is seen with Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n
Animal studies show that one way to increase the number and function of\u00a0synapses is to raise the brain\u2019s level of the mineral magnesium. When scientists\u00a0increase brain magnesium in lab rats, the rats become smarter\u2014thinking more\u00a0rapidly and accurately than they did before.<\/p>\n
BUT, most forms of oral magnesium don\u2019t pass easily from the blood into the\u00a0brain. An exception is a new form of magnesium developed by a research team\u00a0from MIT specifically for this purpose. This form is magnesium threonate, which\u00a0is being developed by Neurocentria, Inc., a pharmaceutical company, under the\u00a0brand name of MMFS-01.<\/p>\n
Neurocentria\u2019s team with collaborating researchers from both the U.S. and China Press release <\/a>from Neurocentria Inc.<\/p>\n MMFS-01 is not yet commercially available. However, a \u201cgeneric\u201d magnesium\u00a0threonate is available from the Life Extension Foundation under the brand name\u00a0of Neuro-mag<\/a>. Likely other “generics” are or will soon be available.<\/p>\n What is truly remarkable about the MMFS-01 study is that improvement in overall\u00a0 cognitive function was seen within just six weeks. Improvement continued\u00a0through 12 weeks, the full length of the study. Subjects treated with placebo did\u00a0not improve much over-all.<\/p>\n More details for the study<\/strong>: The volunteers were age 50 to 70. All had test score\u00a0evidence of mild cognitive impairment. Twenty five subjects took MMFS-01 and\u00a026 took placebo. The treatment dose was between 1.5 and 2.0 grams per day in\u00a0divided doses.<\/p>\n Four different cognitive tests were taken before treatment and again at six and\u00a0twelve weeks. These tests measured executive function, working memory,\u00a0attention and a concept called episodic memory.<\/p>\n Separate research<\/a> suggests that magnesium might also help treat fibromyalgia\u00a0pain. This might be because magnesium tends to inhibit the activity of NMDA\u00a0receptors. Activation of NMDA receptors is believed to be one mechanism that\u00a0creates fibromyalgia pain. A recent open label clinical study from Mayo Clinic\u00a0found that transdermal magnesium chloride spray taken twice daily for 3 weeks\u00a0was followed by a reduction in fibromyalgia pain.<\/p>\n Key Questions<\/strong>: Should physicians treating FM or ME-CFS \u201cbrain fog\u201d be offering\u00a0 magnesium threonate as a potential treatment?<\/p>\n The arguments against:<\/p>\n The argument for:<\/p>\n Should patients with FM or ME-CFS try magnesium threonate on their own?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u00a0strongly recommend that all patients work with their doctor. Certain patients\u00a0should not take extra magnesium, especially those with any degree of kidney\u00a0dysfunction. Also, it would be useful to obtain a baseline red blood cell magnesium\u00a0level and to monitor that level as treatment proceeds.<\/p>\n Since MMFS-01 is not available, using Life Extension\u2019s or other generic equivalents But, as usual,\u00a0that\u2019s not likely to happen anytime soon.<\/p>\n Richard N. Podell, M.D., MPH Rich\u2019 Reviews: New form\u00a0 of magnesium<\/em>,\u00a0from: ME Global Chronicle No. 17<\/a> June 2016 p48<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A new form of magnesium improves cognitive powers in\u00a0old folks, will it also help the brain fog of FM and ME-CFS? asks Dr Richard Podell. Might it also improve Fibromyalgia pain? Cognitive function tends to declines as we age. For … Continue reading
\nrecently published a very important study. Their results strongly suggest that\u00a0MMFS-01 can substantially improve cognitive function in aging humans<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
\nbetter than that seen with placebo.<\/li>\n
\ntests, subjects taking MMFS-01 scored significantly better than subjects taking
\nplacebo. This was true at week 6 (P=.017) and at week 12 (p=.003).<\/li>\n\n
\nmagnesium threonate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\nmainly diarrhea if we get the dose up too high.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nwould be appropriate.\u00a0Of course, ideally, some angel would fund a good controlled study.<\/p>\n
\nClinical Professor,\u00a0Department of Family Medicine
\nRutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
\nPodell2@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n