 Lucidril is one of the original anti-aging drugs having been studied for over 35 years. The main component of Lucidril is a natural food component and natural human metabolite DMAE. DMAE is part of the choline chain. Choline when oxidated makes betaine which rids the body of homocysteine, which is one of the more prevalent risk factors for heart disease. A natural non vegetarian/ non junk food diet provides high levels of choline. Choline supplements are not the answer due to the guts bacteria breaking it down up to 60%. The DMAE derived in Lucidril is not digested by gut bacteria therefore the body converts the DMAE into the necessary amount of choline. Also and very importantly DMAE passes through the blood brain barrier more effectively than choline. Lucidril which is more than just DMAE has an activating effect on brain function. It enhances neuronal glucose and oxygen uptake and increases neuronal RNA and protein production. The proteins help to encode memory and repair cell damage. But one of the most significant uses for Lucidril is its ability to reduce lipofuscin levels. Lipofuscin is an accumulative biochemical residue found in cells. Both human and animal studies have shown that low lipofuscin levels correlate with healthy cell function whilst high levels hinder learning and memory. Lipofuscin can be seen on the skin as age/liver spots. Centrophenoxine is often still referred to as Lucidril which was the most recognised and oldest brand name for this 46 year old nootropic drug. It is a combination of DMAE and PCPA. DMAE occurs in some foods like fish and is a metabolite of choline within the body. PCPA is a synthetic version of plant growth hormones called auxins. Choline creates the important biochemicals acetylcholine and phosphatidyl in the liver by converting the DMAE. The remaining Centrophenoxine then circulates through the bloodstream, accumulating especially in the heart and brain, in fact much higher levels of DMAE were found in the brain after Centrophenoxine treatment, as compared to DMAE alone due to the PCPA which crosses the blood-brain barrier with great efficiency. Centrophenoxine as a nootropic has been used successfully to treat a wide range of disorders including cerebral atrophy, brain injury, post stroke, chronic alcoholism or drug intoxication, mental confusion and poor memory and concentration. Although there have been many successful experiments using Centrophenoxine with animals, human life extension trials have never taken place, and may never happen. In fact there has been such a great deal of biochemical and experimental research into Centrophenoxine’s mode of action that makes it reasonable to assume that it is a life extension drug for humans. The membrane hypothesis of aging may explain why Centrophenoxine is a prime candidate as a true life extension drug. This hypothesis is a combination of the free radical theory of aging, the cross-linking theory of aging and optimal cell function. The key prerequisite to cell function is the balance between sodium, potassium and water. Due to ongoing chronic damage to the cell membrane during the aging process, potassium and water permeability decreases causing a gradual accumulation of potassium inside cells and a loss of water - dehydration. This gradual thickening of the cell has a profound effect on intracellular biochemistry and gene expression. A drop in brain cell water content from 80% to just 74% is enough to reduce enzyme action up to 90% over the cell lifetime. Experiments showed that use of Centrophenoxine reversed this with complete regeneration with membrane repair. Further evidence has shown that Centrophenoxine is a site-specific membrane antioxidant because it delayed the effects of Vitamin E deficiency. Seeing as Vitamin E is the chief membrane antioxidant it is clear evidence of Centrophenoxine's role as a membrane antioxidant. The ability of Centrophenoxine to improve membrane structure/function could be due to the fact that membrane fluidity decreases as lipid peroxidation increases and Centrophenoxine protects membranes against lipid peroxidation. This in turn protects membrane proteins from cross-linking, since proteins and amino acids are cross-linked by free radicals formed during lipid oxidation. It is felt that continuous dehydration of living systems during their whole life spans gradually slows down gene expression and intracellular enzyme activity, diminishing the ability of cells to repair. Certain doctors believe that most people fail to drink enough water, enough being 2 to 3 litres of water per day. This should not be in from of coffee, tea, alcohol or hideous carbonated drinks as these in fact have a diuretic effect losing more water than they contribute. Thirst is not a guide to the need for fluid satiation and in fact as we age we lose the ability to recognise thirst so acutely anyway. Once a person has begun a regular intake of the required amount they will begin to crave this amount because the body recognises its own needs. Long term water deficiency causes hormonal imbalances and has been shown to cause asthma, allergies, hypertension, constipation, type II diabetes and autoimmune diseases. If you suffer from any of the following it could mean you have localised dehydration: heartburn, lower back pain, painful joints, migraine headaches, colitis and fibromyalgia pain. Seeing as the human body is about 70% water it’s no surprise that a gradual lifelong intracellular dehydration would impair the biochemistry of life. With Centrophenoxine’s ability to repair cell membranes which re-hydrate the intracellular content, it is recognised that a programme of Centrophenoxine with 2-3 litres of water a day could well be an effective life extension combination. Clinical trials using rats concluded that middle age was in fact the best time to commence using Centrophenoxine rather than wait until old age. Although Centrophenoxine is well-tolerated and non-toxic it can sometimes cause problems due to its effective choline enhancement properties. Excessive levels of acetylcholine can lead to headaches, neck/jaw/shoulder muscle tension, insomnia, irritability, agitation and depression but this is simply too much of a good thing. Should any of these symptoms occur stop using Centrophenoxine for a few days and then try a smaller dosage. Some people find using Centrophenoxine on alternate days reduces the risks of over-stimulation of acetylcholine. Excessive acetylcholine has negative effects for those suffering from depression, mania, seizure disorders or Parkinson's disease. Pregnant women should also avoid Centrophenoxine. Approved Uses © IAS Ltd. | 
