Magnesium L-Threonate: The brain boosting mineral
The body requires Magnesium for many crucial functions in the body, including enzyme reactions, protein synthesis, glucose control, muscle function and nerve function. Magnesium L-Threonate in particular, is a form of the essential mineral that is best known for supporting brain function.
Magnesium is a magnificent mineral for the brain. It can help to relieve stress and anxiety, improve memory and learning ability, as well as supporting relaxation and sleep. Studies suggest that Magnesium L-Threonate readily crosses the blood-brain barrier, with the potential to increase Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor protein that can boost the development of new brain cells. The mineral also increases neuro-plasticity, which is the brains ability to grow and change.
May reduce cognitive decline
As we age our brain cells and synapses reduce, which can cause cognitive decline. Research shows that enhancing the density of synapses in the brain help to prevent cognitive decline, and Magnesium L-Threonate increases the availability of magnesium in the brain which in turn improves the density of neuro-synapses.
Improving memory and learning abilities
Magnesium is vital for supporting the brain’s memory and learning abilities, and one study found that the brains magnesium levels can be increased through supplementing with Magnesium L-Threonate. The study conducted on rats found administering the mineral showed an increase in the activation of downstream signalling molecules in the hippocampus, which in turn showed a significant increase in factors important for learning and memory. Although further studies are needed, given the critical role of magnesium in the human brain, it is suggested that this application could also be beneficial to us.
Anxiety relief
It is believed that magnesium can also help relieve some symptoms of anxiety. In 2011, research was carried out to the effects of increasing magnesium in the brain on fear conditioning and extinction. It was found that giving Magnesium L-Threonate to rats with anxiety disorders increased the magnesium in the brain, which improved the synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and reduced fear and anxiety in the rats.
Sources
https://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(09)01044-7?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0896627309010447%3Fshowall%3Dtrue#secd10304689e539
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22016520/