The concept of adult neurogenesis (the ability to create new brain cells or how to multiply neurons) was thought to be impossible. Modern scientists have recently proven otherwise, showing how neurogenesis is not only feasible but that it already exists within the adult brain.
Today, we have a better insight into creating new brain cells, mainly what makes them multiply—brain-enhancing nootropics help.
If you are concerned with how to multiply neurons, you want to have a proper diet, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. Then, you want to include these supplements in your regimen: citicoline, uridine, alpha GPC, organic lion’s mane mushroom extract, methylated vitamin B12. Let’s find out why below. Also, they are all included in their purest and most bioavailable form in Maximum Mind.
The old neuroscientists believed once a brain reached maturity, the number of neurons was finite, and thus the brain cells you’ve had were all you may have. So, they advised us to treat our brain cells with care! While it’s true that we should always treat our brain cells with care, it seems the brain is much more flexible than we thought.
Since the discovery of adult neurogenesis in 1998, when neuroresearchers found new brain cells (or neurons) growing in the adult hippocampus, neuroscientists and researchers explored new ways to develop and maintain healthy neuron numbers. Given the human brain’s infinite complexity, these explorations are in the early stages at best. However, one strategy that keeps coming up over and over is by using natural cognitive enhancers.
Let’s look at what we know about neurogenesis and how to multiply neurons with the best natural nootropics.
“Don’t Let What You Cannot Do Interfere With What You Can Do.”
– John Wooden
What Are Nootropics?
“The only difference between the master and the novice is that the master has failed more times than the novice has tried.”
― Stephen McCranie
First things first, what are nootropics? Corneliu Giurgea, a Romanian neuroscientist, coined the term nootropic (pronounced new-tropic) in 1972. He believed that smart drugs should be invented and made widely available for the purpose of enhancing the general population’s brain health and increasing human intelligence.
According to Dr Giurgea’s findings, nootropics enhance cognition, memory, alertness, concentration, creativity, and attention. They became known as cognitive enhancers, substances that amplify the way the brain’s many cognitive functions operate and how we process information.
Simply put, cognitive enhancers (or nootropics or smart drugs) are prescription or off-the-counter drugs or supplements that enhance cognition. Some nootropics contribute to brain health while others can be quite dangerous.
Since Marco’s Grounds only works with safe and natural compounds in their purest forms, for most of our discussions we will restrain ourselves to natural nootropics that increase cognition safely.
What Is Neurogenesis?
“Successful and unsuccessful people do not vary greatly in their abilities. They vary in their desires to reach their potential.”
― John Maxwell
Neurogenesis stands for the creation of new brain cells, also known as neurons. Before a neuron could even be a neuron, it is a stem cell, an undefined cell structure that may differentiate into any specialized cell type, i.e., neuron, epithelium, etc.
Adult stem cells differentiate depending on where they’re located, unlike embryonic stem cells. Thus, neural stem cells are stem cells located near neural tissues.
Embryonic stem cells proliferate to form large masses of organs and systems. Adult stem cells only develop their housing tissues. Mature stem cells, like the neural stem cell, differentiate mainly for maintenance and repair purposes. But as well know now: they can do more than that.
Neurogenesis is stem cells morphing into new neurons.
Due to the difficulty in repairing neuronal damage, scientists believed that neurogenesis only occurred during early development, e.g., childhood. But science has now proven that neurogenesis occurs in the adult body as well. However, it is difficult to stimulate it. But it happens, and natural nootropics may have a significant role to play.
How Does Adult Neurogenesis Work?
“Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better.”
― Jim Rohn
The specific triggers for adult neurogenesis remain unknown at this time. What we observed is that different actions could trigger the growth of new brain cells. These actions include exercise, psychotherapy, medications, and stimulation environments.
The advantages of neurogenesis are obvious. More brain cells equal more brainpower.
Depending on where neurogenesis occurs within the brain, its bioeffects differ, e.g., creating new brain cells within the hippocampus seems to improve memory and learning directly, while creating new brain cells in areas of the brain responsible for creative thinking will result in more brainpower dedicated to creative thinking. Neurogenesis within the striatum, which is another component of the brain, is linked to improved motor tasks, cognitive flexibility, and motivational modulations associated with the brain’s reward pathways.
As a whole, neurogenesis seems to play an essential role in cognitive repair and normal brain health and longevity.
When neurogenesis is disrupted, the opposite occurs. It is known as neurodegeneration. This age-related decline in cognitive structures and performance often results in gradual mental decline issues.
How to Multiply Neurons: Nootropics Neurogenesis Support?
“The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.”
― Vidal Sassoon
Nootropics for neurogenesis tend to be clumped into three categories:
- Neuroregenerators are nootropics or brain function enhancers that work by enhancing neurogenesis. This happens by promoting and stimulating Nerve Growth Factors (NGF) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factors (BDNF).
- Neuroprotectors are nootropics or neuroenhancers that protect against neural-degeneration. This works indirectly by “preserving” neurogenesis through more passive pathways.
- Neuroenergizers are cognitive enhancers that increase brain power production to satisfy the high energy demands of building new brain cells
Several nootropics have neuroregenerative, neuroprotective, and neuroenergizing functions at the same time. Thus, they enhance and protect the many mechanisms involved in neuronal development, maintenance, and repair.
Therefore, cognitive enhancement supplements improve impaired cognition, additionally to protecting cognition against later damages.
Maximum Mind Cognitive and Mind Enhancing Complex for Neurogenesis
“If you’re going through hell, keep going.”
― Winston Churchill
Out of the long list of nootropics, some assist with neurogenesis. Since neurogenesis is critical for both sharp mental performance and long-lasting brain health, Maximum Mind is formulated to provide several of the foremost effective nootropics for brain regeneration in their purest and most active form.
Few natural substances are known to boost brain cell growth and cognition beyond good basic nutrition, sleep, and exercise. However, natural nootropics stand out with clinical research for profound brain-enhancing potential.
Here are the natural nootropics found in Maximum Mind that support healthy brain regeneration.
Cognizin® Citicoline
Citicoline is a brain-builder; in other words, a nootropic that supplies both raw materials and energy for the development of cognition.
Citicoline is additionally a key neuroregenerator. Two main bioactivities specifically have an impact on creating new brain cells with citicoline.
Firstly, citicoline is a known choline donor (similarly to alpha GPC and uridine). This means it provides raw materials that are necessary to synthesize two other cholines: Acetylcholine (AC) and Phosphatidylcholine (PC). The latter is the major phospholipid for forming and stabilizing neuron membranes. PC is required for neurogenesis (creation of new brain cells) as for the continuing repair and rejuvenation of cell membranes. Citicoline activates the metabolism and synthesis of phospholipids within neurons. Cognizin® citicoline is the most effective choline source there is.
Citicoline is additionally a Neuroenergizer.
The Cognizin® form found in Maximum Mind has been shown in clinical research to boost brain energy by nearly 14% on its own already – before synergies and other cumulative effects. Citicoline achieves this effect by optimizing mitochondria in brain cells for efficiency.
The brain is one of the most active organs in the body, consuming 20% of its power supply. Energy is required for synthesis, repairing, and maintaining neurons.
This is why citicoline’s effects on brain metabolism are especially significant. Cognizin® citicoline boosts the brain in a great many ways.
But maybe most of all, it is the best nootropic for neurogenesis because it:
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Increases neural building raw materials that are needed to form, repair, and maintain brain cells
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Increases brain energy levels to satisfy the great power demands of neuroregeneration
Supplying two main ingredients for current cell creation, citicoline could even be a perfect nootropic to begin out for neuroregeneration.
For this reason, citicoline is an excellent supplement to take if you’re interested in how to multiply neurons.
Note: there’s an effective dose of citicoline as Cognizin® in each dose of Maximum Mind.
Read more about citicoline on the Marco’s Grounds Deep Dive and about the benefits of citicoline for brain power here.
Uridine
Dietary uridine is made in the liver and secreted as uridine monophosphate in the blood.
Dietary uridine is available in many foods. However, it is thought that the uridine ingested through food is mostly absorbed during the digestive process, which suggests that supplementation may be necessary to realize many of its remarkable effects and benefits—particularly in relation to cognition.
Supplemental uridine has been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier easily (BBB). Uridine is converted to CDP choline in the brain. CDP choline is then converted to phosphatidylcholine (PC) and acetylcholine (AC).
The more uridine available in the brain, the more CDP choline is produced, and the better new synapses are protected and strengthened. Uridine also helps increase new synapses by enhancing the growth of neural cell projections or branches known as neurites, which is crucial to neural signaling.
Supplemental uridine dramatically increased the number of neurites per cell and neurite branching, according to a study published in Neuroscience [1]. Enhanced neurite outgrowth and branching is strongly associated with improved cognition.
The combined actions that uridine triggers all work together to enhance and improve neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to reorganize and adapt in response to learning [2].
For this reason, uridine comes naturally as a terrific supplement to include in your regimen if you’re interested in how to multiply neurons.
Note: there’s an effective dose of uridine at 99% purity in each dose of Maximum Mind.
Read more about uridine on the Marco’s Grounds Deep Dive or dig deeper into the benefits of uridine here.
An Aside on Alpha GPC
Since alpha GPC works in similar ways to citicoline and uridine, i.e., supplying CDP choline, which is turned into phosphatidylcholine (PC) and acetylcholine (AC), one might wonder why there are all three compounds in Maximum Mind?
The answer is simple. By combining Alpha GPC with citicoline and uridine in an adequate ratio, synergetic effect occur that are far greater than by using much higher quantities of the previous two neuroenhancers alone (see Marco’s Grounds Dosing Philosophy)
To produce the best cognitive enhancers, one certainly has to consider synergetic potentials and this is why alpha GPC must be considered when the question is: “how to multiply neurons?”
Note: there’s an effective dose of alpha GPC at 99% purity in each dose of Maximum Mind.
Read more about alpha GPC on the Marco’s Grounds Deep Dive or dig deeper into the benefits of alpha GPC here.
Organic Lion’s Mane Mushroom Extract
A cornerstone fungus in traditional Chinese medicine, the lion’s mane mushroom delivers greatly valued restorative and therapeutic brain-building benefits.
As a food, Hericium Erinaceus (better known as the lion’s mane mushroom) is prized for its seafood-like taste, a unique flavor for a mushroom. Recently, the mushroom has gained popularity worldwide for its unique status as a natural neuroregenerator.
What we all know thus far on the mechanisms of creating brain cells with lion’s mane mushroom is that lion’s mane mushroom boosts Nerve Growth Factor (NGF). In human neurons, the supplementation of lion’s mane mushroom extract was effective at increasing neuronal outgrowth by 60.6% [3]. This boost in neuroregeneration may benefit the brain in two ways:
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Enhancing the formation and regulation of myelin sheaths around neurons [4]
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Accelerating neural recovery following neuronal injury [5]
By providing these cognitive benefits, lion’s mane potentially improves cognition by slowing down the natural decline in NGF and its decline following acute neuronal or brain injury.
High levels of NGF are associated with optimal brain health, function, and resilience. NGF protects existing neurons and is also crucial to neurogenesis, or the regeneration of neural connections impaired by age, injury, or disease.
Lion’s mane mushroom provides beta-glucans, hericenones, and erinacines. Which active compounds in lion’s mane mushroom are responsible for its neuroregenerative status? More studies have to be performed on this matter. Currently, the compounds hericenones A and erinacines seem to stimulate NGF synthesis, which successively promotes neurogenesis significantly.
For nootropic benefits, it’s best not to supplement a Full Spectrum Extract of lion’s mane mushroom, to not miss out on any of its neuroregenerative or neuroprotective effects, since the beneficial compounds are found mostly in the fruiting bodies.
Other benefits of the lion’s mane mushroom: lion’s mane mushrooms seems to possess a mood-boosting potential through mechanisms not known as of yet [6]. For these reasons, lion’s mane is a great supplement to take when one is interested in how to multiply neurons.
Note: there’s an effective dose of organic lion’s mane full-spectrum fruiting body at 40% minimum beta-glucans, in each dose of Maximum Mind.
Read more about lion’s mane on the Marco’s Grounds Deep Dive or find more about the benefits of lion’s mane here.
Methylated Vitamin B12
This basic essential B vitamin plays a vital role in energy metabolism within the brain. Since robust neurogenesis requires lots of energy, it’s been theorized that vitamins B might help power overall brain regeneration.
Vitamin B12 is also a reliable nootropic vitamin that supports myelin’s formation, the fatty sheathing surrounding and protects brain cells.
Finally, some research has suggested B vitamins, notably B5, B6, and B12, seem to help maintain the brain’s size during the aging process (the brain usually shrinks in senior populations), suggesting other roles in nerve cell regeneration and maintenance.
Therefore, methylated vitamin B12 is an excellent supplement to take if one is interested in how to multiply neurons.
Note: there’s an effective dose of methylated vitamin B5, B6, B9 and B12 in each dose of Maximum Mind.
Read more about methylated vitamin B on the Marco’s Grounds Deep Dive and why you should never consider non-methylated B vitamins.
Conclusion
“You don’t drown by falling in the water; your drown by staying there.”
― Ed Cole
Do you want to have a lot of brain cells? First, healthy lifestyles will avoid destroying brain cells. In a second step, universal nootropics will help create additional ones. A great way to multiply brain cells is by starting aerobics programs. Several scientific studies have shown that aerobic exercise produces neurotrophins (Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)), which are like fertilizer for the brain.
Additionally, neurotrophins promote new synapses and make the neuron membranes more supple. Consequently, healthier neural membranes promote better cognition and brain health.
Think of what would happen if you combine BDNF boosting top nootropics with BDNF boosting activities like sports, healthy sleep patterns, etc. This could be the way to create brain cells to the maximum by committing to a brain-friendly overall lifestyle, natural nootropics, and beyond.
Marco’s Grounds Maximum Mind nootropics for neurogenesis promote the building blocks and raw material levels for healthy brain regeneration and how to multiply neurons.
Only recently, neuroscientists began taking adult neurogenesis seriously. Since the 1998 study that verified adults can regenerate and create new brain cells, groundbreaking findings on neurogenesis seem to occur each year.
And with these groundbreaking findings comes a new understanding of sometimes old compounds, e.g., ginkgo biloba, bacopa monnieri, or ashwagandha, promising to enhance natural brain-building processes with smart, brain-nourishing bioactivities.
In conclusion, the correct nootropics, coupled with an overall brain-healthy lifestyle (with aerobic exercise), may enable you to create new brain cells while supporting brain health and cognition.
Marco’s Grounds supplies the most comprehensive brain-enhancing supplements backed by the most robust clinical research. Maximum Mind formulation keeps developing with the most recent research to produce the most effective nootropics for neurogenesis or how to multiply neurons. Supplementing Maximum Mind may help you reap the benefits of increased neuron growth, which in turn is bound to give you more power to achieve your goals.
Literature
- Pooler, A. M., Guez, D. H., Benedictus, R., & Wurtman, R. J. (2005). Uridine enhances neurite outgrowth in nerve growth factor-differentiated pheochromocytoma cells. Neuroscience, 134(1), 207-214.
- Wurtman, R. J., Cansev, M., Sakamoto, T., & Ulus, I. (2010). Nutritional modifiers of aging brain function: use of uridine and other phosphatide precursors to increase formation of brain synapses. Nutrition reviews, 68(suppl_2), S88-S101.
- Lai, P. L., Naidu, M., Sabaratnam, V., Wong, K. H., David, R. P., Kuppusamy, U. R., … & Malek, S. N. A. (2013). Neurotrophic properties of the Lion’s mane medicinal mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) from Malaysia. International journal of medicinal mushrooms, 15(6).
- Kolotushkina, E. V., Moldavan, M. G., Voronin, K. Y., & Skibo, G. G. (2003). The influence of Hericium erinaceus extract on myelination process in vitro. Fiziol Zh, 49(1), 38-45.
- Wong, K. H., Naidu, M., David, R. P., Bakar, R., & Sabaratnam, V. (2012). Neuroregenerative potential of lion’s mane mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers.(Higher Basidiomycetes), in the treatment of peripheral nerve injury. International journal of medicinal mushrooms, 14(5).
- Nagano, M., Shimizu, K., Kondo, R., Hayashi, C., Sato, D., Kitagawa, K., & Ohnuki, K. (2010). Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intake. Biomedical Research, 31(4), 231-237.
