Bob`s Blog

When I was adding the conditioning circuitry to enable control of additional sensors, there was one aspect of the documentation that was confusing for someone new to the project. The MegaTune software provides support for seven spare ports. Each of the spare ports can be configured in software to enable when specific conditions are met. The enable can be active high or active low, depending on the setting. There’s also an option for the initial condition state when the MegaSquirt powers up. There’s even functionality to use boolean logic between essentially any real-time parameter relating to the engine to result in an enable on the spare ports.

The confusing part is the naming convention. This is how the MegaTune documentation and software specifies the spare ports:

• FIdle - PM2 (DB37 pin #30)
• Injection LED - PM3
• Accel LED - PM4
• Warm-Up LED - PM5
• IAC1 - PT6
• IAC2 - PT7
• Knock Enable - PA0

The problem is, there are no pins on any of the MegaSquirt board schematics using this naming convention. The documentation for MegaTune doesn’t provide a mapping for where these pins route on the board. If you want to know where the pins map, you have to look at the schematic for the MegaSquirt-II daughtercard.

If anyone is interested, here is the proper mapping for where these pins map on the board. Make sure to verify them for yourself before testing. I’ve read that different MegaTune software versions have some of the pins reversed.

• FIdle - PM2 - Pin34/PTA1 on board schematic
• Injection LED - PM3 - Pin7/PTC0
• Accel LED - PM4 - Pin8/PTC1
• Warm-Up LED - PM5 - Pin9/PTC2
• IAC1/IAC2 - PT6/PT7 - Effects Pins 35-38
• Knock Enable - PA0 - Pin18/PTD3

From MegaTune manual: “The two spare port “T” pins (PT6 and PT7) are normally used to drive the stepper motor chip (IAC1,2). When you set pin PT6 high, it will make 1 of the 4 stepper output pins high and the other low, and no effect on the last two - which are controlled in the same way by pin PT7. So, by picking 2 of the 4 IAC outputs, you have two 12V spare pins that will directly drive about 0.5 Amps with no transistor needed. This is more than enough to drive a relay directly. If you are going to use port PT6 or PT7 as spares (IAC1,2), IdleCtl should be set to 0. This will keep the the stepper chip ‘always enabled’ and not turn it on and off, which would prevent the port from working as intended. ”

Jeff was convinced that the Megasquirt-II would be a great addition to his Gen-I small block Chevy project. In case you’ve never heard of it, the Megasquirt is a do-it-yourself electronic fuel injection and ignition controller. In the realm of standalone electronic engine management and datalogging systems, it’s essentially the only viable and well supported open source option. It can be obtained as a DIY kit from one of the many online distributors or you can purchase it fully assembled for around $400. There are countless mods and additions available on the Internet to add features for just about anything you could think of. Sequential injection will be possible with the release of the MS-II sequencer board. If you want MegaSquirt on your motorcycle, ATV, or snowmobile, there’s a smaller surface-mount, yet fully functional option, cleverly called MicroSquirt.

For geeks who love learning about EFI, control systems, and electronics, it’s a total wet dream. It’s a boon for people who desire absolute control over what their engine is doing, need something truly customizable to the extreme, but would rather not spend the money on a $1500 commercial off-the-shell EFI system.

I’ve been following the project for over seven years, but I never actually caved in and ordered a kit myself. I either had programmable fuel/ignition management through other means or didn’t have a car that needed it. I finished assembling the kit for my brother a few days ago. It was a bit tedious, but I used lead-free solder, which is more difficult to flow. I would say if you have decent soldering skills, designate at least three hours for assembling your first kit. Since my brother will be using a Vee configuration engine, I added the conditioning circuit to the prototyping area for dual narrow band oxygen sensors. We also had the knock sensor and control module from the LT1, so I added support for ignition retard under knock.

Here’s a photo of the completed kit with cover removed. The second is a photo of the Relay board.

Originally, we planned to use a carburetor setup on the motor, but I realized we had everything we needed for fuel injection and ignition control. The 95 Camaro project car came equipped with an LT1 small block V8 that had a thrown rod. We decided it would be cool to adapt the the LT1 intake manifold to the small block Chevy heads and block. The angle of the bolt holes needed to be modified, the coolant and EGR passages on the heads needed to be blocked off, etc. I finished assembling and testing the kit yesterday. I’m looking forward to tuning the motor with Jeff.

My brother Jeff recently became the owner of a 1995 “Fourth Gen” Camaro. The existing LT1 engine had a thrown rod that obliterated the number eight piston and thrashed the inside of the block. When pouring water into the radiator, it would immediately gush out of a tiny ‘bullet’ hole in the oil pan, a telltale sign that terror had taken place beneath the glossy veneer. The previous owner fit the description of a classic curbstoner scum bag from what I heard. He claimed he was quoted $900 to repair the engine… yeah right, the damage that we saw would easily require a new block, heads, pistons, connecting rods, and a full rebuild. Needless to say, it was immediately apparent that whoever blew up this motor had been committing deadly driving sins.

Jeff has been building up a small block chevy piece mail in the basement for a few months. It began with an L05 block from a Suburban. He had the service overbore performed, purchased some nicer heads, a “streetable” performance cam, along with a Summit Racing rebuild kit. The heads were advertised as Vortec, but when they arrived, we realized they were just traditional SBC ports.

Originally, we thought electing a carburetor setup would make for the simplest build and installation. Our thoughts on that changed pretty quickly. My belief has always been to avoid doing things the easy way. Moreover, we realized a decent carb and manifold setup can cost around $900. Plus, with the LT1 and supporting sensors, we had almost everything we needed to retrofit a tuned port fuel injection system to the SBC. I had been itching to try out a Megasquirt standalone EFI system.

We decided it would be chic to adapt the the LT1 intake manifold to the small block Chevy heads and block. It would take a bit of machining, but without a doubt, the end result would be worth the effort. The engine would gain a snappier throttle response, better fuel economy, and excellent cold weather robustness. Not to mention that with the Megasquirt, we would have complete control over the fuel and ignition maps, with provisions to later use forced induction. More on forced induction in another post…

But I regress.. For the LT1 retrofit, some new bolt holes must be drilled, a few old holes need to be filled with magical JB Weld, and some existing holes must be re-angled. On each head, there are two coolant passages and an EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) passage. When using either carburetion or throttle body injection (TBI), the gasoline does not atomize well at cold temperatures. It is for this reason that on the older style intake manifolds, coolant would flow through passages inside the manifold to warm the intake air stream before entering the heads. Modern fuel injection doesn’t require such nonsense, and it is best for the intake air to remain as cold/dense as possible. Since the heads are normally fed with coolant by the intake manifold, we needed to route coolant into the heads through an alternate path. We decided to block off one of the coolant passages on each head, along with the EGR and use a remote mount thermostat housing to run coolant to each head through a pipe fitting we installed on the LT1 manifold. Since the LT1 uses a confounded contraption called an Opti-spark for handling ignition, it did not have a distributor. This meant we needed to make provisions on the LT1 manifold for an old style GM HEI distributor. We haven’t finished with this final piece of the puzzle yet, but we intend to use the old manifold to create a template for the distributor location. We’ll then drill a hole in the manifold, install a custom fabricated distributor hold down along with a spacer bushing to correct the angle. There are two types of GM HEI distributors, remote coil and integrated coil. Since the Camaro engine bay is smaller than my Mazda RX-7, we’ll be forced to use the shorter distributor, with a remote mount coil. Shouldn’t be a problem.

Borrelia Slowly Spreads Throughout the Body –

Approximately 4-6 weeks following the tick bite, the first
systemic signs of Lyme disease that may or may not occur are in the
form of flu-like symptoms or malaise. These symptoms include sore
throat, severe headaches and neck aches, severe fatigue, chills and
fever, and swollen lymph nodes. Upper respiratory symptoms are usually
not present with LD, distinguishing it from other flu-like illnesses.
While the LD-flu symptoms can spontaneously resolve themselves,
patients can experience relapses.

Soon after the onset of Lyme-flu, arthralgias and/or myalgias
(muscle and joint pain) may begin. The arthralgias appear to primarily
involve the large joints (i.e. knees, elbows, hips, shoulders),
although smaller joints (e.g. wrists, hands, fingers, toes) may be
involved. The pains are generally described as severe, jumping from
joint to joint, and may be present for only short periods of time. Pain
in the teeth and in the temporal-mandibular joints (jaw) is common.
Neurological involvement will cause associated paresthesias (muscle
twitching, burning sensations, prickling / shooting pains, and
numbness). Lyme disease can cause palsy of affected areas, but
it’s more likely to cause neurosensory deficits before
neuromotor disease.

Facial nerve (Bell’s) palsy is another neurological symptom of
Lyme disease. Encephalitis or encephalopathy may manifest as cognitive
dysfunction, including short-term memory loss, and psychiatric symptoms
such as panic, anxiety, or depression. The encephalitis and facial
paralysis tend to occur within the first few months following the tick
bite, but may also occur as part of a relapse at any time.

Other symptoms in this stage of the disease may include
blurred vision, uveitis, ringing in the ear (tinnitus, which was one of
my first symtoms) and/or hearing loss, shortness of breath,
palpitations or tachycardia (rapid heart rate), chest pains, abdominal
pains, diarrhea or irritable bowel, testicular or pelvic pain, urinary
incontinence/urgency, dizziness, tremors, dysautonomia, and hepatitis.

Borreliosis: The Clinical Disease

Lyme disease is an extremely challenging infectious/toxic
disease for both doctor and patient. It can exhibit many different
symptoms. The clinical picture of LD can be similar to fibromyalgia,
including: chronic fatigue, joint pain (arthralgias), muscle, fibrous
tissue and tendon pain. Lyme disease can also manifest primarily as a
neurological disorder, including fatigue and many neurological
symptoms. It is important to remember that there are hundreds of
symptoms that are caused by LD and it can mimic many diseases; for this
reason, LD is often called, “the great imitator.”

The prognosis of Lyme disease depends a lot on how soon the
disease is caught and how well it is treated. Early, aggressive, and
comprehensive treatment improves the prognosis tremendously.
Unfortunately it is difficult to diagnose many cases early because they
don’t present themselves with obvious Lyme disease symptoms.
They often show only one or a few subtle symptoms that can easily be
misdiagnosed as something else.

Lingering Lyme: The Chronic Persistent Infection

Some symptoms and signs of Lyme disease may not appear until
weeks, months, or years after a tick bite. This stage typically
involves intermittent episodes of joint pain or numerous neurological
symptoms such as: meningitis, Bell’s palsy, dysfunction of cardiac
rhythm, and migratory pain to joints, tendons, muscle and bone.
Arthritis is most likely to appear as brief bouts of pain and swelling,
usually in one or more large joints, especially the knees. In some
patients, the first and only sign of Lyme disease is arthritis. In
others, nervous system problems are the only evidence of Lyme disease.
However, any combination of symptoms can be present.

Primarily unique to humans, neuroborreliosis (the neurological
form of Lyme disease) can include numbness, pain, Bell’s palsy
(paralysis of the facial muscles, usually on one side and more often
the left), and meningitis (fever, stiff neck, and severe headache).
Dysautonomia (a dysfunctioning autonomic nervous system) and
irregularities of the heart rhythm may occur.

In a minority of individuals (11%), development of chronic
Lyme arthritis may lead to erosion of cartilage and/or bone. Other
clinical manifestations associated with chronic neuroborreliosis
include neurologic complications such as disturbances in memory, mood,
or sleep patterns, and sensations of numbness and tingling in the hands
or feet (parethesia).

The course of the disease can best be described as persistent,
with periods of worsening symptoms, often cyclical every few weeks or
monthly. Especially disconcerting are persistent symptoms such as pain,
headaches and fatigue. Some patients are more symptomatic than are
others, which may reflect gender and genetically-determined differences
in response to infection. The disease is progressive, destructive, and
debilitating, and in severe untreated cases, it can be fatal.

Chronic Borrelia can also cause a degenerative skin disorder
now known as acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA).

Lyme disease causes metabolic/endocrine dysfunctions that lead
to weight loss or commonly chronic weight gain.

Generally, women struggle with chronic Lyme disease more
severely than men do. It is not known for sure why.

List of Lyme Disease Symptoms

As I mentioned before, every organ and organ system can be
affected, here’s a list of some of the LD symptoms as they
relate to specific areas of the body:

• Head – headache, neck pain, facial pain and
  paralysis, difficulty chewing, pain in teeth, dry mouth, loss of
  taste/smell, numb tongue/mouth. Peculiar metallic or salty taste is
  also common in LD. This is likely due to the BLPs present in the system.
• Bladder — frequent or painful urination, repeated urinary
  tract infections, irritable bladder, interstitial cystitis.
• Lung — respiratory infection, cough, asthma, pneumonia,
  pleurisy, chest pains
• Ear — pain, hearing loss, ringing (tinnitius), sensitivity
  to noise, dizziness & equilibrium disorders.
• Eyes — pain due to inflammation (scleritis, uveitis, optic
  neuritis), dry eyes, sensitivity to light, drooping of eyelid (ptosis),
  conjunctivitis, blurry or double vision, swelling around eyes / bags
  below the eyes.
• Throat — sore throat, swollen glands, cough, hoarseness,
  difficulty swallowing
• Neurological — headaches, facial paralysis, seizures,
  meningitis, stiff neck, burning, tingling, or prickling sensations
  (parathesia), loss of reflexes, loss of coordination, equilibrium
  problems/dizziness (these symptoms mimic an MS, ALS, or
  Parkinson’s like syndrome)
• Stomach — pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal
  cramps, anorexia
• Heart — weakness, dizziness, irregular heart-beat,
  myocarditis, pericarditis, palpitations, heart block, enlarged heart,
  fainting, shortness of breath, chest pain, mitral valve prolapse.
• Muscle & skeletal system — arthralgias (joint
  pain), fibromyalgia (muscle inflammation and pain)
• Other Organs — liver infection / hepatitis, elevated
  liver enzymes, enlarged spleen, swollen testicles, and irregular or
  ceased menses.
• Neuropsychiatric — mood swings, irritability, anxiety,
  rage (Lyme rage), poor concentration, cognitive loss, memory loss, loss
  of appetite, mental deterioration, depression, disorientation, insomnia

• Pregnancy — miscarriage, premature birth, birth defects,
  stillbirth
• Skin – EM, single or multiple rash, hives, ACA
• Another interesting symptom often noticed is an increased
  susceptibility to electrostatic shock. This is likely due to the BLPs
  causing a change in the electro-potential in our cells/nervous system.
  Some of these toxins are likely sodium channel agonists and can change
  the electrical potential of our body. Thus, the likelihood of
  electro-static shock.

One or more of these symptoms is not diagnostic for LD, except
for a bulls-eye EM rash. A diagnosis for LD is a clinical one and must
be made by a physician experienced in recognizing LD symptoms and
history, experienced in interpreting lab results and recognizing a
response to treatment. Always remember that negative serological tests
are not reliable and cannot be used solely for a diagnosis. These tests
frequently are incorrectly negative.

Interesting Article on Nootropics pulled from http://www.cavanaughs.org/twiki/bin/view/Cavanaugh/SmartNutrients which is no longer available.

Intro/Overview
I got started on the whole topic of smart nutrients because mentally I thought I was losing my edge. I was feeling I wasn’t quite as sharp as I used to be, I was getting tired late in the day, forgetting names of people, and not being able to immediately process/synthesize information on the spot. Granted I was still able to function well in comparison to other people, but not like the “old me”.

While searching the web looking for information you pretty quickly find that it is very difficult to separate the hype & crap from any true science. The whole genre of nutrients associated with mental processing (typically called Nootropics) is rife with junk that is more hype than reality. One of the best places for an introduction is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nootropic

My personal philosophy on this has been to not pursue anything that is not without adequate scientific benefit and it must not have any risk associated with it (Dont want any cases where the proposed cure does more harm than good). In essence, Im just looking to find basic nutrients to compensate/rebalance things that my diet, stress & crazy workload have caused to go off kilter. Initially I plan to look at basic nutrients to help aid energy conversion and keep the brain fully oxidized etc.

As always keep in mind this is my list of information/notes. Im not a Doctor, I am an Electrical Engineer by training, so dont take this as medical advice!!! Besides if you are taking random information from the web as medical advice without performing due diligence and speaking with your physician, Ill I can say is that you are an idiot.

Web Forums & Information
Since there is literally so much anecdotal comments (completely non scientific) it is important to remind folks of the basics of the scientific method and how to critically examine information.

Scientific Method - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method
Systems to Rate Scientific “Evidence” - http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epcsums/strengthsum.htm
Wikipedia Values on NPOV (Neutral Point of View) for Authors - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Neutral_point_of_view
Biases in decision making - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cognitive_biases
Evidence Based Practice Centers - http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epc/
Upon my research in this area I did find a few (in my opinion) good sources of information & discussion. The key area for both of these is the topic of “Life Extension”, which is basically the concept of utilizing whatever methods available to extend lifespan, whether it be thru diet/exercise, nutrients/vitamins or prescriptions medications. As a whole these groups are what I would say extremely health conscious. Granted I believe at times some of the members are waay over the top in the supplements that they take, but the level of research & detail & debate at times extremely high, primarily due the passion people have for the subject.

http://www.imminst.org - The forms are quite good, and the intellectual discourse by a few of the very seasoned veterans is excellent.
http://www.lef.org - Decent information in the community, but the fact that they produce & sell items can appear to be bit of conflict of interest, but at the same time many folks rave about the quality of their products.
These are just a collection of random articles websites etc that I found that looked reasonably interesting.

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2005/sep2005_report_kurzweil_01.htm
http://www.cerebralhealth.com/neuroscienceresearch.php
http://www.futurescience.com/howwedie.html (interesting overlap between heart health & brain health)
http://appneurology.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=184417512
http://smartpub.web01.yourhost.com/articles/smart-nutrients-01.php
http://smartpub.web01.yourhost.com/articles/spu118-topsmart2.php
http://deuceofclubs.com/write/drugs.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3145223.stm
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18925391.300
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag95/95sep1.htm - A top-ten best smart nutrients list (err. Not by Dave Letterman…)

Books / Magazines
A random collection of books on the topic. No ratings or anything (just yet)

Smart Drugs I
Smart Drugs and Nutrients: How to Improve Your Memory and Increase Your Intelligence Using the Latest Discoveries in Neuroscience

Medical References / Studies

List of medical studies on healthy adults - http://www.imminst.org/forum/index.php?s=&act=ST&f=169&t=5893&st=0&#entry55753

Nootropics/Vitamins/Supplements Overview
There are also a couple really important things to keep in mind while discussing SmartNutrients etc. Many of these in my mind make experimental design to be very difficult and leads to no single recipe working for all folks, especially healthy folks.

First is that Nootropics (like pretty much anything in life) has an inverted U curve of efficacy (sort of a bell curve). What this means is that too little of something means low performance, and the same is true for too much of something , the key is to find the happy middle. Like you may have heard before, too much of anything can be bad for you. What of course makes this even more difficult is that the right happy middle for one person could be either waay too much or waay to little for another, which means there is no “optimal” dosage that is uniform across individuals

Second is that you will find a lot of positive interactions (synergistic) interactions between Nutrients/Drugs. What this means is that while supplement A alone may need 5000mg/day to be “optimally” effective, and supplement B may need 1000mg/day to be “optimally” effective, but if you take them both due to their positive interactions the new “optimally” effective dosage of the combination may be 1000mg/day of A and 200mg/day of B. However there is never enough research to compare all of the possible interactions to establish any type of correlation or multiplier effect numbers. In case you missed it, that means if you took both of the supplements in their optimal dosages individually (5000 & 1000), that would certainly push a person into the “too much” negative side of the inverted U curve.

Third is that many of these Nootropics do not have immediate results. That means for some of them people wont really be able to derive the benefits for weeks or months. This is one that really kills me (from a scientific perspective), in that it is extremely hard to come up with reliable measures of benefits because even with subjective assessments it is practically impossible to compare across a couple of months.

Recommended Nootropics/Vitamins/Supplements
These are items I have in essence put on my “Yes these make sense to take” list. That doesnt mean I take them (I do take several), just that I dont see any specific reasons not too.

Multivitamin
Category: Vitamin/Coenzyeme, Antioxidant
Benefits: Numerous

In general all of these supplements assume you are at least starting with a good multi-vitamin. Be sure to read DietarySupplements for more information. See also HeartHealth, as there seems to be some overlap between what it takes to keep in your mind in top shape and what it takes to keep your heart in top shape.

Bottom line, dont even bother with any supplements if you are not taking a good quality multivitamin first.

Melatonin
Category: Amino Acid, Antioxidant
Benefits: Sleep
People might find it a little unusual to have Melatonin in this list here considering it doesn’t have any brain enhancing capabilities. I see it a bit differently though, quality sleep in my opinion is one of the best cognitive enhancing things you can do (regular exercise & healthy diet are the best). Melatonin is natural way to help with sleep, and I know I am not the only person in this crazy busy, overstressed world, that has problems sleeping and getting a good nights rest.

Melatonin is also an anti-oxidant as well, so that is a bit of a bonus on the health side. Iin comparison to most of other Nootropics, Melatonin is also insanely inexpensive, you can get a 3 month supply of a very high quality product for like $5.

Other Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/melatonin/NS_patient-melatonin
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/472385_print
Product Links

http://search.lef.org/cgi-src-bin/MsmGo.exe?grab_id=0&page_id=949&query=melatonin%20timed&hiword=MELATON%20MELATONINA%20MELATONINON%20MELATONINS%20TIME%20TIMES%20melatonin%20timed%20

Im planning to start a low dosage (750mcg) of timed release Melatonin taken 45minutes before bed to help me sleep.

Hydergine
Category: .
Benefits: .
Blood flow support & neuroprotectant

Vinpocetine
Category: Herb
Function: Vasodialator
Benefits: Memory+
Improves blood & oxygen flow in the brain.

This allegedly also has some HeartHealth benefits as well, especially those with high homocysteine levels.

Research has typically used 30 to 60 mg per day of vinpocetine. Taking vinpocetine with food appears to dramatically improve its absorption.

Centrophenoxine
Category: Nootropic
Benefits: .
Lipofuscin removal & Choline support

Racetams (Piracetam, Aniracetam, Oxiracetam)
Category: Nootropic
Benefits: .
Piracetam is really the drug that got the whole “Nootropic” thing going. It has been extensively studied and has been proved to be extremely safe, even in relatively obscene dosages. However what has not been fully proven is efficacy in otherwise healthy adults (lots of data to support helping Alzheimers patients), there is some evidence showing benefits in otherwise healthy folks (ToDo?: Add the links here)

Other Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piracetam
http://www.antiaging-systems.com/a2z/piracetam.htm

ALCAR (Acetyl-L-Carnitine)
Category: .
Benefits: Cellular Energy+
Benefits: Antioxidant, Neuronal Energizer

Can also help restore cortisol receptors in the brain.

ALA / (+) R-ALA
Category: Antioxidant
Benefits: .
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) has been identified as a powerful antioxidant found naturally in our diets, but it appears to have increased functional capacity when given as a supplement in the form of a natural or synthetic isolate,” state Canadian researchers in the November 2003 issue of The Journal of Nutrition. They also noted that ALA prevents cardiovascular risk factors such as LDL oxidation and high blood pressure.

NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine)
Category: Antioxidant
Benefits: Glutathione+
Other Links

http://www.vitacost.com/Jarrow-Formulas-N-A-C-Sustain

CoQ10

http://medicine.ucsd.edu/ses/adverse_effects.htm#Statins%20and%20CoQ10
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20050915/1065.html
Coenzyme Q10 exists in both ubiquinol and ubiquinone forms, but they have very different roles to play in the body. For the first time, a stabilized ubiquinol form of CoQ10? is available in capsule form. When compared to conventional (ubiquinone) CoQ10? supplements, the benefits of ubiquinol are enormously superior. (From http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/ss2006_report_coq10_01.htm)

There is also some evidence that CoQ10? can assist with gum disease (Gingivitis).

Product Links

http://www.lef.org/newshop/items/item00952.html
http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Enhanced-Absorption-Antioxidant-ToCoQ10-60-mg-240-Softgels

Alpha Glyceryl Phosphoryl Choline (A-GPC)
Category: Choline/Phospholipid
Function: .
Benefits: Memory+, Learnign+
Choline donor, seems to be the preferred choice (with the possible exception of Centrophenoxine)

Phosphatidylserine (PS)
Category: Choline/Phospholipid
Function: .
Benefits: Cognition+, Memory+, Stress-
Ability to regulate cortisol in the system. One study indicated 800 mg elemental per day dramatically reduced cortisol (a harmful stress hormone) levels in athletes and improved their immune system. Another study in Germany indicated similar results in humans at only 400 mg elemental per day.

Published research in Europe has indicated PS could slow and even reverse the rate of brain cell aging in laboratory animals. PS restored mental function in older animals to levels exceeding those found in some younger animals.

There is also a lot of controversy surrounding it, most of the original trials were done with items derived from cow brains, but current products use soy. The article from AOR pretty much tries to indicate that PS isnt as valuable as say A-GPC in terms of brain functioning, but the article doesnt speak directly to cortisol reduction.

Phosphatidylserine boosts acetylcholine levels and contributes to healthy brain cell membranes, with benefits for cognition and mood. Phosphatidylserine may be even more effective when combined with the omega-3 fatty acid DHA.

Other Links

http://www.aor.ca/us/magazines/pdf/Advances6_PS_is_Passe_Citicoline_new_phospholipid_for_brain_health.pdf
Product Links

http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Phosphatidylserine-Complex

Rhodiola
Category: Herb, Adaptogen
Function: .
Benefits: Energy+, Fatigue-
Increases energy without being a CNS stimulant.

Energy & motivation improvement.

Personal Note: Ive been taking this for a few weeks I can personally attest to a positive impact while taking this!!! It has noticably helped my energy levels (Im not “crashing” in the afternoons like I did before) and I believe my thinking is a bit quicker/clearer.

Other Links

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/feb2006_report_rhodiola_01.htm
http://www.herbalgram.org/herbalgram/articleview.asp?a=2333
http://www.smart-drugs.net/Rhodiola-rosea.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodiola_Rosea

Product Links

http://www.vitacost.com/Natures-Way-Rhodiola-Rosea-Standardized
http://www.lef.org/newshop/items/item00889.html
http://www.aor.ca/us/products/rhodiola.php
http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Rhodiola-Rosea/cas-1

Ashwaghandha
Category: Herb, Antioxidant
Function: Increase Acetylcholine Receptor Activty
Benefits: Anxiety-, Stress-
Also known as Withania somnifera. Improve Alpha brain wave activity.

Reduction in cortisol levels, which is good to counter stress. There is also one link on positive benefits for cholesterol as well (PMID: 16713218). Often taken with Rhodiola to balance the extra energy available and to calm the brain waves.

Other Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashwagandha
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/jun2006_report_ashwa_01.htm
Product Links

http://www.vitacost.com/JarrowFormulasSensorilAshwagandha
http://www.aor.ca/us/products/gandha.php
http://www.lef.org/newshop/items/item00888.html

Bacopa
Category: Herb
Function: .
Benefits: Energy+, Alertness+, Stress-
Increases energy without being a CNS stimulant.

Other Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacopa%20monnieri
Product Links

http://www.aor.ca/us/products/bacopa_enlighten.php
http://www.relentlessimprovement.com

Deprenyl/Selegiline
Category: .
Benefits: .
See also Bacopa as there is some evidence that they are similar in functioning.

Dopamine reuptake inhibitor (MAO-B suppressor)

No Comment Nootropics/Vitamins/Supplements
These are items I have in essence put on my “I either don’t know if it makes sense to take or you shouldnt take it” list. It could be for a variety of reasons, things that I couldnt find enough research on, things I just havent had the time to research, things that I did find research on that could be detrimental to you, etc.

Relora
Category: .
Benefits: .
Allegedly a big help on cortisol & DHEA in the body.

Idebenone
Category: .
Benefits: .
Synthetic version of CoQ10?. Slightly different characteristics. Jury still seems to be out on the benefit of CoQ10? vs Idebenone.

The claimed benefit of Idebenone was that it would not turn into a free radical under local oxygen conditions. I think the new ubiquinol version of CoQ10? exhibits the same benefits.

Huperzine
Category: Herb
Function: Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor
Benefits: Memory+, Learning+
Inhibits the breakdown of Acetylcholine in the brain. Seems to have some potential long term affects. Might be relevent for older folks but doesnt seem to make sense at my age.

Glantamine
Category: .
Benefits: .

Bioglycin
Category: .
Benefits: .

Pyritinol
Category: .
Benefits: .

Sam-e
Category: .
Benefits: .

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
Category: Amino Acid
Benefits: Sleep+, Mood+
Serotonin precursor, but issues with generation outside of the brain causing heart issues. Not recommended.

Pregnelone
Category: .
Benefits: .

Prescription Medications

Add some stuff here on some of the European items that require prescriptions in the usa.

Modafinil

Tianeptine

InUtero? Nutrients

Prenatal Vitamins -
Folic Acid -
Fish Oil - http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Fish-oil-gives-babies-head-start-study/2006/12/21/1166290662198.html
Vitamin-D -

Misc/Comments/Notes
See also HeartHealth

These are various notes that I found interesting/insightful from other websites that I have cut & pasted to trigger me to do more research etc. This means when they use personal pronouns like I/me/mine/myself it doesnt actually mean me, it means the guy who wrote it over on another website.

Absorption of vinpocetine is significantly higher when given with food and can be up to about 60% of an ingested dose. On an empty stomach, absorption of an ingested dose can be as low as 7%. Peak plasma levels are obtained one to one and a half hours after ingestion. — JohnCavanaugh - 04 Sep 2007 - 23:51
Bill Sardi recommends supplementing with about 2,000mg of Jarrow IP6 about 2 hours after dinner and about 2 hours before bed. For, 30 days once every year. — JohnCavanaugh - 19 Jun 2007 - 13:10
Paradoxically, Rhodiola increases energy at low doses (100 mg, once or twice per day). At higher doses (and most common supplements come in 250-500mg capsules), it functions as a general adaptogen, but does NOT increase energy. Also, it is generally suggested that one take a two week hiatus from the herb, every six weeks, in order to maintain it’s effectiveness.
Age-dependent cognitive impairments have been correlated with functional and structural modifications in the hippocampal formation. In particular, the brain endogenous steroid pregnenolone-sulfate (Preg-S) is a cognitive enhancer whose hippocampal levels have been linked physiologically to cognitive performance in senescent animals. However, the mechanism of its actions remains unknown. Because neurogenesis is sensitive to hormonal influences, we examined the effect of Preg-S on neurogenesis, a novel form of plasticity, in young and old rats. We demonstrate that in vivo infusion of Preg-S stimulates neurogenesis and the expression of the polysialylated forms of NCAM, PSA-NCAM, in the dentate gyrus of 3- and 20-month-old rats. These influences on hippocampal plasticity are mediated by the modulation of the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor complex A (GABA(A)) receptors present on hippocampal neuroblasts.
But the most exciting of the recent animal studies* shows that Bacopa boosts the brain’s production of the key protective antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT). In this, Bacopa is closely paralleling the effects of deprenyl (selegiline), a drug prescribed for Parkinson’s disease, which is being taken by many people in the life extension movement because animal studies suggest that it has potent anti-aging effect. Remarkably, however, the effects of Bacopa were shown to be even more broad ranging than those of deprenyl: Bacopa cranked up levels of these enzymes in every tested area of the brain, while deprenyl failed to upregulate these enzymes in the hippocampus.
It may be a good idea to think about DMAE if you are taking Carnosine. There is some evidence that lipofusin may be a byproduct of AGE crosslink breaking. There is growing evidence that carnosine not only prevents AGEs, but may also break the crosslinks to some degree.
It may be a good idea to think about DMAE if you are taking Carnosine. There is some evidence that lipofusin may be a byproduct of AGE crosslink breaking. There is growing evidence that carnosine not only prevents AGEs, but may also break the crosslinks to some degree.
I take Alcar away from everything else. I take R-ALA Gel, ashwaganda, and bacopa together at night. I also take R-ALA Gel, ashwaganda, and rhodiola in the morning. Seems to work for me, and that is about the best thing I can tell you. I certainly don’t think there are any absorption issues (I came to this conclusion a long time ago after pouring over info on each of these).

I find it incredibly difficult to be lazy when my dopamine levels are in good shape. Try low doses of Deprenyl (1-2mg) + L-Tyrosine. LOW doses though, don’t rely on dopamine alone for energy. And cycle your usage.
Apparently staying awake longer, in specifically the 11pm - 1am range calls for an extra cortisol boost that you wouldn’t normally have and really contributes to overworking the adrenals.
I am going to try something a little less researched than the above therapy, but makes sense in theory. The adrenal glands use coenzyme A to produce all of their hormones from cholesterol. Pantethine is an important precursor to coenzyme A. Pantethine is manufactured from pantothenic acid (B5). The conversion of pantothenic acid to pantethine is apparently a demanding one, and can falter in some situations (adrenal fatigue?). In this instance, cholesterol will be high (its not getting metabolized by Coenzyme A) and hormones will be low (from pregnenolone on down the chain). Thats what my current picture looks like.
I like patented, branded forms of supplements when possible (sensoril for ashwaghanda, bacopin for bacopa, etc)
Then try using isolated amino acid precursors such as phenylalanine and tyrosine. On an empty stomach away from other amino acids. If you are dopamine deficient, this will usually give you a great felling of overall wellness. I remember using pheny and tyrosine when I was studying for exams and it really made me feel on top of the world.
5-HTP IS KNOWN to raise serotonin levels also outside brain (in contrast to SSRIs). Raised serotonin outside brain IS KNOWN to cause heart valve damage.
take the tryptophan 2 hours after or 1 hour before a meal… on an empty stomach, with a b complex washed down with orange juice. the b vitamins, and the vitamin C and sugar in the orange juice assure the tryptophan will convert to serotonin adequatley, so thats very important. taking it in the morning ensures adequate serotonin production, taking it at night ensures adequate melotonin production
When it comes to healthy people over 40 who take deprenyl, these Parkinson’s studies help to corroborate the recommendation of Dr. Joseph Knoll who has adamantly stated that, for the purpose of slowing brain aging, humans should take only two 5-mg deprenyl tablets a week. Knoll has published numerous articles showing that deprenyl protects the brain against numerous insults inflicted by normal aging. He also has conducted studies showing that animals supplemented with deprenyl have extended life spans.
Animal studies also indicate that blueberries help maintain high levels of new cell generation in the hippocampus, the brain area that suffers extensive damage in Alzheimer’s disease
Need to research DHEA as some are speculating that hormone imbalance also affects HEART health such as cholesterol
Rhodiola itself give me more energy but also some mild anxiety. But combined with ashwagandha…..wow this combo is crazy. I’m full of positive energy and i can’t seem to get tired mentally. I’m currently working all day and night and was starting to get under heavy stress, but since i’m using this combo (started 7 days ago) i’m feeling like i’m having the best time of my life….it’s so good I’m using 1 x LEF Rhodiola 3% 250 mg and 1 x Jarrow Sensoril Ashwaganda 8% 225 mg in the morning and in the afternoon or evening.
Check out tyrosine. Occasionally taking this amino acid before a stressful activity can help maintain your mental capacity; calculate 150 mg for every 2.2 lbs of body weight and split into two doses (take the second dose 40 to 90 minutes after the first)
Stablon is the brnad name for the drug Tianeptine available for the first time now. The drug is manufactured by the original patent holder Servier via its subsidiary Serdia in India
NAC, Rala (lipoic acid), and garlic are sulfur compounds that boost glutathione, a powerful intracellular antioxidant.
ALCAR has a longer half-life, but should still best be taken at least twice daily. It should be taken away from food and from other quaternary amines (including DMAE, choline, and TMG) as they share a transporter system in the brain and GI and will compete for absorption if taken together. - quoted from an answer by AOR Support
Hydergine/Idebenone/Alcar-arginate/Ashwaganda for NGF
HuperzineA? could be a replacement for galantamine (rotate them?) but galantamine has nicotinic activity that mediates study, focus, and retention
Theanine…..I find this to be great as an anti-anxiety supp. I take this with my before bed supps.
DMAE, It has the same effects as choline supplements (and it will counteract choline); and since real choline is better, take that instead of DMAE.
Phosphatidylserine - This phospholipid, which has been known mainly for its cognitive effects, seems to have cortisol-suppressive properties. Recent research shows that 800 mg Phosphatidylserine given in two divided oral doses helps suppress cortisol secondary to intense weight training. (11) In fact, in this same study, the individuals using PS experienced less muscle soreness as well. Earlier research by Monteleone confirms these results. By decreasing cortisol levels, the testosterone: cortisol ratio can increase possibly relating to anabolic effects. PS seems to only decrease cortisol levels when they are elevated and does not seem to decrease cortisol levels below normal. Decreasing cortisol levels or suppression of cortisol production is not desired in many instances as it may cause adverse effects such as a decrease in reaction time to wounds and healing mechanisms in the body. There are two forms of PS available: a brain cortex derivative and a soy lecithin derivative. The brain cortex PS has been used in most of the studies and shown to be effective.
Has anyone tried Relora? They claim it reduced cortisol levels by 37% and, of more significance in my opinion, raised DHEA levels 227% in a small group suffering from moderate stress. That represents a dramatic shift in the DHEA:Cortisol ratio, one of the better overall benchmarks of health. My enthusiasm is based on the hope that their little in-house trial was not complete BS. The key point here is that is that elevated cortisol and depressed DHEA are associated with cronic stress, correcting this is important for general health.
I would try rhodiola rosea. It’s very good for stress and you can take it every day. Theanine has only a small effect. Phenibut is stronger but you can’t take it every day because the effects become less and you need more and more.
I am taking Vitamin C sustained release with my N-Acetyl-Cysteine in the morning. I have also halved my NAC dose from 600mg each time to 300mg. From what I have read, taking 2 to 3 times the amount of Vitamin C with the NAC helps keep the glutathione that is produced from the Cysteine in its reduced form so that it can continue acting as an antioxidant. NAC is a precursor to reduced glutathione (GSH). Vitamin C minimises the oxidation of GSH into its oxidized form GSSG
Cognition persistence, http://www.relentlessimprovement.com/learn/2005/12/persistance_of_cognitive_enhan.php
Another thing is that ALCAR and Piracetam/Choline fight for the transporter so you should take them away from each other. Take your choline+’tams together and away from your ALCAR+Lipoic’s. Also, I recommend buying some galantamine 4mg. Take 1×4mg with your choline+’tams in the morning, and then repeat in the afternoon. This will also alow you to cut your dose of RALA from 2×600mg to 2×300mg.
Galantamine inhibits the breakdown of acetylcholine is the brain. It is an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor
One supplement I think makes sense to cycle is N-Acetyl-Cysteine, which is a sulfur supplement. Orthomolecular recommends, esp. for one type, to take methionine as a sulfur supplement. And the cycle for a sulfur supplement is 5 days on and two days off.
Melatonin nightly is probably one of the most underrated supplements.
One of the most important ways nootropics such as hydergine and piracetam can enhance cognition is by helping to cleanse the brain of a substance called lipofuscin—a fatty material that interferes with the brain’s synapses, preventing them from releasing neurotransmitters that enable the communication of information among nerve cells. Lipofuscin is a product of the buildup of free radicals, which are molecules with a free—that is, unpaired—electron.
Piracetam is supplied in 400mg or 800mg capsules or tablets. The usual dose is 2400 to 4800 mg per day in three divided doses. Some literature recommends that the first two days a high “attack” dose should be taken. We have noticed that often when people first take piracetam they do not notice any effect at all until they take a high dose (approximately 4000 to 8000mg). Thereafter, they may notice that a lower dosage is sufficient. Piracetam takes effect within 30 to 60 minutes.
We know of one person who claims she feels slightly agitated and depressed if she takes piracetam for more than a week without a choline supplement. This feeling is alleviated for her with a single dose of choline. It may be that the piracetam causes acetylcholine to be used up more quickly and that the choline helps to replace this important neurotransmitter.
Piracetam and Phosphocholine. Choline is necessary because one of the major effects of Piracetam is the stimulation of increased numbers of acetylcholine receptors. Without choline this step is inefficient and choline should be given in conjunction with Piracetam within 8 hour timespan. A dosage of 250 mg of phosphocholine for every 20 pounds of weight, up to 800 mg, in conjunction with Piracetam, is recommended for persons not on NuTriVene?-D®. The dosage can be doubled for adults up to 1600 mg. Phosphocholine, also known as Phosphatidyl Choline or Lecithin, is available from most health food stores.
I liked piracetam so much that I decided to try it with vincamine and xanthinol nicotinate. I took standard doses of all three — 2400 mg of piracetam, 20 mg of vincamine, and 300 mg of xanthinol nicotinate. I actually felt stupid! I had the ‘right on the tip of my tongue’ response for hours. Recently a friend suggested that I combine Hydergine with piracetam, explaining that the two synergize each other, and that I should try a small dose of each. I had tried Hydergine years ago and liked it a lot, but found it prohibitively expensive. I decided to experiment with these two in combination with ginkgo biloba. I started with what I thought were very small quantities, 1/4 mg of Hydergine, 200 mg of piracetam, and 50 mg of ginkgo, but found the combination to be extraordinary. I’ve tried many different cognitive enhancers, but this low-cost, low-dose combination is my favorite.” -BP
I started taking piracetam with choline about a year ago and have found this combination to be one of the best things that ever happened to me. I no longer get extreme mood swings, I am much happier in general, and my concentration and speaking ability is better. I also found that my relationships with family and friends have improved, probably due to my increased self confidence.” -HH
There are 3 commercially available analogues to Piracetam. They are Aniracetam, Oxiracetam and Pramiracetam. The most “different” chemically speaking is pramiracetam and the “least” is Oxiracetam.
Aniracetam and Pramiracetam are more fat than water soluble (compared to Piracetam and Oxiracetam) and as a result the half-life of the drug is longer. In other words the effects last longer. The differences between all the analogues are more subjective and individual and therefore there is no set “this will do that and that will do this etc.”
All the analogues of Piracetam are more potent than it (when compared mg to mg). For example one study suggested that the optimal maximum dose of Piracetam was 100mg per Kg body weight (that’s 2.2 Lbs.), but Pramiracetam was found to be as effective at 15mg per Kg body weight (a difference of more than 6x).
There is also evidence that Aniracetam displays the most stimulatory affect upon brain AMPA receptors and that the piracetam analogues may exert more brain hemispheric intercommunication across the corpus callosum (thereby improving ying and yang).
That’s the good news, the bad news is that all the analogues are considerably more expensive than Piracetam! The analogues of Piracetam are also not made on a regular basis, and from time to time become temporarily unavailable.
On a personal note I prefer aniracetam and it is also the nootropic drug of choice in Japan. Attention and vigilance are improved over piracetam and as I say the effects last longer after taking the pills.
However, as is so true of much of mental enhancement and indeed anti-aging medicine some careful individual experimentation is probably required to determine which one is best for you.
Centrophenoxine has long being known to be extremely effective at reducing lipofuscin levels. Lipofuscin describes the potassium build up in the brain, heart, lung and skin cells. This biochemical clutter accumulates over a lifetime, sometimes reaching 30% of the cell volume in aged animals.
Thus, centrophenoxine, piracetam and acetyl-L-carnitine would be an “all star” combination for cognition enhancement. Human studies have found centrophenoxine to be effective at restoring intellectual well being. (http://www.smart-drugs.net/ias-centrophenoxine.htm)
cerebral arteriosclerosis is less well known to the public than heart disease, but it is just as common, and develops gradually over a lifetime. By the time serious symptoms develop, as with heart disease, the blood vessel occlusion is usually well advanced. Vinpocetine can minimize the structural/ functional damage to brain neurons that may accompany gradually developing cerebral arteriosclerosis.