Boosting Brain and Body: The Impact of Nootropic Ingredients on Acetylcholine, Dopamine, and Neuroplasticity

Message from Jack Owoc

You and I set the beverage industry ablaze by creating the multi-billion dollar performance energy drink category. We pioneered emotional and social global connectivity by making energy drinks flavorful and fun. I am stoked to bring you Ai Energy, my most brilliant and delicious innovation ever! The vibrant exhilaration you will feel when drinking Ai Energy is unparalleled.

How Ai Energy Works

“Ai Energy was designed to deliver a powerful and positive uplifting, vibrant, and energizing effect using ingredients that work in concert to improve motivation and mood. These components also increase four critical neurotransmitters, including dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine and acetylcholine. These neurotransmitters play key roles in muscle activation, learning, and memory and improve brain and body energy way beyond caffeine alone.” —Jack Owoc 

Why We Developed Ai Energy:

• Increase Energy and Alertness: The primary goal was to create a product that boosts energy and alertness using innovative ingredients like CDP Citicoline, which supports brain health and cognitive function.
• Health-Conscious Ingredients: We ensured that Ai Energy is sugar-free, gluten-free, and calorie-free, following our pioneering movement with Bang Energy to mainstream healthier options.

Unique Benefits:

• Zero Calories, Zero Sugar, Zero Carbohydrates.
• Zero Environmentally Destructive “natural caffeine”.
• Zero alpha GPC, which may negatively impact cardiovascular health and cause arteriosclerosis over time.
• Zero cyanocobalamin.

N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine (NALT)

N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine (NALT) is a more bioavailable form of the amino acid L-Tyrosine, essential for synthesizing neurotransmitters like dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.

Benefits:

• Body and Brain Energy: Enhances physical and mental energy, reducing fatigue and boosting endurance.
• Enhanced Mood and Feel-Good Factor: Improves mood and motivation through increased dopamine levels.
• Neuroplasticity and Creativity: Supports the brain’s adaptability by maintaining optimal neurotransmitter levels, crucial for learning, memory, and creative thinking.

Role in Dopamine Production:

• Dopamine Synthesis: NALT is a direct precursor to L-DOPA, which is then converted into dopamine. This process is vital for maintaining adequate levels of dopamine in the brain, influencing mood, focus, and cognitive performance.
• Stress Response: By increasing dopamine levels, NALT helps improve cognitive performance, particularly under stress.

CDP Citicoline

CDP Citicoline is a naturally occurring compound that enhances brain function by increasing the levels of choline and phosphatidylcholine.

Benefits:

• Body and Brain Energy: Boosts brain energy metabolism by promoting the synthesis of phospholipids and supporting mitochondrial function, enhancing overall energy levels.
• Enhanced Mood and Feel-Good Factor: Supports mood and cognitive function by increasing the levels of acetylcholine and dopamine.
• Neuroplasticity and Creativity: Enhances neuroplasticity by supporting membrane integrity and repair, crucial for synaptic plasticity and cognitive flexibility.

Unique Properties of CDP Citicoline:

• Special Type of Choline: CDP Citicoline is unique because of its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier efficiently and its dual role in increasing both choline and phosphatidylcholine levels.
• Chemical Bond: The compound consists of cytidine and choline linked by a phosphate bond, which allows it to enhance the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, an essential component of cell membranes, and increase acetylcholine levels.
• Comprehensive Molecule: This dual action makes CDP Citicoline a more comprehensive supplement for brain health compared to other forms of choline.

Role in Dopamine Production:

• Dopamine Synthesis: CDP Citicoline increases dopamine receptor densities and enhances dopamine release, improving attention, memory, and overall cognitive function.

Why Not Choline Bitartrate?

• Ineffectiveness: Choline bitartrate is less effective because it has poor bioavailability and does not cross the blood-brain barrier efficiently, limiting its ability to significantly impact brain choline levels.
• Scientific References: [No Acute Effects of Choline Bitartrate Food Supplements on Memory in Healthy, Young, Human Adults]

Why Not Alpha GPC?

Potential Cardiovascular Problems: While Alpha GPC is effective in increasing choline levels, studies have raised serious concerns about its long-term safety. Specifically, Alpha GPC has been linked to an increase in levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite strongly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, including arterial sclerosis.

Danger of Arterial Sclerosis:  Arterial sclerosis, or the hardening and narrowing of the arteries, is a critical condition that can lead to severe cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. The consumption of Alpha GPC has been shown to elevate TMAO levels, accelerating the development of arterial sclerosis and posing significant health risks over time.

Strong Warning: Given these findings, the use of Alpha GPC poses a substantial danger to cardiovascular health. The potential for increased arterial sclerosis and related cardiovascular issues makes Alpha GPC a risky supplement for long-term use.

Scientific References: [Association of L-α Glycerylphosphorylcholine With Subsequent Stroke Risk After 10 Years]

L-Theanine

L-Theanine increases dopamine levels, contributing to improved mood and emotional regulation. L-Theanine also increases GABA levels, promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety.

Huperzine-A

Huperzine-A is a potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, meaning it prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine, leading to increased levels of this neurotransmitter, improving memory and cognitive function.

Mucuna Pruriens

Mucuna Pruriens is rich in L-DOPA, a direct precursor to dopamine. It increases dopamine levels, which can enhance mood, motivation, and overall cognitive function.
Since dopamine is a precursor to norepinephrine and epinephrine, Mucuna Pruriens may also increase levels of these neurotransmitters, improving alertness and focus.

Caffeine

Caffeine increases dopamine levels by blocking adenosine receptors, enhancing mood and improving focus. Caffeine stimulates the release of norepinephrine and epinephrine, increasing alertness and physical performance. Caffeine indirectly enhances acetylcholine activity, improving focus and cognitive function.

Synergistic Effect:

While Ai makes no claims, the formula was designed to deliver a powerful and positive uplifting, vibrant, euphoric, and energizing effect. This may occur because of its ingredients working in concert, delivering an effect that may be greater than the individual ingredients, known in science as a synergistic effect.

Scientific references:

N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine (NALT):

1. Dopamine synthesis and cognitive function:

• Article: "Effect of tyrosine supplementation on clinical and healthy populations under stress or cognitive demands—A review"

2. Effects on mood and stress:

• Article: "Tyrosine promotes cognitive flexibility: evidence from proactive vs. reactive control during task switching performance" 

3. Improving neuroplasticity and learning:

• Article: "Behavioral and cognitive effects of tyrosine intake in healthy human adults"

CDP Citicoline:

1. Neuroprotection and cognitive function:

• Article: "The role of citicoline in cognitive impairment: pharmacological characteristics, possible advantages, and doubts for an old drug with new perspectives"

2. Dopamine receptor density and mood:

• Article: "Citicoline: pharmacological and clinical review"

3. Brain energy metabolism:

• Article: "Citicoline as Adjuvant Therapy in Parkinson's Disease"

L-Theanine:

1. Mood and relaxation:

• Article: "Theanine"

2. Dopamine modulation:

• Article: "L-Theanine Modulates Dopamine Levels in the Brain and Promotes Relaxation"

3. Cognitive function:

• Article: "Effects of L-theanine on attention and reaction time response"

Huperzine-A:

1. Memory improvement:

• Article: "New insights into huperzine A for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease"

2. Acetylcholine levels:

• Article: "Comparative studies of huperzine A, donepezil, and rivastigmine on brain acetylcholine, dopamine, norepinephrine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine levels in freely-moving rats"

3. Neuroprotection:

• Article: "Promising tacrine/huperzine A-based dimeric acetylcholinesterase inhibitors for neurodegenerative disorders"

Mucuna Pruriens:

1. Dopamine synthesis:

• Article: "Mucuna pruriens in Parkinson's disease: a double blind clinical and pharmacological study"

2. Mood and motivation:

• Article: "Dopamine mediated antidepressant effect of Mucuna pruriens seeds in various experimental models of depression"

3. Neuroprotection:

• Article: "Neuroprotection by Mucuna pruriens in Neurodegenerative Diseases"

Caffeine:

1. Dopamine modulation and mood:

• Article: "Caffeine increases striatal dopamine D2/D3 receptor availability in the human brain"

2. Cognitive enhancement:

• Article: "A review of caffeine’s effects on cognitive, physical and occupational performance"

3. Physical performance:

• Article: "Effects of Caffeine Intake on Endurance Running Performance and Time to Exhaustion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis"

 

Disclaimer

I have over 30 years of experience in product design and created Ai Energy to enhance well-being. The statements in this article have not been evaluated by the FDA. Consult a healthcare provider before starting any diet, supplement regimen, or exercise program. This article is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Ai Energy and its ingredients are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual responses to ingredients can vary based on genetics, age, weight, and other factors. Consume responsibly. Do not exceed one Ai Energy drink per day. This product is intended for healthy individuals over the age of 18. Do not consume if you have any medical condition or are taking any medications. Do not consume if you are pregnant or nursing.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.