Apoaequorin as a Nootropic

Calcium-binding protein apoaequorin may improve memory, focus, and learning, according to contentious research.

Apoaequorin is a calcium-binding protein drawn from jellyfish that has demonstrated some brain boosting activity. Its nootropic effects seem to stem from its penchant to:

• Promote neuroprotection. Apoaequorin has been shown to protect brain cells from death and injury.

Overview

Apoaequorin is a particular type of enzyme that, along with coelenterazine, make up the photoprotein aequorin, which is most widely recognized as the bioluminescent protein derived from jellyfish, Aequorea victoria.¹

Apoaequorin constitutes the calcium binding portion of aequorin. And the calcium-binding activity of apoaequorin has led to its natural association with a number of potential health benefits, above all, protecting brain cells from degradation.

Accordingly, apoaequorin has been used by some health practitioners alone or with other nootropics to help improve such active cognitive functions as memory, learning recall, and focus.

How Apoaequorin Might Help the Brain

Regulating calcium binding activity

As the calcium binding component of aequorin, apoaequorin has demonstrated a potential capacity to protect brain cells from external damage and cell death through calcium-binding activity. This neuroimmunomodulatory mechanism has been speculated to function on multiple fronts:²

1. Maintaining low levels of free-flowing calcium in the body
2. Increasing the expression of cytokines, especially interleukin 10 (IL-10), which may ultimately pre-condition neurons to withstand future injury

Apoaequorin Benefits & Uses for Brain Health

Apoaequorin has been associated with enhancements in memory, focus, and learning in limited clinical research.³ It has specifically been shown to improve word recall, increase the memorization of driving directions, and reduce the need for reminders. Supplementation with apoaequorin is particularly relevant for seniors since the availability of calcium binding proteins naturally declines with age.

Research

Animal Research

Animal research has displayed apoaequorin’s ability to:

• Protect neurons against cell degradation in rats
• Improve performance on learning and attention tasks in dogs⁴

Human Research

Clinical studies and reviews have reported that apoaequorin may improve various facets of cognitive function. The fact that the research was funded by a major manufacturer of apoaequorin supplements, Quincy Bioscience, puts its validity into question.

Apoaequorin (10 mg) may improve cognitive function in aging adults

In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation, 218 adults over the age of 40 years, were administered either a placebo or apoaequorin every day for 90 days. Based on cognitive assessments, the apoaequorin group showed significant improvements in verbal learning as well as recall compared to the placebo group.

• The study concluded that “apoaequorin is a well-tolerated supplement that improved cognitive function in aging adults.”⁵

Apoaequorin may improve memory, verbal, and visual learning

In this double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation, 222 people with memory complaints were given either a placebo or apoaequorin every day for a 90-day period. The apoaequorin group demonstrated statistically significant gains in memory and learning recall as well as verbal and visual learning compared to the placebo group.

• The study concluded that “these results show a strong relationship between apoaequorin and improvements on several quantitative measures of cognitive function.”⁶

Nootropic Dosage

• Successful clinical studies have used 10 mg of apoaequorin as Prevagen.
• Typical supplement doses include 10 – 40 mg of apoaequorin per day.

Available Forms

• Synthetic apoaequorin is available in the form of capsules, softgels, pills, or chewable tablets