Peptides are short chains of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, obtained through foods like soy, legumes and fish and occurring naturally in the body. Insulin, for example, is a peptide that regulates blood sugar, while others aid digestion, regulate blood pressure and cause ovulation. Medical science has learned to use peptides as medicine—GLP-1s have revolutionized health care for many people, and insulin is synthesized for those with diabetes.
However, significant concerns exist about compounding pharmacies and online marketers pushing peptides to address everything from muscle-building to cognition and sleep without certifying contents, efficacy or safety. In response, the Food and Drug Administration removed 19 peptides from a list of drugs that compounding pharmacies could produce in 2023. In July, the FDA will discuss whether to add back seven peptides, labeling them “For Research Purposes Only”—meaning users essentially become research subjects. Another five may be reintroduced later.
Some peptides have been approved by the FDA for specific uses: folks with HIV, those who are light sensitive or those seeking to boost libido. When prescribed off-label by doctors for other reasons, they have at least been through clinical trials. Before taking any peptide, consulting with a doctor is essential to avoid endangering health while pursuing better health outcomes.
Brain Health at Any Age
Research contradicts the assumption that cognitive decline is inevitable with aging. A Nature Scientific Reports study tracking nearly 4,000 adults ages 19 to 94 over three years in the BrainHealth Project clearly demonstrated that there is no age at which cognition and brain power cannot improve. The best improvements came through targeted, brain-healthy micro-training practices: active listening, mini-quizzes, bursts of physical activity and self-reflection. Participants doing the most daily 5-15-minute sessions of these activities while adopting brain-healthy habits (a plant-based diet, good sleep, sense of purpose and physical activity) achieved the highest brain health scores.
A study published in Innovation in Aging found that engaging in the arts—reading, listening to music or visiting galleries or museums—slows biological aging as much as regular exercise does. Young or old, all participants received the same degree of benefit.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.crescent-news.com/columnists/syndicated_columnists/michael-roizen-m-d-wading-into-the-tide-of-peptides-improve-your-cognition-at-any/article_428658b0-9070-4e85-831a-5174186ac1d6.html