Growth hormone supplementation is sought because of its ability to slow down the hands of time, assist weight loss and promote lean muscle mass accumulation.
The benefits of HGH, however, extend beyond these wonderful advantages. Numerous studies establish a relationship between growth hormone supplementation and enhanced cognitive function.
Several studies have been carried out to determine whether growth hormone supplementation could be used to help adults suffering from mild to moderate cognitive dysfunction.
The results of one interesting study were published in the Archives of Neurology. The researchers found out that the level of growth hormone decreases sharply at older age and this phenomenon could even be connected to problems like Alzheimer’s disease.
The study involved 152 adult volunteers aged 55 to 87 that were either healthy or suffering from mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
The experiment continued for a period of 30 weeks, during which one of the groups was administered growth hormones and the second group took a placebo.
Blood samples were drawn at the end of the experiment and cognitive tests were used to evaluate the performance of volunteers.
Due to the growth hormone supplementation, the cognition was similar in the healthy volunteers and the ones suffering from MCI. Both the healthy participants and the ones having MCI saw improvement in their cognitive function.
How Does Growth Hormone Affect Brain Function
The manner in which growth hormone function is very simple, yet its effects on the human brain are profound.
Growth hormone is produced by the pituitary in children, teenagers and younger adults. With the passage of time, its production stops almost entirely. In turn, growth hormone stimulates the production of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1).
Researchers have established that both of these hormones affect the functioning of the brain. This could be one of the reasons why so many senior individuals experience some degree of cognitive decline as a result of aging.
Though this is the basic explanation, the full mechanism in which growth hormone affects the human brain is yet to be understood.
There are still dozens of questions about Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive problems. Researchers are moving forward but a lot of additional work will be needed to pinpoint all of the risk factors and identify the most beneficial types of treatments.
Traumatic Brain Injury And HGH
It also seems that growth hormone could prove to be a promising treatment option for the individuals suffering from traumatic brain injury.
According to a report published in Life Extension Magazine, HGH is the most deficient hormone in patients suffering from traumatic brain injury.
The low growth hormone levels are also associated to low levels of other hormones, the accumulation of excess weight and anxiety or even depression.
Researchers found out that the low growth hormone levels in these patients result in an inability to focus, remember or have emotional reactions within a “normal” range.
The human brain has growth hormone receptors and these are predominantly found in the regions of the brain responsible for learning new things and for memory.
Thus, researchers conclude that the treatment with growth hormone could have a positive impact on the cognitive function and the overall health of patients suffering from traumatic brain injury.
A Long Road To Go
There are still many unanswered questions, regardless of the fact that the role of HGH in cognitive function has already been identified.
Additional clinical studies, especially ones focusing on Alzheimer’s disease, will be needed to figure out whether growth hormone will become a safe and efficient option for patients experiencing cognitive decline.
One thing is certain – both younger and older individuals can opt for safe and natural HGH supplementation to improve their brain function.
The hormone increases alertness, enables individuals to focus for a longer period of time and can easily boost productivity regardless of the complexity of the task at hand.