Christina Ellis 5/17/2013

Abstract This research study looks at a drink supplement known as Tanks tonic developed by Dr. Stephen Konstenius. It is used to improve meta cognition and preventing memory loss diseases such as Alzheimers. As humans age, memory loss and Alzheimers disease becomes more prevalent. Therefore, this study has been designated to the senior population, specifically the senior citizens of Oakmont Assisted Living. Many ingredients are incorporated into this drink supplement. This research will take a closer look at the group of phospholipids that were chosen and how they contribute to helping with memory cognition. Four different phospholipids are included in the Tanks Tonic. These phospholipids include: Phosphatidylcholine, Phosphatidylethanolamine, Phosphatidydyl Inositol and Uridine Monophosphate. These phospholipids all have benefits which include: stimulating the adult nervous system, regulating the brain, muscle, nerve, and organ function, restocking the cell membranes and boosting other nerve chemical activities. Some of these nerve chemicals are acetylcholine and dopamine, which have the potential to reverse memory loss and aging. Tank's Tonic is to replace the depleted levels of phospholipids that occur naturally in one's brain. These phospholipids can become diminished with age or caused by cognitive diseases. By replacing the phospholipids one's memory can be brought back to functioning properly. Previously, there have been inconsistent studies on the effects of phospholipids to treat Alzheimers; however, through professional opinion, this supplemental drink is safe. More extensive research may provide stronger quality results on whether the drink prevents or reverses memory loss Introduction Currently Alzheimers disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Since the senior population is at higher risk, the drink has been given out weekly at the Oakmont Assisted Living senior center. The drink has been gradually developed and modified many times to determine the final recipe. The final recipes main goal is to help with meta cognition and prevent diseases, such as Alzheimer's. Tanks 2

tonic has been designed to target seniors whom are more prevalent to this disease, however anyone can drink it if they wish to benefit from the ingredients included in the drink. Besides phospholipids there are many other ingredients such as proglycosyn, which helps with building muscle tissue, probiotics that are good for the GI tract, some amino acids, resveratrol and vitamins. Also Dr. Konstenius has included fruit and coconut water to work as antioxidants in the body and provide additional vitamins as well. There have not been any negative side effects that show the tank tonic harming anyone. The phospholipids naturally occur in the body and no toxicity levels have been discovered, however side effects can occur, especially when taking amounts higher than recommended. Some of these side effects may include nauseas, abdominal pain, diarrhea and reduced appetite. These side effects are minor and shouldnt put ones health at risk. Although many foods contain phospholipids, such as eggs and soybeans, they do not contain high enough amounts to have a noticeable affect on one's memory. In this case, supplements are preferred because of the high amounts they contain. Dietary supplements in the pill form are offered and it depends on what type of phospholipid is being taken to determine what the proper dosage is. For a supplement like phosphatidylcholine for example, 5,000-10,000 mg is recommended if you are taking the supplement with the intended use of treating Alzheimers disease. The amount recommended that one takes also depend on what the person is taking the supplement for. It is important to note that not all supplements are always pure so it important one pays attention to the concentration amount. If one is taking other medications such as medication for Alzheimers disease, the side effects for that medication, can increase when combined with phospholipid medications.

Discussion Phospholipids play a crucial role in the Tanks Tonic for it is the main group of ingredients targeted at a humans meta cognition. Studies have shown that increased Phosphatidylcholine is involved with stimulating neurogenesis, a key 3

cellular processes necessary for proper development of the adult nervous system. The body also uses Phosphatidylcholine to make a brain chemical called acetylcholine, which has been used to treat brain centered conditions like memory loss and Alzheimer's The second phospholipid included in this supplement is Phosphatidylethanolamine, which is essential for successful neurotransmission. A deficiency of this is associated to human power mutilation. Fortunately, human brains often manufacture enough phosphatidylethanolamine in order to keep them in perfect mental order. However, when people reach old age their levels of phosphatidylethanolamine tend to decrease and thus this impacts the deficiency of different necessary fatty acids and even folic acids. As phosphatidylethanolamine is important for profitable neurotransmission, its deficiency is associated with human memory energy mutilation, which includes Parkinsons disease and depression amongst elderly and middle aged people. Increased levels of Phosphatidylethanolamine can restock the brain cell membranes; boost nerve chemical activities like dopamine and stimulate nerve cell developments, which in turn can reverse memory loss related to aging. Human bodies require phospholipids in order to construct cells membranes that are necessary for releasing neurotransmitters, like dopamine and acetylcholine. One of the most important roles phospholipids play is the development of producing acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is one of the most common neurotransmitters and plays a role in attention and arousal in the peripheral nervous system. Acetylcholine is also located in the autonomic nervous system where it activates muscles. Without the normal levels of acetylcholine, a person will have trouble forming and retrieving memories as well as uncontrolled muscle movements and tremors. This type of issue is what is linked to age- associated memory loss. Since the levels of phospholipids decrease, adding additional amounts can keep ones mind functioning correctly and keep the memory from diminishing. Several studies have been done with a variety of phospholipids to determine their effects on the memory. For example, studies on Phosphatidylcholine have been done to investigate if it alters ones memories. The results of the studies were inconsistent 4

(Sorgatz 1987, Ladd, 1993) with some participants showing positive responses while others showed no difference in memory or learning after lecithin administration; the form of supplement for Phosphatidylcholine. Another study using phosphatidycholine was done in hopes of proving a consistent relationship between precursors to acetylcholine (ACh) and memory function in normal human subjects, however the results were insignificant to prove their hypothesis and that their analyses indicated that the improvement of some of their subjects memory I may have been due to the responses of slow learners (Sandra L. Ladd, Susan A. Sommer, Stephen LaBerge, and William Toscan 1993). In a study designed to track the activity of phosphatidylethaolamine in the brain and determine if Alzheimers affects it. In patients with Alzheimers it was found that there was a decrease in phosphatidyethanolamine in the frontal cortex of the brain. Modification of this phospholipid could help increase tissues of other necessary phospholipids as well such as phosphatidycholine however this was not determined for sure (Z.-Z Guan. , Y.-N Wang, , K.-Q Xiao, , P.-S Hu, , & J.-L Liu, (1999). As well as studies on memory, other studies have been conducted to test results for anxiety, depressed immunity, preventing aging, however there has been nothing that shows consistency of data. More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of phospholipid for these uses. Tank himself has been conducting some of his own data to support his belief that his drink can possibly work at improving memory. Further time and subjects are needed to prove this but so far it is looking positive. As stated before, one should not be scared if they were to try experimenting with this supplement since the ingredients are natural and or/ natural components of your body. Conclusion Although phospholipids arent as common as other supplements, they do have plenty of benefits and are natural. There isnt a high risk presented with them and I myself take the Tanks Tonic once a week. No side effects have occurred however, I do not take it daily to really see results. I would recommend the drink and feel that

additional phospholipids being brought into the body is positive. The side effects of too many phospholipids arent dangerous if they do occur and wont put ones health at risk. Since phospholipids naturally occur in ones brain and are involved with stimulating the nervous system, creating neurogenesis, and creating neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine and dopamine, it only makes sense judging from the mechanism that phospholipids should be able to better ones memory. Since the phospholipid levels become lower when humans age, adding phospholipids that the body cant produce enough of anymore is very beneficial and could prolong our memory and can potentially prolong the memory. Since phospholipids are not the only ingredients in the drink, one can benefit through the fruit the antioxidants have to offer. The proglycosyn that helps build muscle tissue while the 25 billion dose of probiotic helps regulate the GI tract and keep healthy microbes in the system. There are many more ingredients that overall help the mind and body in a positive way as well. The drink is just not designed for the memory but overall health too.

References Z.-Z Guan. , Y.-N Wang, , K.-Q Xiao, , P.-S Hu, , & J.-L Liu, (1999). Activity of phosphatidylethanolamine-n-methyltransferase in brain affected by alzheimers disease. (1 ed., Vol. 34, pp. 41-47). Neurochemistry International. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0197018698000680 Hebe Marcucci. , Luciana Paoletti, , Suzanne Jackowski, , & Claudia Banchio, (2010). Phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis during neuronal differentiation and its role in cell fate determination. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. Retrieved from http://www.jbc.org/content/285/33/25382.full?sid=c53902ce-8389-45f8b25b-529c7bceef79 Sandra L. Ladd, Susan A. Sommer, *Stephen LaBerge, and tWilliam Toscano (1993). Effect of Phosphatidylcholine on Explicit Memory (Vol. 16, No. 6, pp. 540-549) Clinical Neuropharmacology retrieved from http://instruct.westvalley.edu/ladd/pch.html

Skwarek, L.C. and Boulianne, G.L. Great expectations for PIP: phosphoinositides as regulators of signaling during development and disease. Developmental Cell, 16, 12-20 (2009) (DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2008.12.006).