Medications That May Improve Memory & Brain Function | Dr. Mark D'Esposito & Dr. Andrew Huberman

Dr. Mark D'Esposito and Dr. Andrew Huberman discuss the potential cognitive improvement benefits of drugs like bromocriptine and guanfacine.

Mark D'Esposito, M.D., is a neurologist and professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine and host of the Huberman Lab podcast.

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Summary:
Mark D'Esposito and Andrew Huberman discuss the potential of dopamine agonists like bromocriptine in enhancing working memory and cognitive function. Mark explains that dopamine depletion impairs working memory and that dopamine agonists, including bromocriptine, have been shown to improve cognitive function in some studies. However, he expresses frustration that pharmaceutical companies have not focused on developing drugs to improve cognition, despite the clear potential and safety of these drugs. He also discusses the role of other neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and serotonin in cognitive function and suggests that a combination of these neurotransmitters may be more effective than single-target drugs. Mark emphasizes the need for further research to understand how different neurotransmitters interact and how individual differences in neurochemistry may affect treatment outcomes.

[philippeansaloni]

I have adhd and autism. Guanfacine changed my life

[rzretur]

Someone recommended a good drug for memory to me the other day but I can't remember what it's called.

[JeanBuckner]

Pharma may not be interested in researching bromocriptine and other mentioned agonists because they are currently cheap and easily assessable. Combining agonists might provide a path to an acceptable ROI - but one with risks of competition from cheap single source alternatives.

[juliak]

How is bromocriptine different from any other stimulants that increase catecholamine levels like adderall for example which is well known for its effects in memory and concentration?

[mrbuckmeister]

He's so right about the lack precision due to the inability to directly measure neurotransmitter levels in the brain. Creating a noninvasive and reliable test for neurotransmitters would revolutionize the use of all these medications. It would stop the guess work, even experimentation, that is currently used.

By the way, I don't mean to bash psychology or psychiatry they are incredibly helpful. They could just be so much better with this key tool.

Maybe big pharma would get behind creating the tool to assist in the treatment of almost all mental illness.

[ababaa]

Wasn’t the movie Awakening all about this? I met the British doctor about whom the movie was. He explained how it is hard to make that long lasting

[pocketfulofscribbles]

Interesting. Will need to dissect this more 💕

[oloix]

Extremely interesting. I will explore that topic further. Thanks

[micheleknect]

I would really be interested in your take on DNA expression tests from companies like Viome and using AL to calculate supplement needs to support areas with lower scores

[GenX]

Beef, liver, eggs, tallow, butter, sunlight exposure, intense calisthenics, cardio and weight lifting.

[mirapilates]

A raise in testosterone will boost memory.

[mariusle]

So it correlates with dopamin, i think everybodys household of dopamin is out of control due to quick and easy releases from media / technology / food etc. With the normal lifestyle we cant fix the root cause, so we need another drug?

[HumbleBee]

Could you do an episode on mental health, anxieties, depression, ADHD, sleep etc and DNA testing?

Mental health is genetic in my family. So is hypermobility, which is often found in people with the mental health issues I mentioned. Few months back i wondering how they were connected and the what could be done.
Apparently it can be inked to genetic faulty Gene's like MTHFR etc. Which makes it hard for the body to convert certain nutrients into the usuable methalated form. Making you deficient and have mental health symptoms and poor collagen production.
So will hopefully be getting tested to find out for sure. But maybe that all I need is a methylated form of a nutrient in a supplement like folate or b12 and not all the other harmful drugs that get chucked at us. I really hope I'm right. It would be a game changer for my whole family. Especially one of my brothers who has attempted suicide many times.
Not saying it will cure it but hopefully make living more manageable.

Would love an episode on this.

[joshgullicksrud]

Has the whole world lost its mind? A brave new world.

[PabloIzurieta]

These drugs seem like they would be useful in treating cocaine, and similar drugs; addictions.

[denisaleksandrovich]

A healthy thyroid gland will improve memory. The rest is superfluous