The other day, my husband confided in me…
He’s feeling a little less sharp than he used to… says his memory isn’t what it used to be, and that he finds it harder to focus when he’s working on a complicated task.
Like most of us, he needs a little something to give him that cognitive boost we all need at some time or another. So, given my background, I’ve been helping choose a few nootropic supplements.
Since nootropics (compounds that are known to be cognitive enhancers) have become incredibly popular, there are plenty to choose from.
But surprisingly, research reveals there’s one in particular that men may need to avoid, otherwise they may trade a sharper mind for a shorter lifespan…
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The impact of tyrosine on lifespan
Phenylalanine and tyrosine, both amino acids involved in metabolism and brain function, are found in protein-rich foods and dietary supplements.
Tyrosine, in particular, is a building block for neurotransmitters such as dopamine, which regulates mood and cognitive function. This has made it a molecule of interest in aging research, but not a lot is known about its effect on lifespan.
To learn more, an international team of researchers analyzed data from more than 270,000 individuals in the UK Biobank, and the results were sobering…
Both amino acids were initially linked to higher death risk — but only tyrosine was consistently associated with reduced life expectancy in men.
In fact, genetic analyses indicated elevated tyrosine levels could shorten men’s lifespan by nearly one year. This effect wasn’t observed in women.
The findings remained consistent even after adjusting for related factors, including phenylalanine levels, suggesting that tyrosine may independently influence aging. The researchers also observed that men tend to have higher levels of tyrosine than women, which could partly explain the gender gap in lifespan.
Scientists are still exploring why tyrosine might affect lifespan in men. One possibility is tyrosine’s involvement in insulin resistance, and the condition’s link to many age-related diseases.
Tyrosine is also involved in the production of stress-related neurotransmitters, which could influence metabolic and hormonal pathways differently in men and women. These variations could explain why the effect only appeared in men.
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Alternative brain health supplements
The study did not directly test tyrosine supplements, and further research is needed to confirm its findings and explore whether diet and lifestyle changes can safely reduce tyrosine levels to promote longevity.
Still, the findings raise questions about the amino acid’s long-term impact on health and lifespan, and suggest that people with high tyrosine levels may benefit from dietary adjustments, such as reducing protein intake.
After this news, I’ve settled on a few choice nootropics for my husband. Here are a few that I feel much better about recommending for him:
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Found to improve memory and learning in people with age-related memory problems.
- Phosphatidylserine: Shown to support improvements in cognition, including reasoning, learning, memory and recalling numbers, names and faces.
- Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): Shown to boost brain mitochondrial activity and improve behavioral and cognitive performance, particularly when taken together with vitamin E.
- L-theanine: An amino acid found in green and black tea that promotes focus and calm.
- Ashwagandha and rhodiola: Herbs commonly stacked together to increase mental acuity while reducing stress and anxiety.
In addition to meat, tyrosine is found in eggs, dairy, fish, oats, beans, and nuts — a variety of foods that would, for most people, negate the need to supplement it.
No diet is worth sacrificing a year of your lifespan.
Sources:
High Tyrosine Levels Linked to Shorter Lifespan in Men — Aging-US
Popular brain supplement linked to shorter lifespan in men — ScienceDaily
The role of phenylalanine and tyrosine in longevity: a cohort and Mendelian randomization study — Aging-US