Is methylene blue really a brain booster? A pharmacologist explains the science
Methylene Blue’s Brain-Boosting Benefits: An In-depth Analysis
The New Nootropic Health Trend
Health enthusiasts and influential podcasters are lauding a chemical substance called methylene blue for its supposed cognitive enhancing abilities, terming it the next nootropic agent. Claims circulating the internet propose the health supplement aids in amplifying brain energy, improving memory, boosting focus, and clearing brain fog amongst other benefits. Notable instances include Joe Rogan, a popular podcaster, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., recorded using a blue liquid, presumed to be methylene blue. However, despite its praise, concrete evidence supporting methylene blue’s health benefits is limited and its usage predicates significant potential risks.
Background and Medical Usage of Methylene Blue
Methylene blue was synthesized in 1876 and primarily used as a textile dye due to its intense coloration and fabric-binding properties. Synthetic dyes are often considered to potentially trigger harmful immune system reactions. However, methylene blue, unlike petroleum-derived food dyes, is a part of a different dye family, where such health concerns are not prevalent. Despite its initial usage as a malaria treatment, methylene blue is seldom used in this application today due to it being equally effective as the then-popular therapy Quinine. It later found utility in detecting bacteria in milk, owing to its unique ability to swap electrons with other molecules– a property also pivotal to its use in medical treatments today. Doctors primarily use methylene blue to treat a rare blood disorder called methemoglobinemia and sometimes, carbon monoxide poisoning, septic shock, or drug-induced toxicities.
The Brain-Boosting Claims: Reality or Farce?
Methylene blue may protect and support cells’ mitochondria, the powerhouse of cells, aiding energy generation. Most current knowledge is derived from rodent and lab-cell studies, and limited human trials, but not all yield overwhelming support of its benefits. Studies in rodents indicate that methylene blue could improve learning, protect brain cells, and boost memory. Some human clinical trials show potential memory improvement and changed brain connections without reported increased thinking abilities. Preliminary studies demonstrate its potential benefits for neuropsychiatric disorders and pain management. Yet, larger clinical trials are necessary to ascertain its true efficacy, appropriate dosage, and long-term safety. Despite claims of safety under medical supervision, methylene blue carries risks such as agitation, confusion, high fever, seizures, and potential death due to Serotonin syndrome when used with certain medications. It is also deemed unsafe for pregnant or breastfeeding women due to potential harm to the fetus or baby.
As the debate about methylene blue and its brain-boosting possibilities continue online and within the scientific community, it is recommended to exercise caution and medical consultation before incorporating it into your health regime.
Source: japantoday.com