Acetylcholine [The Basics Of Neurotransmitters]

Acetylcholine - the key to cognitive functions, memory, and proper muscle function.

Acetylcholine - is one of the primary neurotransmitters in the organism created from choline and acetic acid. It acts as a cholinergic agonist and directly affects the central as well as the peripheral nervous system. Acetylcholine is found in both motor and brain neurons, thus enabling efficient muscle contractions (movement of all body parts, including, i.a., the heart). Furthermore, the neurotransmitter is responsible for memorization and cognitive functions. Its deficiency is one of the primary causes of Alzheimer's disease.

Acetylocholine functions

Acetylcholine controls attention, learning, motivation, REM sleep and arousal in the central nervous system.

In the autonomic peripheral nervous system, acetylcholine is released in preganglionic neurons. Its secretion will regulate the contraction of the smooth muscles, blood vessels dilatation, and heartbeat rate.

Acetylcholine regulates:

- memorization

- sleep functions

- interpersonal relationships (i.a., empathy)

- motivation

- functions of the digestive & nervous system, and adrenal glands

- proprioception, muscle strength, and stamina (take a note that the use of cholingergic drugs before a workout is an excellent idea)

Acetylcholine deficiency

Its deficiency usually results from a diet poor in choline (rich in choline are: egg's yolks, fishes (mainly codfish and salmon), meats, soya, rice, yogurts). Lack of vitamin B3, B5, and B7 and omega 3 acids may also lead to the deficiency of this neurotransmitter. It is important to remember that nicotine will also inhibit the physiological role of ionotropic cholinergic receptors - meaning that smoking also impacts acetylcholine activity unfavorably.

How to increase acetylcholine level?

Its level can be successfully increased via proper diet and supplementation of i.a.:

- ALCAR

- Alpha GPC (read more) 

- Ashwagandha

- Ginkgo biloba

- Caffeine

- Sulbutiamine

- Noopept

- Gotu Kola

Furthermore, recent research proved that endurance training increases acetylcholine receptor quantity in the skeletal muscles. Therefore, it can be theorized that endurance training can contribute to improvements in movement coordination mediated by acetylcholine receptors in the muscles.