I found the research below which answers some of the questions raised.

Imad

http://www.imminst.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=35514

Changes in brain striatum dopamine and acetylcholine receptors induced by chronic CDP-choline treatment of aging mice.R. Giménez, J. Raïch, and J. AguilarDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract1. Spiroperidol binding (dopamine D2 receptors) and quinuclidinyl benzilate binding (muscarinic receptors) in striata of 19-month old mice was analyzed for animals that had received chronic administration of cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine (CDP-choline) incorporated into the chow consumed (100 or 500 mg kg-1 added per day) for the 7 months before they were killed.

2. Treated animals displayed an increase in the dopamine receptor densities of 11% for those receiving 100 mg kg-1 and 18% for those receiving 500 mg kg-1 as compared to the control aged animals that had received no CDP-choline. Control animals showed, from 2 months to 19 months of life, a 28% decrease in the receptor density. No change in the affinity of the receptors for spiroperidol was found in the treated or untreated animals.

3. Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor densities were also partially recovered by the same treatment in aged animals that showed a 14% decrease of these receptors in this case. The muscarinic receptor density increased 6% for the animals that received 100 mg kg-1 and 17% for the animals that received 500 mg kg-1 without any change in the affinity of the receptor for quinuclidinyl benzilate.

4. Aged animals displayed a slight increase in brain membrane fluidity as indicated by a decrease in the polarization value of the non-polar fluorophore 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. Interestingly, in the treated animals a greater increase in membrane fluidity was determined and found to be very similar for the two doses.

5 It is concluded that chronic administration of CDP-choline to aged animals promoted a partial
recovery of the striatum dopamine and acetylcholine receptor function normally reduced with aging,
which might be explicable in terms of mechanisms involving fluidity of the brain neuronal membrane.

Keywords: Muscarinic receptor; dopamine D2 receptor; aging; striatum; choline donor; CDP-choline (cytidine
5'-diphosphocholine); membrane fluidity

i'm glad for more information, because I think I've seen vitamins on the shelf advertising...with choline or something choline...for children.

So I wonder about it ...it was not too long ago that I saw it.

paula

For Imad:
Here is a relevent, if complicated, article:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...ff64441f20d98b

I haven't read all of it but from what I gather:
There is a concern that anything that raises acetylcholine (ACh) in Parkinson's Disease might increase the loss of muscle control involved in movements. ACh is involved in making muscles work and if there is lowering of Dopamine level then ACh will be relatively high which could decrease muscle control.

However, what is going on in the brain is much more complicated and perhaps increasing ACh activity might actually help with memory and dementia problems. Apartently drugs that increase ACh activity are also being considered for PD.

I do not have PD so maybe I shouldn't even comment, but one attitude would be that citicoline might decrease muscle control for someone with PD but there could be nutritional and cognitive benefits. This conclusion might be a bit of a stretch, which leaves us with "suck it and see" again.

CS

Thanks, Laura.

I'm glad that I made you laugh.
When you have neurological problems it is not always easy to hold on to your sense of humour. So moments of amusement are to be appreciated.

Unfortunately, it would seem that some conditions of the brain are beyond the current understanding of neurologists and scientists, so we just have to do the best we can with imperfect knowledge of the effects of medicines and suppliments. That might mean conducting your own clinical trial on yourself and seeing if something is going to do you any good or not. With supplements, you are trying to rebuild over a period of time, so it might take ages to see any effect. With drugs that treat symptoms you might expect quicker action, once an effective level is reached. Reason and current knowledge only take you so far. From then on it is "suck it and see" (prescription drugs on the advice of a doctor, of course).

So, good luck with your "experimental drug years".

CS

This must be the "agonist" table.
OK. Enough of that frivolity and innuendo! There are dry, boring academic papers to be considered!

Ah, heck, let's talk dirty in Hawaiian! Ooona - Waki - NoNo? (Some of you "young folk" don't have a clue, do you? )

OK back to being a grownup- Unless I got mixed up while being so darned cute, this is the old choline thread. I wanted to bring it up in front of the group and add a little anecdotal info. It does seem to work and to do so quickly at least and maybe longer term as well.

This confirmation comes via my own observations of the value of a boiled egg in the morning. All the silly warnings about protein aside, an egg in the morning does me good - a fact that I came to appreciate a few days ago when I skipped mine and knew that something was missing. Then, with the disposal of said egg down the hatch, I began to feel better almost immediately! A little research revealed that the lowly egg is possibly THE best source for choline in the diet, rivaled only by a big pile of raw beef liver (Yum! Yum!)

So, give it a try! Are you Rats or simple souls trying to figure out what was with that dirty Hawaiian bit. (Hint- Google "John Prine"....) (Did you ever grin so much that your face was sore all the next day? ) As they say, "One pill makes you larger....". And, has anyone seen Grace Slick lately? Talk about SAD... Bob? Is that you?