4 Secret Superpowers of Pregnenolone

Today, we explore the four secret superpowers of pregnenolone — a hormone your body naturally produces — and how it can dramatically improve your health and well-being.

1. Improves Memory & Productivity, Reverses Brain Atrophy

Alzheimer's patients were found to have low brain levels of allopregnanolone — a metabolite of pregnenolone. Weekly IV injections of up to 10mg for men and 14mg for women resulted in decreased brain atrophy on an MRI. Similar doses have also been used to promote nerve regeneration.

A 1945 study of factory workers found that pregnenolone improved production efficiency by nearly 20%. Pregnenolone also decreased the amount of scrapped or faulty products by 33%. Once stopped, pregnenolone continued to provide the workers with a 10% increase in production efficiency for over a month. After studying hundreds of men and women, the researchers found no negative effects of pregnenolone in doses up to 100mg/day.

Sources:
Allopregnanolone Regenerative Therapeutic for Mild Alzheimer's Disease (REGEN-BRAINO)
Remarkable Memory-Enhancing Effects of Pregnenolone Sulfate with Pheromone-Like Sensitivity
Effects on industrial production of the administration of Delta5 pregnenolone to factory workers, G PINCUS et al., Psychosom Med. 1945 Nov.

2. Relieves Chronic Back Pain

A 4-week treatment with oral pregnenolone 100-500mg reduced back pain by over 20% in a group of military veterans, despite pain ratings being 8% higher at baseline in the pregnenolone-treated group vs placebo. Those in the treatment group were also nearly 3x more likely than placebo to report reductions in pain intensity greater than 20%.

The researchers attributed these benefits to the ability of pregnenolone and its metabolites to enhance the activity of GABA-A receptors, resulting in the inhibition of pain and reduced inflammatory cytokines like IL-6 and TNF-a, which are associated with excitotoxicity. Pregnenolone also helps stabilize mitochondria, reducing ROS leakage & improving energy (ATP) production. ATP is the primary energy currency for muscle contraction and many other cellular processes. Fatigue and damage to muscle cells of the back can occur when ATP production is impaired.

Source:
Effect of Pregnenolone vs Placebo on Self-reported Chronic Low Back Pain Among US Military Veterans: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Jennifer C. Naylor, PhD et al.

3. Reduces Social Withdrawal & Stereotyped Thinking

Schizophrenic patients given 50mg/day pregnenolone saw significant reductions in emotional & social withdrawal, poor rapport, and stereotyped thinking while experiencing improved motivation.

Increased glutamatergic metabolite levels and reduced GABA levels have been found in schizophrenic patients and people with similar mental health disorders. Glutamine is the major excitatory neurotransmitter, whereas GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. Chronic stress tends to lower GABA while increasing glutamate, resulting in excitotoxicity and brain inflammation.

Pregnenolone & its metabolites protect against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity by enhancing GABA-ergic activity, promoting a sense of calm and well-being.

Source:
Pregnenolone treatment reduces severity of negative symptoms in recent-onset schizophrenia: An 8-week, double-blind, randomized add-on two-center trial, Michael S. Ritsner MD, PhD et al.

4. Curbs Cocaine and Alcohol Cravings

Chronic drug intake down-regulates GABAergic transmission and reduces levels of neuroactive steroids like pregnenolone. Acute stress triggers a surge in dopamine, enhancing the brain's focus and ability to cope with the immediate situation. While dopamine is necessary for motivation, many drugs of abuse—such as opioids, cocaine, or nicotine—cause dopamine to flood the reward pathway in amounts 10x beyond what a natural reward would produce. The brain remembers this surge and associates it with the addictive substance. This can create a vicious cycle, where addicted people become more vulnerable to relapse due to stress, and stress itself becomes a powerful trigger for drug cravings.

Pregnenolone helps break this cycle by normalizing the upregulated stress system and decreasing compulsive drug seeking. Pregnenolone's GABA-ergic activity inhibits CRH neurons and reduces the release of stress hormones.

Sources:
Pregnenolone Reduces Provoked Craving and Cocaine Use in Men and Women with Cocaine Use Disorder: A Pilot Trial, Elcin Sakmar et al.
Pregnenolone effects on provoked alcohol craving, anxiety, HPA axis, and autonomic arousal in individuals with alcohol use disorder.

Bonus: Pregnenolone Can Protect the Brain from Cannabis Intoxication

Emerging research suggests that pregnenolone may also protect the brain from cannabis intoxication, offering exciting possibilities for future therapeutic uses.

Source:
Monique Vallée et al.

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