Phosphatidylserine
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Phosphatidylserine is a phospholipid nutrient found in fish, green leafy vegetables, soybeans and rice, and is essential for the normal functioning of neuronal cell membranes. In apoptosis, phosphatidylserine is transferred to the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane. This is part of the process by which the cell is targeted for phagocytosis. Phosphatidylserine (PS) has been used to slow cognitive decline in early-onset Alzheimer's disease. [citation needed] The substance is sold as a dietary supplement to people who believe they can benefit from an increased intake.
The dietary supplement was originally processed from cow brains. Prion disease scares in the 1990s outlawed this process, and soon a soy-based alternative was developed. [citation needed]PS sold now is made from plants instead of animals. A drink containing a soy emulsion of PS is marketed under the name Function Brainiac to people who feel they have cognitive deficits and would benefit from ingesting the chemical.
Phosphatidylserine is sometimes marketed under the brand name PhosphatidylSerene.
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