As we age, many of us experience subtle changes in our mental clarity—we can’t remember a name, we experience difficulty multitasking, or we forget where we left our keys. For decades, scientists have believed that cognitive decline was an inevitable part of growing older, a process termed “age-related memory impairment.” But what if this cognitive decline is preventable, or even reversible?

Researchers have suggested a simple combination of two amino acids—glycine and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), collectively known as GlyNAC—may not only slow down but actually reverse brain aging. The implications are profound. It’s possible they may have found a nutritional approach to promote healthier cognitive functioning.

Our brains consume roughly 20% of our body's total energy despite representing only 2% of our body’s weight. As we age, our brains go through several changes that contribute to cognitive decline. We have lower levels of the antioxidant glutathione, our cells experience more damage from a process known as “oxidative stress”, and the parts of our cells that produce energy (i.e. mitochondria) don't work as well. Also, our bodies struggle to use sugar for energy, deal with ongoing inflammation, and produce less of the proteins (neurotrophins) that keep brain cells healthy and alive. Researchers believe these are responsible for the memory and thinking difficulties that many older people face.

What's particularly concerning is that as our brain ages, its ability to move glucose (a sugar that is the brain's main fuel source) into neurons declines. Making this problem worse is the fact that mitochondria, which use glucose to produce energy, also malfunction with age. This mitochondrial dysfunction may be one of the reasons why our cognitive abilities decline.

Glutathione (GSH), which is often called the body's "master antioxidant," is one of the most important antioxidants in the body. Our cells contain more glutathione than any other antioxidant. This master antioxidant has three main........

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