Ghrelin was first discovered as the hunger hormone. The hormone stimulates hunger in order to promote the growth of new Brain cells. This process protects from ageing and improves activities. The hormone is created inside the stomach while empty and the increasing hours with an empty stomach increases the levels of the Ghrelin hormone. It is a motivation behind better mental capacities.
Dieting has several health benefits and improves cognitive abilities and also some people follow the intermittent fasting method where the usual calorie intakes is lessened for about two days per week which in return raises the Ghrelin levels. These methods are slightly controversial as some studies have stated that it impairs a mental ability in a human being than being beneficial.
Nicholas Kunath of the Technical University of Germany, has suggested that no human being should expect immediate effects on an enhanced brainpower with fasting as it varies from days to weeks to show proven results.
Experiments conducted in mice shows that their learning strength and memory tests have enhanced rapidly by supporting the neurons in their brains. A researcher Jeffrey Davies from Swansea University, UK has derived more evidence to prove that Ghrelin can stimulate brain cells into a process known as Neurogenesis known as fibroblast growth factor.
Young brain cells are found to enhance the ability of forming new memories because the neurons will function more easily than the old neurons and in return play a new memory, said Davies. Research states that this my help people with neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson disease. Further experiments proved that the Ghrelin hormone protects the brain cells from dying when encouraged to copy Parkinson’s disease. Many people with Parkinson’s gave proved to have low levels of Ghrelin and in future can be used as a treatment for same.