"Treatment with growth hormonereleasing hormone improves memory and focus in healthy adults and in those who already show some signs of mental decline new research finds. Growth hormonereleasing hormone doesnt target one specific area in the body and brain said study lead author Laura Baker an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. It stimulates a whole cascade of hormones in the body and brain it stimulates normal function of a system that was working at a younger age so that cells can do what they were programmed to do at birth. Results of the study are published in the Aug.  issue of the Archives of Neurology. As levels of growth hormonereleasing hormone GHRH decrease with age so too do other hormones stimulated by GHRH such as growth hormone and insulinlike growth factor . All of these hormones are believed to play a role in brain health and decreasing levels of these hormones are suspected to play a role in the development of Alzheimers disease.  In a previous study Baker and her colleagues demonstrated that treatment with GHRH provided a shortterm boost in memory and concentration for healthy adults. In the current study they wanted to see if GHRH could help restore some function in people who were showing signs of a condition known as mild cognitive impairment. People with this condition dont yet have Alzheimers disease but they do have problems with memory and focus and theyre at higher risk of developing Alzheimers disease according to the Alzheimers Foundation.  In all  adults including  with mild cognitive impairment completed the current study. The study volunteers were between  and  years old with an average age of  according to the study.  The study participants were randomly assigned to receive a daily selfadministered injection of growth hormonereleasing hormone or a placebo injection for  weeks. The study medications were supplied by the manufacturer of the growth hormonereleasing hormone.  Study funding was provided by grants from the U.S. National Institute on Aging and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  Tests to measure mental prowess were given at the start of the study and at   and  weeks after treatment began.  Baker said the researchers saw benefits in healthy adults and those with mild cognitive impairment who received GHRH. They saw improvement in planning organizing focusing and shifting from one task to another  tasks collectively known as executive function. Baker said the researchers also saw a mild improvement in verbal memory in those treated with GHRH but the results werent as strong as for the executive function tasks.  Treatment with GHRH boosted levels of insulinlike growth factor  IGF by  percent according to the study. IGF is a hormone we all have from birth that increases through development until it starts to decline in our early s. It promotes all kinds of growth in the body and brain but if you have excess IGF it may put you at risk for cancer said Baker who added that people with Alzheimers disease tend to have low levels of IGF.  Benefits from the treatment lasted as long as people stayed on the treatment. When treatment was stopped the benefits gradually tapered off Baker said.  Insulin levels also spiked during treatment with GHRH but only in the group already having memory problems. Baker said it wasnt clear why this happened but she suspects the body may be trying to compensate for an insulin shortage in the brain in people with memory problems. Insulin helps glucose sugar enter cells to provide fuel for those cells.  Dr. Joel Zonszein an endocrinologist from Montefiore Medical Center in New York City praised the study but said some questions still remain.  This was an impressive study showing how GHRH can have a positive effect on cognitive function Zonszein said. The question is how can we use this in normal individuals When GHRH goes down with aging its a physiological adaptation. And we dont know what would happen if we gave it chronically.  For instance would you alter the feedback mechanism that keeps IGF levels from increasing cancer risk Would it start to lose some of its effect long term he said. There may be both good and bad effects Zonszein added.  The researchers said larger and longer trials are needed to assess the hormones therapeutic potential. More information Learn more about mild cognitive impairment from the Alzheimers Foundation http SOURCES Laura D. Baker Ph.D. associate professor psychiatry and behavioral science University of Washington School of Medicine Seattle Joel Zonszein M.D. endocrinologist and director clinical diabetes center Montefiore Medical Center New York City Aug.   Archives of Neurology"