Eat more cheese

Our first new peptide for 2023, KEMPFPKYPVEP, was identified from a screen of digested casein protein peptides for the ability to improve spatial memory in amnesia mouse models.   KEMPFPKYPVEP was found to both prevent scopolamine induced deficit in short term spatial memory, and also to enhance long term object recognition memory in intact mice - with increased levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, but not serotonin being found in the frontal cortex.  The ratio of dopamine metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid was found to be significantly reduced, suggesting the inhibition of MAO-B activity as a mechanism.

Previous epidemiological investigations have indicated that consuming dairy products can prevent cognitive decline, however only cheese fermented with fungi contains the KEMPFPKYPVEP peptide, which is found at the highest level in Camembert at 14.58-39.02 pmol per gram.  Blue cheeses, including Stilton, Roquefort, and Fourme d’Ambert, contained 2.49−17.87 pmol/g while Cheddar and Gouda contain little or none.  

Sadly, intake of more than 10 kg of Camembert cheese would be required for the KEMPFPKYPVEP peptide to have an effect in humans, and as cheese contains large amounts of saturated fatty acids, any cognitive benefit would likely be soon outweighed by the development of cardiovascular disease.  Still, it was a nice thought.

https://www.iscabiochemicals.com/products/260/378