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Step 1
Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease that robs its victim of their ability to think rationally and remember new information. Unfortunately, most of the treatments available to Alzheimer’s patients offer little benefit and the disease inevitably progresses. An area that hasn’t been thoroughly explored in terms of Alzheimer’s treatment is the possibility of improving memory using herbal supplements. Are there any supplements for Alzheimer’s that have proved beneficial?
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Step 2
An interesting study was conducted in the U.K. in 2004 which showed that extracts of sage and lemon balm may help to improve memory. The researchers tested a sage extract and a lemon balm extract on a group of normal subjects as well as a group of Alzheimer’s patients. They found that both sage and lemon balm improved memory in normal subjects as well as those afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. Lemon balm had the additional benefit of helping to reduce agitation and improve overall mood in Alzheimer’s patients. A prior study showed that normal persons given sage extract were able to recall words more easily than those who didn’t receive the extract. Best of all, neither produced significant side effects.
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Step 3
Another supplement for Alzheimer’s that had previously shown promise was gingko biloba. It was thought that gingko might improve memory in Alzheimer’s patients by its strong antioxidant activity as well as by increasing blood flow to the brain. Unfortunately, a large randomized, controlled trial published in JAMA in 2008 failed to show benefit when Gingko supplements were given twice daily to elderly patients with and without evidence of dementia. Some previous studies did show more encouraging results, although these studies were small. The verdict is still not out, although it seems likely if there’s an effect, it’s a small one.
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Step 4
Another supplement for Alzheimer’s that has shown some benefit in animal studies is ginseng. Ginseng is currently used in China for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. A study conducted at Mayo Clinic in 2006 showed that when ginseng was given to animals, it helped to lower the number of amyloid plaques, the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. While this may sound encouraging, subsequent studies have failed to show that ginseng improves memory or thought processes in human Alzheimer’s patients.
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Step 5
The bottom line? In terms of supplements for Alzheimer’s, gingko and ginseng have been disappointing in human studies. Although some limited benefit has been shown in a few small studies, the results from larger trials haven’t been convincing. The verdict is still out on lemon balm and sage. Hopefully, large scale trials will be conducted in the future to see if they offer any real potential for treating this devastating disease.
