A NEW treatment for dementia could be on the horizon – and it’s inspired by herbs found in your kitchen cupboards.
Carnosic acid, found in rosemary and sage, is already known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
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It works by activating enzymes that make up the body’s natural defence system.
Pure carnosic acid is too unstable to be used as a drug.
It reacts with oxygen in the air, causing it to break down before it can be used.
But now, scientists at Scripps Research in California, US have created a more stable version called diAcCA, which has shown promising results in mice with Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia.
In their study, published in Antioxidants last month, they found that mice given the new compound had better memory and more neuron connections, compared to rodents who weren’t.
Since losing neuronal synapses is a key part of Alzheimer’s, the experts suggest this approach might help slow cognitive decline.
Analysis of tissue samples showed the drug also markedly decreased inflammation in the brain, which is also linked to the disease.
“We did multiple memory tests, and they all improved with the drug,” says neuroscientist Stuart Lipton from the Scripps Research Institute.
“It didn’t just slow the decline, it actually restored memory to near-normal levels.”
The compound also reduced harmful proteins like amyloid beta and phosphorylated tau in the brain, which are linked to Alzheimer’s.
It’s still very early days, and clinical trials are needed to see if the effects translate to humans.
But the researchers are hopeful, especially as carnosic acid is already considered safe to consume.
The new drug could also be useful for other inflammation-related conditions like Parkinson’s and Type 2 diabetes.
Plus, it may enhance current Alzheimer’s treatments by reducing side effects.
The experts found that diAcCA has few side effects in mice. This is because it only activates in inflamed areas of the brain, targeting Alzheimer’s damage without affecting healthy parts.
“It could make existing amyloid antibody treatments work better by taking away or limiting their side effects,” Stuart added.
Separate research, published last year suggested that people found that people who eat a handful of nuts every day could be less likely to get dementia.
Another study suggested that sticking to a Mediterranean diet could reduce dementia risk by up to 23 per cent, compared with people who rarely, if ever, ate the Mediterranean way.
Other research has also linked consumption of foods high in flavonoids – found in grapes used to make wine and the cocoa beans in dark chocolate – to a 28 per cent lower risk of dementia.
You can also get the antioxidants from foods like berries, leafy greens and fruit and vegetables.
Brain healthy foods
According to the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) senior dietitian Victoria Taylor, eating heart healthy foods could also benefit your brain health.
That’s because having heart or circulatory disease can raise your risk of developing dementia.
She recommended eating the following foods:
- Wholegrains (three or more servings a day)
- Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, cabbage, spring greens, kale and salad leaves (one or more servings a day)
- Other vegetables (one or more servings a day)
- Nuts (on most days)
- Beans and lentils (three or more servings a week)
- Berries, including blueberries and strawberries (two or more servings a week)
- Chicken or turkey (two or more servings a week)
- Fish (one or more servings a week)
- Olive oil (as the main oil or fat you use)
- Wine (no more than one small glass a day – more than this and it becomes more likely to harm health than help it)
