New Food Ingredient Said To Reduce Alzheimers Risk

Can you eat your way to a better memory? A slew of new studies say “yes” – plus now a biotech firm says it has the ingredient that can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. Here’s what you need to know ...
By Colette Bouchez

Who doesn’t want to remember more - like where you parked the car, put the keys, left the kids? Well if one biotech firm is right you may be able to give your memory a boost while protecting against memory-robbing diseases like Alzheimer’s and even dementia. And it may take nothing more than adding a simple ingredient to your diet.

According to Washington-state based company Advana Science, a new plant –based compound promises to reduce the formation of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain – a type of protein build up that is believed to be a leading factor in the development of Alzheimer’s and other memory-robbing diseases.

"After 12 years of research and over 40 patents, we are excited about this natural compound that not only stops the formation of toxic protein aggregates and fibrils, but also helps minimize the damage that the body's inflammatory response causes when it unsuccessfully attempts to break up these deposits,” Peter Leighton, CEO of Advana Science recently told industry newsletter Nutra-Ingredients USA.

While the company declines to name the specific ingredient that’s causing all the excitement, they do say they have identified a group of about a dozen molecules found in a natural herbs, each of which has significant anti-amyloid protein activity – with one compound in particular having extraordinary effects.

What’s more they say the compound can be easily added to a number of foods giving consumers a dietary health boost without even trying.

Although most of the studies done thus far have been on animals, they have yielded impressive results, including an 82 percent reduction in the memory-robbing plaque formations in the brain – and an increase in memory.

The new ingredient is expected to make it to market – in a variety of foods – by about mid 2009.

Start Protecting Your Memory NOW!
In the meantime, you can get a dietary-jump on protecting your brain by adding a few memory-boosting nutrients already available to your daily diet.

In one study recently published in the Journal of Neuroscience, researchers found a new grape seed extract was able to reduce the buildup of plaque from beta-amyloid proteins in the brain – and keep additional plaque from forming. Besides eating grapes you can purchase grape seed oil and use it for cooking and baking.

You can also try adding a glass of pomegranate juice to your daily diet. Studies have found it too contains anti-amyloid properties. According to researchers at Loma Linda University in California, a glass a day is all that’s needed to significantly reduce the risk of plaque build-up linked to Alzheimer’s.

Meanwhile a multi-ethnic study conducted by Columbia University found that a diet high in cereals, wine, fruits, nuts, legumes, whole grains, fish and olive oil may cut the risk of Alzheimer’s through high levels of antioxidants and polyphenols, a type of protective nutrient that helps reduce inflammation.

All this is very good news for women over 40 since, with the decline of estrogen also comes a decline in memory. While some of those memory skills will come back once your body adjusts to new and lower estrogen levels, without some effort on your part, memory decline may be more permanent.

And, in fact, studies show the incidence of memory related disorders is on the rise. In predictions published in the journal Lancet in 2005, it was estimated that by the year 2040 over 80 million people will be stricken with dementia-related diseases. Currently about 24 million people are affected. The new anti-Alzheimer food ingredient is expected to make its way to the marketplace as early as spring 2009.

You might also enjoy reading:
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Herb May Boost Memory Loss

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