A compound in a popular herb might help keep cognitive decline at bay.
Researchers at Scripps Research in San Diego have created a synthetic version of the antioxidant carnosic acid, which is found in rosemary as well as sage. Carnosic acid is known to have anti-inflammatory properties, and it activates enzymes that make up the natural defense system in the body.
However, it oxidizes easily, which decreases its shelf-life and makes it unsuitable as a drug.
The lab-created version of carnosic acid, known as diAcCA, is more stable than the naturally occurring version. The compound converts to carnosic acid in the gut and is then absorbed into the bloodstream. As a result, it is hoped that diAcCA might be used in drugs to improve the outlook of those with cognitive decline.
Researchers say that when diAcCA is used in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease, it boosts both memory and the density of neuronal synapses, which are the connections between nerve cells in the brain.
The mice were treated with the compound for three months, then tested for spatial learning and memory. Their brain tissue was also examined under a microscope.
In a summary of the study findings, the researchers note that a decline in neuronal synapses is closely correlated to dementia in Alzheimer’s disease. Thus, treatment with diAcCA might counteract the progression of cognitive decline.
In addition, diAcCA significantly reduces inflammation in the brain. It does so only in areas of the brain undergoing damage from inflammation, which “limits the potential side effects of carnosic acid,” according to the summary.
In the summary, Dr. Stuart Lipton — a clinical neurologist at Scripps Research and senior author of the study — says:
“By combating inflammation and oxidative stress with this diAcCA compound, we actually increased the number of synapses in the brain. We also took down other misfolded or aggregated proteins such as phosphorylated-tau and amyloid-beta, which are thought to trigger Alzheimer’s disease and serve as biomarkers of the disease process.”
Lipton also notes that in tests of mouse models, diAcCA actually restored memory “virtually back to normal.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration categorizes carnosic acid as “generally regarded as safe.” The researchers say that fact should help facilitate clinical trials of the new treatment.
In the summary, Lipton says he hopes diAcCA will be fast-tracked through clinical trials. He also speculates that diAcCA might be useful in other diseases where inflammation plays a role, such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and Parkinson’s disease.
To learn more about how common food components could help you ward off cognitive decline, check out “5 Nutrients That Might Stop Alzheimer’s — and Foods Rich in Them.”
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