Herbs for Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, and the Aging Brain: What the Research Has to Say
Most of us will be touched by the heartbreak of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Whether a parent, life partner, friend, or oneself, we face the slow loss of loved ones and difficult decisions about care. Research on herbs for dementia offers a ray of hope in this dark landscape.
Research has focused on plants with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, adaptogenic, nootropic, and neuroprotective actions that support brain health and address risk factors for dementia (Abascal & Yarnell, 2011; Tewari et al., 2018). Overall, the research is promising.
A systematic review of human trials was conducted to assess the effectiveness of herbs for dementia, including a meta-analysis on cognitive effects. All studies reviewed showed that herbs had significant impacts in improving symptoms with no severe adverse events (May et al., 2009). Together the studies “provide overall positive evidence for the effectiveness and safety of certain herbal medicines for dementia management” (May et al., 2009, p. 447). Clinical research is ongoing, as is the call for larger, well-designed studies (Tewari et al., 2018).