Resveratrol (2005, '14, '15, '17, '18) & Alzheimers

research

Learn more about Alzheimer's disease.

2022 Although earlier research supported use of moderate red wine use, newer research reports that the many detriments outweigh the benefits.11, 12, 13 Instead, we recommend intake of resveratrol through grapes, grape juice, peanuts, cocoa, and berries of Vaccinium species, including blueberries, bilberries, and cranberries.

Resveratrol, a compound found in red wine, is known for its neuroprotective capacity. Because resveratrol has strong anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects, researchers have hypothesized that it could be a useful treatment for neurological disorders. Resveratrol crosses the blood-brain barrier,1, 2 and helps to prevent neurodegeneration caused by amyloid beta peptides3 by enhancing glutathione and consequently, antioxidant status4 in AD, reduces inflammation,5 and alters AD biomarker trajectories.6 It is helpful against a number of AD mechanisms and metabolic pathologies.7, 8

There are several biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's. Several of them are notable because as the condition worsens their presence in the body declines. In other words, as their levels get less, Alzheimer's is seen to progress in severity.

In one double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized 1 year study of patients with moderate to mild Alzheimer's researchers assessed whether treatment with resveratrol made any noticeable difference. 119 patients were given placebo or resveratrol 500mg once a day. The doses of resveratrol were increased by 500mg every 13 weeks - and after a year the patients were taking 1000mg twice a day.

Brain MRI's and cerebral spinal fluid were sampled at the start of the study and at the end of the study. The progress of the resveratrol's absorption, distribution within the body, metabolism, and excretion was studied at start of the study, every 13 weeks, and at the end of the year.

The researchers reported that the biomarker which normally declines as Alzheimer's progresses was lost less in the patients taking resveratrol. Surprisingly, brain volume also decreased - which is possibly due to reduced inflammation in the brain.9

In other research scientists have been looking at the role of resveratrol in increasing anti-inflammatory activity and activating an enzyme called SIRT1 (known as the silent information regulator-1) which decreases tau accumulation.10

Research

1. Moussa C, Hebron M, Huang X, Ahn J, Rissman RA, et al. (2017). Resveratrol regulates neuro-inflammation and induces adaptive immunity in Alzheimer's disease. JNeuroinflammation. Jan 3;14:1.
2. Turner RS, Thomas RG, Craft S, van Dyck CH, Mintzer J, et al. (2015). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of resveratrol for Alzheimer disease. Neurology. Oct 20;85:1383-1391.
3. Marambaud P, Zhao H, Davies P. (2005). Resveratrol promotes clearance of Alzheimer's disease amyloid beta peptides. J Biol Chem. Nov 11;280(45):37377-82.
4. Savaskan E, Olivieri G, Meier F, Seifritz E, Wirz-Justis A, et al. (2003). Red wine ingredient resveratrol protects from beta-amyloid neurotoxicity. Gerontology. Nov-Dec;49(6):380-3.
5. Lee JE Song J, Cheon SY, Jung W, Lee WT. (2014). Resveratrol induces the expression of interleukin-10 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in BV2 microglia under hypoxia. Int J Mol Sci. 2014 Sep 2; 15(9):15512-29.
6. Sawda C, Moussa C, Turner RS. (2017). Resveratrol for Alzheimer's disease. Ann N Y Acad Sci. Sep;1403(1):142-9.
7. Sawda C, Moussa C, Turner RS. (2017). Resveratrol for Alzheimer's disease. Ann NY Acad Sci. Sep;1403(1):142-119.
8. Ahmed T, Javed S, Javed S, Tariq A, Samec D, et al. (2017). Resveratrol and Alzheimer's Disease: Mechanistic Insights. Mol Neurobiol. May;54(4):2622-2635.
9.Ibid. Turner. (2015).
10. Gomes BAQ, Silva JPB, Romeiro CFR, Dos Santos SM, Rodrigues CA, et al. (2018). Neuroprotective Mechanisms of Resveratrol in Alzheimer's Disease: Role of SIRT1. Oxid Med Cell Longev. Oct 30;2018:8152373.
11. Wood AM, Kaptoge S, Butterworth AS, Willeit P, Warnakula S, et al. (2018). Risk thresholds for alcohol consumption: combined analysis of individual-participant data for 599 912 current drinkers in 83 prospective studies. Lancet. Apr 14;391(10129):1513-1523.
12. Biddinger KJ, Emdin CA, Haas ME, Wang M, Hindy G, et al. (2022). Association of Habitual Alcohol Intake With Risk of Cardiovascular Disease. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 Mar 1;5(3):e223849
13. Goding Sauer A, Fedewa SA, Bandi P, Minihan AK, Stoklosa M, et al. (2021). Proportion of cancer cases and deaths attributable to alcohol consumption by US state, 2013-2016. Cancer Epidemiol. Apr;71(Pt A):101893.