Aged Garlic (2001-2020) & Cognitive Impairment

Compared to regular garlic, aged garlic extract stands out as having superior beneficial effects with respect to inhibiting platelet aggregation in cardiovascular disease,¹ strengthening the immune system and boosting levels of natural glutathione,^{2, 3, 4, 5} supporting working memory and cognitive capacity, slowing cholinergic cell death due to amyloid beta accumulation,^{6, 7} being neuroprotective,⁸ and protecting neuronal PC12 cells against amyloid beta.⁹ Aged garlic extract restricts several of the cascades related to synapse deterioration and neuroinflammation,¹⁰ improves cognitive impairment, and reduces neurodegeneration caused by amyloid beta accumulation,^{11, 12} regulates cholinergic function,¹³ improves short-term recognition memory in lab animals, and slows the inflammatory response.¹⁴

A 2020 review of research determined that aged garlic has valuable potential in preventing cognitive and learning dysfunction due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and modulatory effects on neurotransmitter function in the regions of the brain associated with Alzheimer's.¹⁵

1. Steiner M, Li W. (2001). Aged garlic extract, a modulator of cardiovascular risk factors: a dose-finding study on the effects of AGE on platelet functions. J Nutr. Mar; 131(3s):980S-4S.
2. Jeong YY, Park HJ, Cho YW, Kim EJ, Kim GT, et al. (2012). Aged red garlic extract reduces cigarette smoke extract-induced cell death in human bronchial smooth muscle cells by increasing intracellular glutathione levels. Phytother Res. Jan;26(1):18-25.
3. Weiss N, Papatheodorou L, Morihara N, Hilge R, Ide N. (2013). Aged garlic extract restores nitric oxide bioavailability in cultured human endothelial cells even under conditions of homocysteine elevation. J Ethnopharmacol. Jan 9;145(1):162-7.
4. Ishikawa H, Saeki T, Otani T, Suzuki T, Shimozuma K, et al. (2006). Aged garlic extract prevents a decline of NK cell number and activity in patients with advanced cancer. J Nutr. Mar;136(3 Suppl):816S-820S.
5. Morioka N, Sze LL, Morton DL, Irie RF. (1993). A protein fraction from aged garlic extract enhances cytotoxicity and proliferation of human lymphocytes mediated by interleukin-2 and concanavalin A. Cancer Immunol Immunother. Oct;37(5):316-22.
6. Thorajak P, Pannangrong W, Welbat JU, Chaijaroonkhanarak W, Sripanidkulchai K, et al. (2017). Effects of Aged Garlic Extract on Cholinergic, Glutamatergic and GABAergic Systems with Regard to Cognitive Impairment in Aβ-Induced Rats. Nutrients. Jul 1;9(7):E686.
7. Nillert N, Pannangrong W, Weilbat JU, Chijaroonkhanarak W, Sripanidkulchai K, et al. (2017). Neuroprotective Effects of Aged Garlic Extract on Cognitive Dysfunction and Neuroinflammation Induced by β-Amyloid in Rats. Nutrients. Jan 3;9(1):E24.
8. Cemil B, Gokce EC, Kahveci R, Gokce A, Aksoy N, et al. (2016). Aged Garlic Extract Attenuates Neuronal Injury in a Rat Model of Spinal Cord Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury. J Med Food. Jun;19(6):601-6.
9. Griffin B, Selassie M, Gwebu ET. (2000). Effect of Aged Garlic Extract on the Cytotoxicity of Alzheimer β-Amyloid Peptide in Neuronal PC12 Cells. Nutr Neurosci. 2000;3(2):139-42.
10. Ray B, Cauhan NB, Lahiri DK. (2011). The "aged garlic extract:" (AGE) and one of its active ingredients S-allyl-L-cysteine (SAC) as potential preventive and therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Curr Med Chem. 2011;18(22):330-13.
11. Jeong JH, Jeong HR, Jo YN, Kim HJ, Shin JH, et al. (2013). Ameliorating effects of aged garlic extracts against AB-induced neurotoxicity and cognitive impairment. SMC Complement Altern Med. Oct 18;13:268.
12. Li F, Kim MR. (2019). Effect of Aged Garlic Ethyl Acetate Extract on Oxidative Stress and Cholinergic Function of Scopolamine-Induced Cognitive Impairment in Mice. Prev Nutr Food Sci. Jun;24(2):165-170.
13. Ibid. Li. (2019).
14. Nillert N, Pannangrong W, Welbat JU, Chaijaroonkhanarak W, Sripanidkulchai K, et al. (2017). Neuroprotective Effects of Aged Garlic Extract on Cognitive Dysfunction and Neuroinflammation Induced by B-Amyloid in Rats. Nutrients. Jan 3;9(1):E24.
15. Sripanidkulchai B. (2020). Benefits of aged garlic extract on Alzheimer's disease: Possible mechanisms of action. Exp Ther Med. Feb;19(2):1560-1564.