OPTIMIZE YOUR HEALTH
Lower Your Risk for Dementia

Supplements for Brain Power
by Jannet Huang, MD, FRCPC, FACE, ABHM

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational purposes only. Supplements (herbal and vitamins) should be complementary to a healthy lifestyle as well as appropriate medical evaluation and treatment. Those who are interested in beginning a nutritional supplement should first consult their personal physician.

A number of nutritional supplements have been studied for their effect in preserving cognitive function. Here we list the potentially beneficial ones.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine
It might slow the rate of disease progression, improve memory, and improve some measures of cognitive function and behavioral performance in some patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Ginkgo Biloba (leaf)
Taking ginkgo leaf orally seems to modestly improve symptoms of Alzheimer's, vascular, or mixed dementias. Studies lasting from 3 months to a year show that ginkgo leaf extract can stabilize or improve some measures of cognitive function and social functioning in patients with multiple types of dementia.

Huperzine A
Taking huperzine A orally seems to improve memory, cognitive function, and behavioral function in patients with Alzheimer's, multi-infarct, and senile dementia.

Idebenone
There's some evidence that taking idebenone orally slows cognitive function decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Idebenone appears most effective in patients with moderately severe Alzheimer's disease, based on standard Alzheimer's disease rating scales.

Lemon Balm
Taking a standardized extract of lemon balm orally, daily for 4 months, seems to reduce agitation and improve symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease on standard Alzheimer's disease rating scales.

Niacin
There is some evidence that people who consume higher amounts of niacin (17-45 mg/day) from food and multivitamin sources have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease compared to people who consume less niacin (14 mg/day). Food sources high in niacin include meat, fish, beans, nuts, coffee, and fortified grains and cereals.

Phosphatidylserine
Taking phosphatidylserine orally can increase cognitive function, global improvement rating scales, and improve behavioral rating scales over 6-12 weeks of treatment.

Sage
Taking extracts of Salvia officinalis and Salvia lavandulaefolia orally seem to improve cognitive function in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.

Vinpocetine
Vinpocetine is used to treat cognitive impairment due to vascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other kinds of dementias. It might have a modest effect on cognitive impairment from various causes, but most studies have lasted 6 months or less.

Fish oil Omega 3 Fatty Acids (EPA/DHA)
High consumption of fish oil omega 3 fatty acids has been associated with a lower risk of dementia and cognitive decline. Fish oil may also benefit depression and ADD (attention deficit disorder).

INM-176 (Patented proprietary extract of the root of angelica gigas nakai, with active ingredients decursin and decursinol)
INM-176 demonstrated efficacy and safety in a human double-blind placebo-controlled 3-month clinical trial at Samsung Seoul Hospital with 80 subjects having mild & moderate cognitive impairment. INM-176 actions include:

• Inhibition of Amyloid β-peptide oligomer (senile plaque) formation
• Anti-oxidation
• Inhibition of inflammation
• Neuroprotection
• Inhibition of acetylcholine decline

INM-176 through the above mechanisms may help prevent onset of age-related memory impairment and protect against nerve cell death. INM-176 is currently available as CognI-Q by Quality of Life Labs.

—July 2007

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