A recent study found that Urolithin A, a compound produced when consuming pomegranates, improves Alzheimer’s disease symptoms.
The study, which subjects mice to investigate the impact of Urolithin A on Alzheimer’s disease symptoms, was published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease is a type of degenerative neurological disorder and is the most common form of dementia in people over 65. Previous studies have suggested that specific diets can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Examples of such diets include the Mediterranean diet or the MIND (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) diet, which has low levels of saturated fat and sugar and high levels of vitamins, minerals, omega-3, and antioxidants.
Vitamins and antioxidants are nutrients that prevent damage caused by free oxygen radicals. They can be beneficial since Alzheimer’s disease is associated with increased oxidative stress.
Recently, there has been an increase in research related to Urolithin A, a polyphenol component in pomegranates metabolized by gut bacteria and has excellent antioxidant effects.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark scrutinized the effects of Urolithin A on the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in the target mice.
The study found that mice that received Urolithin A for five months showed refined memory and cognitive function. Moreover, the accumulation of toxic proteins inside cells decreased at the cellular level, and DNA damage was lessened. Inflammatory markers related to brain inflammation are also reduced, improving overall brain health.
The researchers explained that Urolithin A diminished the activity of microglia and immune cells in the brain, thereby reducing harmful inflammation.
Based on these results, the researchers concluded that Urolithin A could help recover the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
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