Terry Vanderheyden, ND, RH, has been in clinical practice as a naturopathic doctor since

1994 and also acts as a consultant and formulator for St. Francis Herb Farm.

[Q] Is there a possible role for herbs in the prevention of dementia?

[A] Beta-amyloid (Aβ) is a protein that accumulates in the brain of those with
Alzheimer’s disease and is considered contributory1. The deposition of Aβ plaques and
neurofibrillary tangles of tau proteins are hallmarks of Alzheimer’s.12 Though this does
not represent the entire pathophysiology of dementia, it is a common target of new
therapy development.

There are several lifestyle changes that have been shown to help prevent the onset of
dementia. Physical exercise is one of those changes: a controlled trial in patients with
early signs of dementia (known as mild cognitive impairment, MCI) found that high-
intensity aerobic exercise improved performance on memory tests for both men and
women2.34

Meanwhile, a Mediterranean diet, of mainly plant-based foods like fruits and

vegetables—especially green leafy varieties, legumes, nuts and seeds, olive oil, and
seafood is considered as having “abundant evidence” of dementia-preventive benefit3.56
Intermittent fasting also shows some potential in dementia prevention, but research is still
preliminary in this area4.7

With the emergence of new discoveries in the pathology of dementia, more research is
being directed toward nutritional supplements and herbs for their possible role in the

1
US NIH National Institute on Aging. “Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease: What Happens to the Brain in
Alzheimer’s Disease?” Content reviewed: May 16, 2017. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-happens-
brain-alzheimers-disease accessed 11Apr19
2
Nisbet RM, Polanco JC, Ittner LM, Götz J. Tau aggregation and its interplay with amyloid-β. Acta
Neuropathol. 2014;129(2):207–220. doi:10.1007/s00401-014-1371-2
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4305093/ accessed 11Apr10
3
Laura D. Baker, et al, “Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Controlled Trial,” Arch
Neurol. 2010 January; 67(1): 71–79. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3056436/ accessed
11Apr19
4
DM Cammisuli, et al. “Aerobic Exercise Effects upon Cognition in Mild Cognitive Impairment: a
Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials” Archives Italiennes de Biologie 155: 54-62, 2017. DOI
10.12871/000398292017126. http://www.architalbiol.org/aib/article/viewFile/15555/28715598 accessed
11Apr19
5
Mayo Clinic “Nutrition and healthy eating: Mediterranean diet: A heart-healthy eating plan.” Jan. 26,
2019 https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-
depth/mediterranean-diet/art-20047801 accessed 12Apr19
6
F Pistollato et al, “Nutritional patterns associated with the maintenance of neurocognitive functions and
the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease: A focus on human studies,” Pharmacological Research 2018;
131: 32-43. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29555333 accessed 12Apr19
7
Zhang J, Zhan Z, Li X, et al. Intermittent Fasting Protects against Alzheimer's Disease Possible through
Restoring Aquaporin-4 Polarity. Front Mol Neurosci. 2017;10:395. Published 2017 Nov 29.
doi:10.3389/fnmol.2017.00395 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5712566/ accessed
12Apr19
elimination of Aβ.89 Some of these include turmeric and its component, curcumin10,
along with resveratrol11, quercetin12, and sulforaphane513.

The herb ashwagandha, an important rasayana (tonic)14 in Ayurveda, has also shown
promise in studies for its neuroregenerative activity. A 2014 randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled study involving 50 adults with MCI showed significant improvements
in memory and mental function6 for those who were assigned to eight weeks of treatment
with ashwagandha-root extract.15

1. KM Rodrigue et al, “Risk Factors for β-Amyloid Deposition in Healthy Aging,” JAMA
Neurol. 2013 May; 70(5): 600-
606. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3968915/
2. Laura D. Baker, et al, “Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Mild Cognitive Impairment: A
Controlled Trial,” Arch Neurol. 2010 January; 67(1): 71–79.
3. F Pistollato et al, “Nutritional patterns associated with the maintenance of
neurocognitive functions and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease: A focus on
human studies,” Pharmacological Research 2018; 131: 32-43.
4. J Zhang et al, “Intermittent Fasting Protects against Alzheimer’s Disease Possible
through Restoring Aquaporin-4 Polarity,” Front Mol Neurosci. 2017; 10: 395.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5712566/
5. SH Omar et al, “The protective role of plant biophenols in mechanisms of Alzheimer's
disease,” J Nutritional Biochemistry 2017. 47. 1-20.
6. D Choudhary et al, “Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L)
Dunal) Root Extract in Improving Memory and Cognitive Functions,” Journal of Dietary
Supplements 2017 Feb 21; 14(6): 599-612.

8
SH Omar et al, “The protective role of plant biophenols in mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease,” J
Nutritional Biochemistry 2017. 47. 1-20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28301805 accessed
12Apr19
9
Bushra, Shal, et al. “Anti-neuroinflammatory Potential of Natural Products in Attenuation of Alzheimer’s
Disease.” Front. Pharmacol., 29 May 2018 https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.00548
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2018.00548/full accessed 12Apr19
10
ibid
11
ibid
12
ibid
13
Hou, TT, et al. “Sulforaphane Inhibits the Generation of Amyloid-β Oligomer and Promotes Spatial
Learning and Memory in Alzheimer's Disease (PS1V97L) Transgenic Mice.” J. Alzheimers Dis. 2018;62(4):
1803-1813. doi: 10.3233/JAD171110. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29614663 accessed
12Apr19
14
Singh N, Bhalla M, de Jager P, Gilca M. An overview on ashwagandha: a Rasayana (rejuvenator) of
Ayurveda. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2011;8(5 Suppl):208–213. doi:10.4314/ajtcam.v8i5S.9
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3252722/ accessed 12Apr19
15
D Choudhary et al, “Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L) Dunal) Root Extract in
Improving Memory and Cognitive Functions,” Journal of Dietary Supplements 2017 Feb 21; 14(6): 599-
612. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28471731 accessed 12Apr19