Berberine May Help To Reduce Risk Of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is complex and driven by multiple factors, therapies based on decreasing the amount of amyloid in the brain are failing in clinical trials suggesting that the disease should not be focused on a single approach, rather a number of different pathways that lead to the disease. 

Berberine is commonly used in East Asia to treat a variety of health problems. Recently studies suggest that it may have neuroprotective effects on Alzheimer’s disease based on findings from animal studies. 

Pre-clinical trial review included analyzing 5 online databases of published studies reporting the effect of berberine on animal models of Alzheimer’s disease, of which 15 papers were found that fit the required criteria. Data from those studies indicate that berberine showed significant memory improving activities in multiple animal studies, and the activities were mediated by different properties including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cholinesterase inhibiting, and anti-amyloid activities. Based on their findings the researcher concluded that berberine may be a promising multipotent agent to protect against the debilitating brain wasting disease. 

Abstract:

“The included 15 articles met our inclusion criteria with different quality ranging from 3 to 5. We analyzed data extracted from full texts with regard to pharmacological effects and potential anti-Alzheimer’s properties. Our analysis revealed that in multiple memory defects animal models, berberine showed significant memory-improving activities with multiple mechanisms, such as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidative stress, cholinesterase (ChE) inhibition and anti-amyloid effects.”

“AD is likely to be a complex disease driven by multiple factors. Yet, many therapeutic strategies based on lowering β-amyloid have failed in clinical trials. This suggest that the therapy should not base on a single cause of Alzheimer’s disease but rather a number of different pathways that lead to the disease. Overall we think that berberine can be a promising multipotent agent to combat Alzheimer’s disease.”