Resveratrol May Protect Against Alzheimer’s Disease

Resveratrol may also protect against Alzheimer’s disease. Several epidemiological studies show that moderate wine drinkers are at decreased risk of dementia, and resveratrol is the likely explanation. Many of the mechanisms discussed above that protect against cardiovascular disease also provide broad benefits throughout the body, including the brain. In lab studies, resveratrol promotes the breakdown of beta-amyloid plaques, lesions found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. In animal studies, resveratrol not only protects against dementia but also improves cognitive function in animal models of Alzheimer’s. Although resveratrol hasn’t yet been tested in human clinical trials, it is widely believed to have therapeutic potential in the prevention and treatment of this neurodegenerative disorder.