Natural Nutritional Formula Offers Hope for People with Alzheimer's Disease

NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A US-made capsule containing a unique combination of nutrients is being launched in New York, following a small, pilot study in Europe which showed that the supplement could benefit people with Alzheimer's Disease (AD), which is the sixth leading cause of death in the USA.

Buoyed by studies over 15 years which have proven the key role of nutrition on the human brainⁱ, an 18-month pilotⁱⁱ trial examined the effect of nutritional compounds found in common foods such as trout, broccoli, and peppers on people with the condition, and unveiled a statistically significant find.

Published in the respected Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (JAD), trial participants were identified to have positive outcomes, including functional benefits in memory, sight and mood, based on carer reports.

In the recent study led by the Nutrition Research Centre Ireland (NRCI)ⁱⁱⁱ in collaboration with University Hospital Waterford (UHW), scientists found that patients receiving a formula containing the macular carotenoids Lutein, Meso-Zeaxanthin and Zeaxanthin, combined with a specifically designed fish oil^iv maintained cognitive abilities and quality of life^v.

This discovery has paved the way for a larger-scale, double-blind, placebo controlled, clinical trial called re-MIND (Memory Intervention with Nutrition for Dementia), which is now underway in Europe with 120 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's Disease and will report its findings in 2020. It is hoped the study will be extended to international research partners.

Professor John Nolan, founder of the NRCI, explains, "This work follows many years of research into the role of nutrients on brain and ocular health. We know from several large-scale population-based studies that nutrition is a key factor in the development of Alzheimer's disease, and importantly, what the major nutrients of the brain are. However, attempts to identify an exact combination of nutrients that can positively impact on brain health have failed - until now. This recent work identified a unique way to enhance the localized nutrients of the brain, and adds to our earlier work which demonstrated the memory enhancing effect of carotenoids in the normal population^vi.Given our growing and ageing population, we believe our studies will guide further research and perceptions worldwide about the role of nutrition on brain function, especially considering we live in a time where we are all living longer and where the nutritional value of foods continues to decline."

Professor Riona Mulcahy from University Hospital Waterford, a medical consultant to the re-MIND trial added, "Up-to-date best medical advice suggests that you can lower your risk of AD through moderate alcohol intake, not smoking, being physically and mentally active, and eating a well-balanced diet. Our work shows that diet deficiency is a key component. Science is now helping us understand exactly what nutrients our brains need. It's a very exciting development."

Dr. George Perry, Texas-based editor in chief of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease added, "The initial trial findings are some of the first to demonstrate meaningful preservation of function in Alzheimer's disease. If the findings are confirmed in the ongoing larger double-blind study, it could safely transform treatment." 

Memory Health, the specially-designed product based on the unique nutritional formula is now available at: www.memoryhealth.com

• ⁱKey studies in the area include:
• In 2004; CRAFT et al¹ in the USA identified that carotenoids are present in the human brain
• In 2013; Feeney et al ² identified in circa 5,000 people that carotenoids are directly related to brain function; in other words, from a large random sample of the population the individuals that had high carotenoids also had very good cognitive (brain) function
• In 2014; Nolan et al³ identified that patients with Alzheimer's disease are deficient in carotenoids
• In 2014;  Nolan et al⁴ identified that patients with Alzheimer's disease respond to dietary supplementation with carotenoids
• In 2018; Power et al⁵, via a double blind placebo controlled trial, identified that supplementation with carotenoids enhances memory in the general population
• In 2018, Nolan et al⁶, demonstrate that combining the carotenoids with fish oil gives better results in terms of response and positive outcomes in quality of life (mood, memory, vision)

ⁱⁱ Titled 'Nutritional intervention to prevent Alzheimer's Disease: potential benefits of xanthophyll carotenoids and omega3 fatty acids combined'.
ⁱⁱⁱ School of Health Science, Waterford Institute of Technology
^iv lutein: meso-zeaxanthin: zeaxanthin at a ratio of 10:10:2mg per day, plus 1g daily of fish oil containing 430mg docohexaenoic acid (DHA) and 90mg eicopentanenoic acid (EPA).
^v Compared with age-matched control group participants
^vi Supplemental Retinal Carotenoids Enhance Memory in Healthy Individuals with Low Levels of Macular Pigment in A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

SOURCE Memory Health