Resveratrol is a phytochemical found in red wine, grapes, white wine, peanuts, blueberries and blackberries and has shown many benefits to health. The benefits include preventing dementia and as well as decreasing progression of dementia symptoms. The mechanism for these benefits occurs in several ways.
Resveratrol and Antioxidants
One ways resveratrol works for dementia is by helping other molecules in their roles as antioxidants. The heme oxygenase system is one system where reseveratrol promotes the action of other antioxidants invoking a protective role. Resveratrol assists heme oxygenase in degrading molecules that cause damage such as free heme radicals, as shown in a 2003 study in the "Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences."
Resveratrol and Plaques
Senile plaques are made of the protein beta-amyloid. Reseveratrol has been shown to play a role in protecting neurons from damage from these plaques. A study in the April 2003 journal "Life Sciences" looked at the effects of resveratrol from grape-skin extract on beta-amyloid plaques. The researchers found the resveratrol to reduce free radical production associated with plaques and protected cells from damage from free radicals.
Resveratrol and Inflammation
Resveratrol acts to slow the progression of dementia, as explained by a study published in the 2004 "Journal of Neural Transmission." The researchers explain that memory deficits can be decreased by antioxidants, like reseveratrol as they are able to do this by decreasing inflammation and neurodegneration.
Resveratrol and Glutathione
Glutathione is a protein and antioxidant that assists with reusing other antioxidants. It is a very critical antioxidant to have in adequate amounts, especially in keeping the brain healthy. Reseveratrol helps to increase levels of glutathione, explains a study in the November 2003 issue of "Gerontology." The study looked at human neuroblastoma cells under oxidative stress due to beta-amyloid and found resveratrol maintained cell viability and increased glutathione.
References
- "Annals of the New York Academy of Science"; Potential Mechanism by Which Resveratrol, a Red Wine Constituent, Protects Neurons; Zhuang, et al.; 2003
- "Life Sciences"; Red Wine Micronutrients as Protective Agents in Alzheimer-Like Induced Insult; Russo, et al.; 2003
- "Gerontology"; Red Wine Ingredient Resveratrol Protects from β-Amyloid Neurotoxicity, Egemen Savaskan, et al.; 2003
- "Journal of Neural Transmission"; Rat Models of Dementia Based on Reductions in Regional Glucose Metabolism, Cerebral Blood Flow and Cytochrome Oxidase Activity; Weinstock, et al.; 2004
