"Senior moments" are the punchline of many jokes, sparking embarrassing snickers, but moments of forgetfulness in aging adults trigger dreadful thoughts of Alzheimer's disease, a fatal deteriorating brain disease that robs more than 2.4 million Americans of memory, according to the National Institute of Aging. While traditional medicines continue to surface, alternative therapies like Pycnogenol, a coastal French pine bark extract, promise surprising results. Always consult a doctor before taking an herbal remedy.
Identification
Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that affects memory, thought patterns and behavior. Symptoms begin slowly, then progress, with an average eight-year survival rate. According to the Alzheimer's Association, the adult brain contains approximately 100 billion nerve cells called neurons that form memories via an electric charge. A study by the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Loma Linda, California, cited by the National Institute of Health, reported that cell death is a pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease.
Benefits
The brain of an Alzheimer's patient forms a protein, beta amyloid, that produces scaly, rough patches on the brain. Clustering together, sticky plaque builds up, blocking cell communication. Pycnogenol prevents this protein formation, blocks nerve cell damage and thus helps memory functions.
Degenerative brain diseases are characterized by oxidative damage. Bioflavonoids, compounds in pine bark extract, neutralize harmful free radicals that oxidize cells and tissues and improve memory with age-related cognitive decline. Pycnogenol is a potent free radical scavenger of free radicals, which have been implicated in many diseases, including Alzheimer's.
Pycnogenol also is a powerful antioxidant containing catechins, water-soluble polyphenols, according to the website Nature.com. Besides having protective effects on oxidative damage, these flavonoids reduce inflammation in the brain, another Alzheimer's abnormality. The "Journal of Inflammation" website notes that pine bark extract shuts off naturally occurring enzymes associated with inflammatory conditions.
Research
Researchers are constantly looking for avenues for early detection, prevention and slowing down the complex aspects of Alzheimer's. Understanding the patient's needs through support and education are of prime importance. Despite the increased amounts of clinical trials, findings still are in the early stages of research.
Safety
Pycnogenol is a safe and nontoxic herbal supplement. Dosage can vary, depending on seriousness of the disease. Always discuss herbal remedies with a doctor. Alternative drug therapies like Pycnogenol are progressing in multiple studies and trials, but more research is needed on Alzheimer's disease and Pycnogenol.
