Cinnamon metabolite may help Alzheimer's by reducing amyloid.
Sodium benzoate, a cinnamon metabolite, reduces amyloid levels in Alzheimer's patients, improving cognition.
Why it matters
- Sodium benzoate could be a safe and convenient treatment for Alzheimer's.
- Reduces amyloid-beta proteins, which are linked to Alzheimer's progression.
- Higher initial amyloid levels predict greater cognitive benefits.
By the numbers
- 149 patients with mild Alzheimer's.
- Doses: 500mg, 750mg, 1000mg sodium benzoate vs. placebo.
- 24-week trial duration.
The big picture
- Current treatments for Alzheimer's are costly and have side effects.
- Sodium benzoate is oral, potentially safer, and more accessible.
- Could lead to new therapeutic options for Alzheimer's.
What they're saying
- Some skepticism about the causal link between amyloid and Alzheimer's.
- Positive response to the potential of sodium benzoate.
- Jokes about preservatives being healthy.
Caveats
- Moderate sample size and short study duration.
- Participants were of Han Taiwanese descent; may not generalize to other ethnicities.
- Long-term effects and brain-specific changes not studied.
What’s next
- Further studies with larger and more diverse populations.
- Longer-term trials to assess sustained benefits.
- Brain imaging studies to understand the mechanism better.