While no drug to date has provided proof of curative effectiveness against dementia, we should undoubtedly not neglect traditional medicinal products and the avenues they can offer for preventive medicine.
The study, which tested these dried seed extracts of Zizyphi spinosi in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, shows that:
- the administration of extracts diluted in hot water from these dried seeds considerably restores their cognitive and motor functions;
- when the seeds were simply ground into powder and administered to the model mice, the cognitive function of the model mice was even restored to a higher level;
- These extracts also appear to stop cellular aging in older mice while restoring their cognitive function to a level similar to that of younger mice.
The jujube Zizyphi spinosi thus “joins” other medicinal plants, including Hawaiian herb astonishment and Chinese herb Acorus gramineus whose ability to counteract dementia has also been documented.
Beyond simple supplements based on these plants, research suggests deciphering the processes underlying these positive cognitive effects, in order to open new therapeutic avenues against dementia.
Health
