04 Jun Complex Dietary Supplement Abolishes Brain Cell Loss in Mice
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Jennifer Lemon
Jennifer Lemon, PhD
Research Associate
Medical Radiation Sciences
McMaster University
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Dr. Lemon: Research with the supplement began in 2000, as part of my doctoral degree; we developed the supplement to try to offset the severe cognitive deterioration and accelerated aging in a mouse model we were working with in the lab. Based on aging research, five mechanisms appeared to be key contributors to the process of aging; those include oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial deterioration, membrane dysfunction and impaired glucose metabolism. The criteria we used for including components in the supplement were as follows: each one of the 30 components had scientific evidence to show they acted on one or more of the above mechanisms were able to be taken orally, and were available to humans over-the-counter. Even then the hope was that if the formulation was successful, this would make it more available to the general public.
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
Dr. Lemon: We found that the severe cognitive deterioration in the rapidly aging mice was completely prevented, both those mice and the normal ones actually got smarter as they got older. Our most recent study provides the reason why we saw those results. The rapidly aging mice only had 44% of their brain cells left by the time they were a year old, which is likely the key explanation for the cognitive deterioration. We also determined that older mice on the supplement were more active, stronger, had better balance, improved vision and sense of smell compared to untreated mice of the same age. All of these finding indicate that the supplement is able to protect a broad spectrum of functions and the overall brain health is protected and improved by the supplement.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Dr. Lemon: We know that the mental and physical deterioration seen in aging is a multi-factorial process. Historically, anti-aging interventions have been ineffective, mostly because they only treat one factor or symptom of aging. What we discovered was that if you simultaneously protect several of the key processes that contribute to that deterioration, you can significantly slow aging and offset both physical and mental dysfunction.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Lemon: Now that we have a good understanding of how the supplement protects the brain, the next logical step is to begin clinical trials in human. The first steps are to test older healthy humans to determine if the benefits seen in mice are transferrable to humans. After that we will begin clinical trials on individuals suffering from neurodegenerative diseases to see if we can slow the progression of disease.
MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.
Citation:
J.A. Lemon, V. Aksenov, R. Samigullina, S. Aksenov, W.H. Rodgers, C.D. Rollo, D.R. Boreham. A multi-ingredient dietary supplement abolishes large-scale brain cell loss, improves sensory function, and prevents neuronal atrophy in aging mice. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, 2016; DOI: 10.1002/em.22019
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Last Updated on June 4, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD