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When Will Resveratrol Science Become Any More Convincing?

Diagram shows dramatic ability of resveratrol to re-wire the brain versus a placebo (vehicle) in a process called neurogenesis.

News sources widely report resveratrol (rez-vair-ah-trol), known as a red wine molecule, can improve mental function and mood in late middle age of laboratory animals [Neurology Advisor Feb 6, 2015] but these reports largely fail to describe a more striking discovery – that this natural molecule does this by re-wiring the brain in a process called neurogenesis and it continues to produce such an effect even weeks after cessation of use.  The report emanates from a recently published report. [Scientific Reports Jan 28, 2015]

Furthermore, this remarkable research in the animal lab is being backed up in human studies that show just a modest dose of resveratrol (150-200 milligrams/day) produces these same beneficial effects. [Journal Neuroscience 2014; Cell Metabolism Nov 2, 2011]  Researchers used a much larger dose (2800 mg/day human equivalent dose) in the lab animals to produce the profound results they report today.

Neurogenesis is defined as a process whereby new brain cells are generated from stem cells which occurs in the thinking and memory part of the brain called the hippocampus.

Brain researchers describe how resveratrol works – by inhibition of chronic low-grade inflammation and formation of new blood vessels with no adverse side effects.  Careful analysis showed that resveratrol treatment of aged rats induced 2.4-fold increase in net hippocampal neurogenesis.

This miracle molecule crosses the blood-brain barrier and its activity last for hours in the brain.  It also doubles as an anti-depressant, said researchers.

When memory typically begins to decline in late middle age (23-25 weeks) of these laboratory animals resveratrol not only maintained by actually improved learning.

Resveratrol continued to produce beneficial effects on mood and memory even 6 weeks after the termination of its use!

Researchers went on to say:

In humans, mental decline may manifest in the form of occasional forgetfulness, decreased processing speed and mental inflexibility, and reduced ability for solving problems or maintaining attentiveness.  Although these problems in milder forms are typical for the elderly population, progression of these snags into a measurable decline in cognition and memory would result in a clinical condition called mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Because people with MCI have an increased risk for developing AD or other type of dementia, interventions that can improve cognitive and memory function in old age or prevent MCI in old age have immense importance. … If these propositions are true, then therapeutic interventions that reverse one or more of the primary age-related changes in the brain should improve cognitive and mood function in the aged population. Indeed, several earlier studies have shown that administration of nutraceuticals… can improve memory function in aging rodents.

Taken together, the current body of research suggests a day when the entire adult population will be taking resveratrol pills.  These studies come a decade after resveratrol was first extolled by a Harvard researcher for its anti-aging benefits. [Nature Sept 11, 2003]

At what point will the research get any more convincing to prompt resveratrol supplemental en mass beginning at least in middle age?  – ©2015 Bill Sardi, ResveratrolNews.com