Dihydromyricetin for
the Treatment of Memory Loss
Memory problems are a common challenge for many adults. It can involve a temporary, short-term memory loss, a decline in mental abilities, or a more serious problem involving important functions of the brain. There are many reasons why a person may become forgetful and the treatment for these problems may vary according to their causes.
What Causes Memory Loss?
People
are often disturbed when they forget things, like where they placed
their keys, or miss a dental appointment. It makes them wonder if it
is just part of the normal aging process, or if it is an early symptom
of a brain disorder such as Alzheimer's disease. We have also heard
about dementia, a term which is commonly used to refer to memory loss
associated with impairment of other mental abilities.
In
reality, there is a wide spectrum of conditions that may involve a
decline in memory, although not all of them point to dementia. For
instance, a mild decline in memory may be related to aging, where
people experience slower mental processing of information and
forgetfulness due to a gradual loss of neurons (brain cells).
However, this type of memory loss does not significantly affect one's
daily functions. This type of memory change is generally
manageable and does disrupt one's ability to live independently,
work, or maintain relationships.
Some people,
however, may develop memory problems and cognitive impairments that
are not related to normal aging, but are not as severe as dementia.
This is often considered as mild cognitive impairment, which may or
may not lead to dementia. A state of depression may also involve some
forgetfulness, slowness in thinking and confusion.
Other
possible causes of transient memory loss include brain trauma,
medications (such as antidepressants and sleeping pills), excessive
alcohol drinking, chronic sleep loss, and nutritional deficiencies.
Brain damage due to illnesses such as stroke can also cause memory
loss, which may improve when adequately treated.
Dementia is a
condition that encompasses many disorders. It describes a group of
symptoms that leads to progressive impairment of mental functioning,
which significantly interferes with one's daily activities as well as
social function. Aside from memory loss, people with dementia also
experience inability to solve daily problems, make reasonable
judgments, and control their emotions. They may experience confusion,
agitation, and hallucinations, and they may be observed to have
personality changes.
Many conditions may
cause dementia, but the most common cause is Alzheimer's disease,
which often afflicts elderly individuals. It affects up to four
million Americans, and nearly half of all people over the age of 85
are diagnosed with the disease. A few younger people, who are
believed to have a genetic defect, have also been diagnosed to have
Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease
is a progressive form of dementia that involves long-term memory loss
and decline in other mental functions. The exact cause is still
unknown, but current research suggests that plaque formation and
death of brain cells are responsible for the disease. Defects in the
transmission of messages through the brain synapses (the junction
where nerve impulses pass) are also believed to cause the disruption
of brain functions associated with Alzheimer's disease. Gephyrin, a
special protein that plays a significant role in these synapses, has
been found to be depleted in the brains of experimental animals with
neurodegenerative disease. Imbalance in brain chemicals
(neurotransmitters) and other proteins such as gephyrin cause
disruptions in neurotransmission in the synapses, leading to
degeneration of brain function.
Can Memory Loss Be Prevented?
Research shows that
memory loss can be delayed or prevented by a number of factors. There
is evidence that suggests that people who maintain normal blood sugar
levels score better on mental function tests than people who have
poorly controlled blood sugar levels. Certain activities also lower
one's risk of developing dementia, such as regular exercise, playing
musical instruments, playing chess, doing crossword puzzles, or
maintaining social interactions. Other factors that help prevent
memory loss include better education, low cholesterol levels, low
homocysteine levels, controlled blood pressure levels, use of NSAIDS
(nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and controlled inflammation.
Treatment of
Memory Loss
The treatment for
loss of memory depends mainly on the cause, which in most cases, is
reversible. Transient memory loss associated with nutritional
deficiency or drug side effects may be reversed by taking nutritional
supplements and avoiding the offending drugs, respectively. Other
organic causes such as stroke or Alzheimer's disease need specific
treatments to improve brain function. Current medications used to
treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include cholinesterase
inhibitors likeAricept, Exelon, and
Razadyne, which aim to balance the brain chemicals and improve its
function. Another drug called namenda regulates the activity of
another brain chemical, thus playing a protective role in the brain.
Recent research
shows, however, that another substance called dihydromyricetin
(DHM), also known as ampelopsin (AMP), may be used to treat memory
problems, including dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease. This
flavanoid compound is purified from a variety of botanical sources,
including the oriental raisin tree (Hovenia dulcis), Chinese
Senega (Polygala tenuifolia), and the snake wine vine
(Ampelopsis Grossedentata). It is a component of ancient
Chinese herbal remedies, which have been used in Asia for centuries.
The active ingredient, DHM, has been recently isolated and shown to
be responsible for the bio-active properties of these herbal
remedies.
DHM has recently
been patented under the trade name Smarto-One and is believed
to help prevent memory loss by restoring gephyrin levels, thus
reestablishing synaptic neuron networks. It is also believed to clean
up excessive amyloid-β peptides, which are associated with plaque
build-up in the brain. As the result, Smarto-ONE restores memory
function and improves learning ability. DHM is also known to have
antioxidant and anti-aging effects, which help reduce stress, improve
sleep, and relieve alcoholic hang-overs.
References:
MedicineNet. Dementia Pictures Slideshow: Disorders of the Brain. http://www.medicinenet.com/dementia_pictures_slideshow/article.htm.
WebMD. Loss. http://www.webmd.com/brain/memory-loss.
Mayo Clinic. Memory loss: When to seek
help.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/in-depth/memory-loss/ART-20046326?pg=1.BioPortfolio. Abnormal Gephyrin Immunoreactivity Associated With Alzheimer Disease Pathologic Changes. Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology.
Tretter, V et al. Gephyrin, the enigmatic organizer at GABAergic synapses. Front. Cell. Neurosci., 14 May 2012 | doi: 10.3389/fncel.2012.00023. http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fncel.2012.00023/full
PatentScope. Dihydromyricetin For The Treatment Of Diseases And Disorders Of The Glutamatergic System. http://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO2014007853&recNum=293&docAn=US2013030400&queryString=a61k&maxRec=201668
amazing research about Dihydromyricetin . Thanks :)
ReplyDelete