Grape Seed May Prevent AD

NEW YORK—Grape seed-derived polyphenolics may be useful agents to prevent or treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD), according to a study at Mount Sinai School of Medicine (J Neurosci 2008;25(25):6388-92) (DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0364-08.2008). Researchers found a naturally derived grape seed polyphenolic extract can significantly inhibit amyloid beta-protein aggregation into high-molecular-weight oligomers in vitro. When Tg2576 mice were orally administered the polyphenolic preparation, it significantly attenuated AD-type cognitive deterioration coincidentally with reduced soluble high-molecular-weight (HMW) soluble oligomeric A-beta in the brain.