Yet another benefit of red wine? Alzheimer’s disease may be slowed, or even perhaps stopped, by compounds in red wine.

New research suggests that polyphenols in red wine may be beneficial for Alzheimer’s plaques.

Polyphenol is the name of the large group of substances that are antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that are found in plants and plant products. Examples are resveratrol and catechin.

Red wine contains a number of polyphenols including resveratrol. It is resveratrol that has been suggested to be reason for the apparent healthful effects of red wine. However, there are a number of other polyphenols in red wine, and the grapes from which the wine is made,that have been shown to be antioxidants.

In the research, a grape seed extract was shown to have two benefits. First , the extract blocked the formation of the beta amyloid tangles. The progressive formation of the beta amyloid tangles is, at least in part, responsible for the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Second, the extract seemed to make the tangles that had already formed less toxic to brain cells.

There is evidence of some polyphenols having positive effects on the progression of Alzheimer’s. Mostly, the effect had been attributed to possible anti-inflammatory effects. Perhaps the effect is primarily on the formation and toxicity of the beta amyloid tangles.

This research suggests that regular moderate consumption of red wine may be of long term benefit for anybody who is going to get, or has developed Alzheimer’s. It will interesting to see if long term human studies of consumption of grape seed extract show a significant effect on the development and and progression of Alzheimer’s.

photo credit: dichohecho

[tags]Alzheimer’s, red wine, grape seed extract, polyphenols, beta amyloid tangles[/tags]