A Systematic Review of Dietary Supplements in Alzheimer's Disease

Cureus. 2023 Jan 19;15(1):e33982. doi: 10.7759/cureus.33982. eCollection 2023 Jan.

Abstract

Alzheimer's is the most common neurodegenerative disease among the aging population, which has been a major global challenge. The pathogenesis of the disease is still undetermined but postulated to be involved in various mechanisms including oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, inflammation, cell death, genetic factors, protein accumulation, and degradation. There are few Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs available for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) that have limited benefits along with associated adverse effects. A retrospective review of randomized double-blind controlled trials of various supplements used in AD patients was performed on a PubMed search from January 1983 to March 2022. We found 10 articles that have shown positive outcomes in various cognitive domains. We conclude that there should be a global standard to endorse the quality and safety of these supplements.

Keywords: alzheimer's disease; cognitive domains; dementia; dietary supplements; dietary supplements beneficial in alzheimer's disease; memory.

Publication types

  • Review