Assessing Spirulina as a Therapeutic Intervention for Alzheimer's Disease
Abstract
Millions of people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a serious neurodegenerative condition for which current treatments offer only symptomatic relief without halting disease progression. This literature review looks into the potential therapeutic applications of Spirulina, a cyanobacterium known for its rich bioactive compound, in AD management, focusing on its neuroprotective and antioxidative properties.
Spirulina's potential in modulating biological pathways relevant to AD has been highlighted in several studies. For instance, one study [1] demonstrated improvements in cognitive functions and metabolic health in AD patients following Spirulina supplementation, suggesting that Spirulina's bioactive components may help regulate oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, key factors in AD pathogenesis.
Furthermore, research by Abdelghany et al. [2] explored the use of spirulina with an innovative drug delivery system that enhances bioavailability and targeted delivery. This study reported significant improvements in memory and neurotransmitter levels in rat models, indicating that optimized delivery of Spirulina could effectively interfere with neurodegenerative processes.
Additionally, studies on the biochemical properties of cyanobacteria reveal that Spirulina may inhibit β-secretase (BACE1), an enzyme critical for the formation of β-amyloid plaques, a hallmark of AD. This inhibition, coupled with potential increases in acetylcholine levels, supports its neurochemical rationale for therapeutic use [3].
In summary, while Spirulina shows encouraging therapeutic potential through multiple biochemical mechanisms, comprehensive clinical trials are essential to fully establish its clinical utility and safety in the context of AD.
References
[1] O. R. Tamtaji, R. Heidari-Soureshjani, Z. Asemi, and E. Kouchaki, "The effects of spirulina intake on clinical and metabolic parameters in Alzheimer's disease: A randomized, double‐blind, controlled trial," Phytotherapy Research, vol. 2023, Mar. 2023. doi: 10.1002/ptr.7791.
[2] A. Abdelghany, A. Gamal, A. Abdel-Wahab, et al., "Evaluating the neuroprotective effect of Spirulina platensis-loaded niosomes against Alzheimer's disease induced in rats," Drug Delivery and Translational Research, vol. 2023, Feb. 2023. doi: 10.1007/s13346-023-01301-2.
[3] A. Castaneda, R. Ferraz, M. Vieira, et al., "Bridging Cyanobacteria to Neurodegenerative Diseases: A New Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds against Alzheimer's Disease," Marine Drugs, vol. 19, no. 6, Jun. 2021. doi: 10.3390/md19060343.
