Huperzine A Supplement Helps Prevent and Treat Dementia/Alzheimer’s disease
Source: J Molecules (2021)
Lifestyle Medicine Update (January 29, 2025)
Over the years I have helped a number of older individuals reverse memory loss and dementia problems. One of the nutritional medicine factors that I always include is a natural agent known as Huperzine A. It was first discovered in a club moss in the mountains of China. Over the years the research to support Huperzine A’s ability to reverse memory loss, in even Alzheimer’s patients has escalated to the point where it is an approved drug of choice for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in China. Quite conveniently, Huperzine A is available as a natural supplement in Canada and the United States and in many other countries. So, you can buy it over the counter or as part of an overall memory support supplement formulation – this is what I do.
A very thorough review of Huperzine A and Alzheimer’s disease was published in the journal Molecules in 2021. The review paper highlights the many ways that Huperzine A is shown to prevent and treat age-related dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Some of the key medicinal actions include:
Inhibiting the breakdown of the memory chemical acetylcholine. This results in higher brain levels of the memory chemical and thus, improved memory. In fact, studies show that Huperzine A performs this task with greater efficacy than standard prescription drugs used to treat Alzheimer’s disease in North America.
Experimentally, Huperzine A also inhibits the build-up of beta-amyloid plaque and neurofibrillary tangles, which are established hallmark features of Alzheimer’s disease.
It also improves brain cell energy production (ATP), provides a host of neuroprotective effect (like increasing Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor – BDNF), reduces free radical damage to brains cells, increases the synthesis of brain antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase), reduces mitochondrial damage, reduces inflammatory brain chemicals (IL-6. TNF, MIP-1 alpha) and reduces brain cell damage from iron, which also known to contribute to dementias and Alzheimer’s disease. These are just some of the ways that Huperzine A helps to prevent and treat various dementias and Alzheimer’s disease.
Studies on mice that are genetically programmed to develop Alzheimer’s disease (transgenic mice) show that Huperzine A treatment improves working memory by 68% in these animals compared to the same mice not treated with Huperzine A. As reviewed by the researchers, a number of human studies have also shown improved cognition in patients suffering from dementia – both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, when they were administered Huperzine A, orally. These are objective improvements, as the benefits of Huperzine A treatment are apparent when using measurement tools such as Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), the AD Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog) or the ADAS-noncognitive subscale (non-COG) tests. Other studies have shown similar results when providing Alzheimer’s disease patients with 200 mcg per day of Huperzine A and/or doses as high as 400 mcg twice daily. Patients experienced no significant side effects even with doses of 400 mcg, twice daily.
From a standpoint of prevention, in my view the evidence suggests that everyone over the age of 50 should take a combination supplement that contains memory support nutrients, including Huperzine A, CDP-choline, Bacopa monnieri and Phosphatidylserine. These four nutrients work synergistically to help combat age-related memory loss and some of them, including Huperzine A, are shown to block other key steps involved in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, as I have outlined in this report.I have provided a link to the 2021 review paper on Huperzine A and Alzheimer’s disease in the text below.
Reference:
Friedli M.J. and Inestrosa N.C. Huperzine A and its neuroprotective molecular signaling in Alzheimer’s disease. Molecules. 2021, 26(21). Huperzine A and Its Neuroprotective Molecular Signaling in Alzheimer’s Disease
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Dr. James Meschino
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. James Meschino, DC, MS, ROHP, is an educator, author, and researcher having lectured to thousands of healthcare professionals across North America. He holds a Master’s Degree in Science with specialties in human nutrition and biology and is recognized as an expert in the field of nutrition, anti-aging, fitness, and wellness as well as the author of numerous books.