Common Kitchen Herbs Show Promise in Slowing Alzheimer’s Disease

Scientists have discovered that common herbs like rosemary and sage may help slow down Alzheimer’s disease. These herbs have a natural ingredient called carnosic acid. The researchers created a special lab-made version of it, called diAcCA, which activates only in damaged parts of the brain.

This compound was tested on mice that showed signs of Alzheimer’s. The results were encouraging:

• Better memory and learning in mice
• Healthier connections between brain cells
• Less buildup of harmful substances in the brain
• Lower brain swelling (inflammation)

The special thing about diAcCA is that it stays inactive until it finds a problem in the brain, so it doesn’t affect healthy areas.

Cooking with rosemary or sage won’t have the same effect, because the useful compound needs to be specially made and given in a proper form.

What's next for this research:

• More safety testing in animals
• Trials in healthy people to check if it’s safe
• Bigger trials in Alzheimer’s patients to see if it truly works
• Getting government approval if the results are positive
• Possibly combining with other Alzheimer’s drugs

This study is an exciting step, but more research is needed before it becomes a medicine for people.

Before moving to humans, researchers will continue testing the stabilized compound diAcCA in animals to confirm it’s safe at different doses over time.

Phase 1 human clinical trials – If animal studies go well, the next step is small-scale trials in healthy volunteers to test safety, dosage, and how the body processes the drug.

If the trials show strong results, the compound could be submitted for approval by agencies like the FDA.

Researchers may also test diAcCA alongside existing Alzheimer’s drugs to see if it enhances their effects or reduces side effects.

The fact that carnosic acid is already on the FDA’s “generally regarded as safe” list could help speed things up, but human trials are still essential to prove it works and is safe in real-world conditions.