Chlorella benefits Cognitive Health

Age is the greatest risk factor for cognitive health, and as the Baby Boomer generation passes age 65, the number of people living with cognitive impairment is expected to jump dramatically. This will have an increased economic burden and growing demand for care.

In 2011, 14.9 % of Canadians 65 and older (747,000) were living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. This will reflect 1.4 Million Canadians in 2031, who might lose their cognitive health, if nothing changes until then.

According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 16 million people are living with cognitive impairment, and an estimated 5.1 million Americans aged 65 years or older may currently have Alzheimer’s disease. This number may more than double by 2050.

Economic Impact: The increasing economic burden and growing demand for care due to cognitive impairment pose a serious challenge to our nations, unless steps are taken now to address these problems. Today, the combined direct (medical) and indirect (lost earnings) costs of dementia in Canada total $33 billion per year and will likely climb to $293 billion per year by 2040. In the US the picture is similar. Medicare spending for Alzheimer’s will increase to over U$1.1 trillion by 2050 unless something is done now.

It is well known that oxidative stress is one of the major contributors to age-dependent memory loss and cognitive decline. In patients with senile dementia, including those with Alzheimer’s disease, there is an increased accumulation of phospholipid hydro-peroxide (PLOOH) in an excessively oxidized state present in the red blood cell (RBC) membranes.

Chlorella’s Lutein may affect Cognitive Health

What can we do to keep our cognitive health? Of interest are two Japanese studies, which show that Lutein-rich Chlorella has an impact on people suffering from Alzheimer’s.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trial in Japan, the effect of taking Chlorella supplementation at 8 g/per day was assessed on 12 normal seniors and a placebo group, in terms of the PLOOH and carotenoid concentrations in red blood cells and blood plasma. The dosage of 8 g was equivalent to 22.9 mg lutein/day/person. After 1-2 months of treatment, the lutein concentration had increased in the Chlorella group, compared to the placebo group, and red blood cell PLOOH concentrations were lower than before supplementation. The result of the study suggests that these reductions may contribute to maintaining the normal function of red blood cells and prevent the development of senile dementia.

In another previous study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease in 2012, red blood cell carotenoids and PLOOH (phospholipid hydro-peroxide) were evaluated in 28 normal control subjects (average age: 74 years) and 28 patients with Alzheimer’s disease (average age: 72years). The concentrations of red blood cell carotenoids, especially lutein, in patients with AD were significantly lower compared to control subjects, i.e. an inverse relationship was seen between red blood cell carotenoids and PLOOH concentrations.

In conclusion, supplementation with Chlorella may contribute to maintaining the normal function of erythrocytes and thus offer preventative support in the development of senile dementia.

References:

• alzheimer.ca
• cdc.gov
• alz.org/facts/
• J Oleo Sci. 2013;62(11):873-81. Ingestion of Chlorella reduced the oxidation of erythrocyte membrane lipids in senior Japanese subjects.
• J Oleo Sci. 2013;62(10):773-9. Chlorella is an effective dietary source of lutein for human erythrocytes.
• Neuroscience Letters – Volume 464, Issue 3, 30 October 2009, Pages 193–198- Preventive effects of Chlorella on cognitive decline in age-dependent dementia model mice