Ashwaganda and Alzheimer’s Disease, an Unlikely Connection

Posted by on Dec 3, 2018 in Ethics | 4 Comments

Few are familiar with Ashwaganda, a green herb which has been used in Indian medicine for years.  Recent studies on mice have now shown that the herb could play a role in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease which afflicts roughly 5.4 million people.  Mice with Alzheimer’s received ashwaganda, and afterwards there was a significant increase in their ability to retain information and perform cognitive functions. The root extract of Ashwagandha, also known as W. somnifera, has been observed to promote dendrite formations in neuroblastomas, possibly improving synaptic functions in those with Alzheimer’s.  Additionally, researchers found that extracts of the herb stand to reduce amyloid plaques which lead to the degradation of brain cells.

Clinical Study

  • Collect a sample size of 100, senior patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease in varying stages.
  • Separate into two groups, one which receives a supplement with ashwagandha extract and one with a placebo. Monitor the groups over the course of 1 year.
  • In order to gauge the progress of those actually receiving the supplement versus those receiving a placebo, researchers may conduct cognitive tests to see if there is any improvement in the ability of the patient to learn or remember information.  Additionally, researchers must monitor the amount of amyloid plaque in each patient, as well as the formation of dendrites.
  • Participants in this study (or their legal proxies depending on the severity of their Alzheimer’s) must be made aware of the side effects of Ashwagandha, including headaches, stomach pains, and lowered blood pressure among other things.

Considering the lack of previous research on this subject it seems that a clinical study on the properties of Ashwagandha would be unsuccessful and possibly detrimental to the health of seniors already suffering from Alzheimers.

4 Comments

  1. Sarah Taj
    December 3, 2018

    This is a great clinical trial test. I would suggest including what the cognitive tests will be, that might help the participant/reader fully understand how the Ashwagandha is benefiting the participant’s cognitive abilities.

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  2. Henry Menestrier
    December 3, 2018

    The design of the trial satisfies most FDA guidelines, however there are a few minor recommendations. The first is the apparent lack of trials and research into Ashwagandha as a treatment to Alzheimer’s and the ensuing assumption on the part of the researchers that the treatment will have no/negative effects on the patient as a result. If this is the hypothesis being tested, then the patients should be aware of the potential risks of the trial beyond those mentioned in the trial (if there are none, restating those negative effects would help clarify the risks of the trial), or be notified that the topic is under-researched. Beyond that, greater specification of the nature of the cognitive trials being performed would be appreciated, as mentioned in the review above.

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  4. Andres Orejuela
    December 13, 2018

    There may be a clue in the herb’s name. Somnifera indicates that the plant may help sleep; indeed, the athletes who ingest ashwaganda suggest that it helps them recover faster from efforts that tax their muscles, nervous system, and brain–all of which would best recover through sleep. The point may be that just because natural remedies have little clinical research their popular and long-standing uses may be indicative of their potential benefits to broader populations–benefits that may confer less benefits to the developers of pharmaceuticals!

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