A recent study has unveiled promising evidence that a dietary supplement may help lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. This naturally occurring amino acid has been found to prevent the accumulation of detrimental plaques in the brain.

Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia, characterized by challenges with memory, communication, and behavior. It is believed to result from the irregular build-up of proteins surrounding brain cells.

One such protein, known as amyloid, can form plaques around brain cells. Recent research suggests that an oral supplement could effectively decrease the amount of amyloid present in the brain.

Published in Neurochemistry International, the study discovered that arginine can notably diminish the aggregation of amyloid β (Aβ) and its harmful effects in animal models of Alzheimer’s. Arginine, also referred to as l-arginine, is an amino acid that aids in protein production within the body.

Arginine is abundant in high-protein foods such as meat, fish, nuts, seeds, and dairy products. It is also available as a supplement in various health stores.

It is crucial to understand that the dosages applied in the study were specifically for research purposes and do not correspond to those found in commercial supplements. Professor Yoshitaka Nagai, a leading researcher in the study, stated, “Our study demonstrates that arginine can suppress Aβ aggregation both in vitro and in vivo.”

“What makes this finding exciting is that arginine is already known to be clinically safe and inexpensive, making it a highly promising candidate for repositioning as a therapeutic option for Alzheimer’s disease.”

As reported by Science Daily, in the mouse model, oral arginine lowered amyloid plaque formation and reduced insoluble Aβ42 levels in the brain. Mice receiving arginine also performed better in behavioural assessments and showed decreased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes linked to neuroinflammation, a key contributor to the progression of Alzheimer’s. 

Prof Nagai said this could provide new potential options for the prevention of Alzheimer’s. 

“Our findings open up new possibilities for developing arginine-based strategies for neurodegenerative diseases caused by protein misfolding and aggregation,” he said. 

“Given its excellent safety profile and low cost, arginine could be rapidly translated to clinical trials for Alzheimer’s and potentially other related disorders.” However, the researchers noted that additional preclinical and clinical studies are essential to confirm whether these effects will translate to humans and to determine appropriate dosing strategies. 

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Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease

According to the NHS, in the early stages, the main symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is memory lapses.

For example, someone with early Alzheimer’s disease may:

• Forget about recent conversations or events
• Misplace items
• Forget the names of places and objects
• Have trouble thinking of the right word
• Ask questions repetitively
• Show poor judgement or find it harder to make decisions
• Become less flexible and more hesitant to try new things
• If you think you, or someone you know is displaying symptoms, you should speak to a GP.