Maple syrup could help protect the brain against Alzheimer’s
A cure for Alzheimer’s could be closer than we think – and it could be linked to pure maple syrup.
According to research out of the University of Toronto, the tasty pancake topper could help prevent the clumping and folding of two types of proteins found in brain cells: beta amyloid and tau peptide. When the two types of brain cells clump together, it causes plaque buildup, which leads to Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases.
The research was presented by Dr. Donald Weaver from U of T’s Krembil Research Institute at an annual symposium for the American Chemical Society.
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“Natural food products such as green tea, red wine, berries, curcumin and pomegranates continue to be studied for their potential benefits in combating Alzheimer’s disease,” explained symposium director Dr. Navindra Seeram, who presented further research on pure maple syrup’s benefits. “And now, in preliminary laboratory-based Alzheimer’s disease studies, phenolic-enriched extracts of maple syrup from Canada showed neuroprotective effects, similar to resveratrol, a compound found in red wine.”
According to the Ottawa Citizen, Seeram also said that the “maple syrup compounds he isolated fit into the category of anti-inflammatories that keep cells healthy.”
Although the results are preliminary, they are encouraging – and researchers plan to continue studying whether maple syrup extract could become a viable treatment for degenerative brain diseases.
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According to the Citizen, Seeram’s work “has been funded by the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers, though a spokeswoman for the federation says it hasn’t funded the work he announced on the weekend.”
“We already know that maple has more than 100 bioactive compounds, some of which have anti-inflammatory properties,” said Serge Beaulieu, president of the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers, in a press release. “Brain health is the latest topic of exploration and we look forward to learning more about the potential benefits that maple syrup might have in this area.”
So go ahead, add some extra maple syrup to your pancakes. Your brain may thank you for it.
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