Nutrient-Rich Drink May Help Repair Brain Cell Connections

Could a nutrient-rich drink actually improve brain function in those with mild Alzheimer's disease? Researchers in Amsterdam think so after a successful clinical trial based on research findings from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Souvenaid is being developed by Danone, a French company known as Dannon in the United States. The drink was developed after Dr. Richard Wurtman, the Cecil H. Green Distinguished Professor of Neuropharmacology at MIT, found that a combination of three nutrients normally found in the bloodstream helped restore connections between brain cells in rats.

The nutrients are uridine monophosphate, choline, and omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA); phospholipids, B vitamins, and antioxidants were also added to the drink, which was found to be well-tolerated and safe among human participants.

When researchers from the Alzheimer Center of the VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, conducted an experimentally rigorous study of 212 people with mild Alzheimer's disease, they found statistically significant improvement on a verbal memory task among those receiving the drink.

Souvenaid is not yet available for purchase, but researchers are intent on conducting the necessary additional clinical trials to support the drink's merit. I'll be sure to let you know when I hear something new about Souvenaid.

More about brain health:

• Exercise and Brain Fitness
• Make a Healthy Brain Plan

Illustration of Neurons and Neural Impulses © Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center, National Institute on Aging