(Soruce: Alzheimer's Society, March 2016 Research Update)
On
10th March 2016, news outlets reported on a nutritional drink that claimed
to "stop the brain from shrinking" and "slow the progression of
Alzheimer's disease". We examine the science behind these headlines.
The story is
based on clinical trial results that were presented at the Advances in
Alzheimer's Therapy congress in Athens. This research team provided evidence
that this drink may help to improve some aspects of memory in people who have
mild cognitive impairment due to the very early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
However, it is recommended that you speak to your GP before starting to take
this drink or any other nutritional supplements or medication.
What
is the drink?
Souvenaid is a
nutritional drink containing an active ingredient called Fortasyn Connect. This
is a combination of fatty acids, vitamins and other nutrients. It was developed
with the aim of preventing the loss of important connections between brain
cells that occurs in Alzheimer's disease. Whilst this effect on brain cells has
been shown in animal studies, it has not yet been confirmed that the drink has
the same effect in people.
Previous
trials of the drink were not able to show any effect on its ability to slow or
prevent cognitive decline but there was evidence that it may improve some kinds
of memory in people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, it
is approved as a food for medical purposes for people in the earlier stages of
the condition and is available over the counter at £3.50 for a daily dose.
What
was this trial and what were the results?
The study
involved 311 people who had mild cognitive impairment, which is a condition
where someone has mild memory problems that are not severe enough for them to
be diagnosed with dementia. The study participants had also had tests like
brain scans or spinal taps to show that their memory problems were most likely
due to the very early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
Half of the
people on the trial took the drink containing Fortasyn Connect once a day for
two years; the other half took a drink with the same calorie content but
without the active ingredient. When the researchers analysed the results at the
end of the trial, there was no difference in overall cognitive performance
between the two groups.
However, when
the researchers used more sensitive tests they found that the people who had
taken the drink containing Fortasyn Connect had improvements in their episodic
memory (memories of specific events and the time and place that they happened).
Brain scans from the trial also showed that the people who took Souvenaid had
less shrinkage in certain areas of their brain, including in the hippocampus,
which is involved in memory.
There was no
evidence presented that those who took Souvenaid were less likely to experience
cognitive decline or to progress to full Alzheimer's disease. The research team
are still analysing this data from the LipiDiDiet trial.
What
do these results mean?
These trial
results have not yet been published which means they have not yet been
rigorously scrutinised by the scientific community. We need to wait for the
trial results to be published to be able to get a detailed understanding of
what they mean for people with early Alzheimer's disease.
Based on the
results presented at the conference, we cannot say that the drink is able to
prevent cognitive decline in those mild cognitive impairment due to the very
early stages of Alzheimer's disease. The drink has no overall effect on
cognition when it is taken for two years.
There is
evidence that it can bring improvements in some aspects of memory after two
years. This means it might be able to help people in the very early stages of Alzheimer's
disease to manage some of the memory problems they commonly experience.
I'm worried
about my memory - should I buy this drink?
If you are
worried about your memory, or have a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment,
you should see your GP to discuss the options that are suitable for you.
This trial
only looked at people with mild cognitive impairment due to the very early
stages of Alzheimer's disease, but there are many other causes of mild
cognitive impairment. There is no evidence that this drink would improve memory
in everyone who has this condition so it is best to consult with your GP before
beginning any nutritional supplement.
There
is evidence that regular physical activity, avoiding smoking, eating a healthy,
balanced diet and keeping your blood pressure in check are all ways to reduce
your risk of developing dementia. This nutritional drink might improve memory
in some people with mild memory problems but there is currently no evidence
that it will slow cognitive decline or prevent dementia.