"The Cochran Library" is reporting today that an extract derived from
the Chinese club moss plant extract may improve cognition in
Alzheimer's disease patients. The extract has been named Huperzine A
and it appears that patients who have taken this extract have improved
cognitive function, better functional performance and even reduced
behavioral disturbances compared to patients taking placebos.

The research team came to this conclusion after studying data in six
trials that involve a total of 454 patients. While this is still a
relatively small number of patients, with a positive result such as
this, we can assume that there will be larger trials in the near
future.

Scientists know that Huperzine A can block acetyl cholinesterase and
that it can work both in the peripheral and central nervous systems.
This makes it a promising agent for treating various forms of dementia
including Alzheimer's disease, because a part of the damage involved
in Alzheimer's is a loss of this important neurotransmitter, one that
contains neurons in the basal forebrain.

Associate Professor Hongmei Wu, who led this research and who works in
the Department of Geriatrics at the West China Hospital of Sichuan
University in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. was the lead author of the
work.

Additionally, in a small study of teenagers, huperzine A appeared to
enhance general mental functioning when it was taken consistently for
as little as one month. However, more research is needed before
huperzine A can be recommended for Alzheimer's, dementia or general
memory improvement.

Dave

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