That same sprig of rosemary making your roast chicken sing might also lend a hand in the fight against Alzheimer's. Fresh evidence suggests this fragrant herb does far more than perfume your potatoes.
A February report from researchers at The Scripps Research Institute unveiled an experimental pill called diAcCA, cooked up to one day slow the disease in people. They explained that diAcCA springs from carnosic acid, a protective compound hiding in rosemary and sage that already battles inflammation and cell stress—two troublemakers spotlighted in older studies.
Carnosic acid works by flipping on the body's own repair enzymes, the same ones that spring into action after a nasty burn or cut. The hitch is that the acid in its pure form breaks down before it can do any real good inside a patient. To fix the problem, the Scripps group crafted a stable version, diAcCA, which quietly transforms back into carnosic acid once swallowed, drifts into the bloodstream, and eventually reaches the brain.
Reported in Antioxidants, their mouse trials show that diAcCA delivers just the right dose of the compound to neurons, boosting memory and strengthening brain circuits. The team also spotted less swelling in treated brains, a promising hint that diAcCA might ease one of Alzheimer's telltale signs before symptoms ever appear.
"This new DiAcCA compound cuts swelling and calms stressed cells, and it also boosts synapse links in the brain," says Stuart Lipton, MD, PhD, senior researcher and teacher at Scripps. "What's cool is the drug only turns on after it meets that damaged tissue," he continues. "It acts exactly where it needs to, reducing the chance of side effects elsewhere."
"We ran a whole battery of memory tests, and every single one improved," Lipton notes. "The drug didn't just slow decline—it pushed scores almost back to normal." Lipton has good news for colleagues in the Alzheimer's community. He adds that the key ingredient, carnosic acid, seems already safe enough under U.S. rules, so new human trials may start quickly without waiting for fresh FDA clearance.
The researcher believes DiAcCA could also make existing Alzheimer's therapies more effective while softening their harsh reactions. But that's just the start. Lipton plans to widen studies to other diseases linked to brain and body swelling, including type 2 diabetes and heart problems.