Animals engineered to model the decline in cognitive function and memory that occurs naturally in humans had improved spatial and object recognition when supplemented with OPCs for five weeks, according to findings published in the British Journal of Nutrition.
Researchers from the University of Toyama in Japan and Pusan National University in South Korea report that OPCs were associated with an increase in the densities of axons, dendrites and synapses in the brains of the animals, compared to control animals.
While cognitive function is known to decline naturally as we age, accelerated decline is associated with an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Currently, about 12 million people in the US plus the EU suffer from Alzheimer's, with some estimates predicting this figure will have tripled by 2050. The direct and indirect cost of Alzheimer care is over $100 bn (€ 81 bn) in the US alone. The direct cost of Alzheimer care in the UK was estimated at £15 bn (€ 22 bn).
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