Spermidine in Diet Shown to Improve Cognitive Function in Older Adults Suffering from Mild to Moderate Dementia

by | Dec 1, 2021 | Aging, Brain Health, Cognitive Health

Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer. A high dose three-month oral spermidine supplementation in older adults with mild to moderate dementia provided improved cognitive functioning compared to lower dose groups.

brain healthAs average life span increases and older populations grow, the instance of cognitive decline has continued to rise. By 2030, reports show that adults 65 years and older will increase to 19.3% of the population 1. This shift in longer living people is associated with higher prevalence of age-related diseases such as dementia, with one third of these cases worldwide being attributed to potentially modifiable risk factors 2. In previous studies, researchers have examined the use of spermidine supplementation as a potential treatment for dementia-related cognitive decline.

Spermidine, a natural polyamine, has been studied for its anti-aging properties, particularly its ability to induce autophagy 3. Autophagy is a cellular degradation pathway that performs the crucial role of removing damaged or superfluous proteins and organelles 4. Through triggering autophagy, spermidine can aid in dissolving amyloid-beta plaques and aid in maintaining cellular homeostasis in these cells 5. Furthermore, polyamines play a critical role in numerous biological processes including cell growth, DNA stabilization, and they can enhance mitochondrial metabolic function 6. Spermidine is naturally found in foods such as mushrooms, whole grains, aged cheese, legumes and soy products.

A total of 85 participants, aged 60 years or older (average age=83.1, IQR= 79-89.5 years) who had completed cognitive testing prior to and at the end of the study were included. Participants were randomly divided into two groups, group A (n=43) and group B (n=42). Over the course of 3 months, subjects consumed a spermidine-rich rolls 6 times a week at breakfast. Group A received a grain roll containing wheat germ (3.3 mg of spermidine). Group B received a grain roll containing wheat bran (1.9 mg of spermidine). On average, they ate 68 rolls during the three months. This equates to an increased average consumption of spermidine intake by 238 mg in group A compared to 137 mg in group B. Spermidine levels were measured using a competitive ELISA kit. They were measured at four different times and four standards with concentrations of 12.5-200ng/ml were used to calculate spermidine concentrations.

In order to test cognitive performance, the CERAD-Plus test was conducted prior to and at the end of the study. The CERAD test (The Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s disease) consists of seven tests ranging from verbal fluency, signing and recalling figures, phonemic fluid, and learning and recognizing words. Additionally, subjects participated in a mini mental state examination (MMSE) and were divided into 4 groups based on their results.

  • No dementia (MMSE>26)
  • Mild dementia (MMSE=21-26)
  • Moderate dementia (MMSE=12-20)
  • Severe dementia (MMSE<12)

Furthermore, thyroid function (TSH testing), iron storage (ferritin), and vitamin B12 and folic acid metabolism were examined and correlated with spermidine concentrations and cognitive performance. These levels were measured on Roche’s Cobas e441 via electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.

After 3 months of spermidine supplementation the results were as follows:

  • Higher increases in spermidine levels were observed in group A, increasing from 41.65ng/ml to 60ng.ml (p<0.001). Group B spermidine levels remained consistently around 40ng/ml (p<0.106) throughout the trial.
  • MMSE scores improved significantly in the test groups of subjects with mild dementia and higher spermidine supplementation with an average test increase of 2.23 (p=0.026) and an increase of 1.99 (p=0.47) when testing phonematic fluidity.
  • Both test groups had an improved CERAD score at the end of the trial.
  • There was very little significant correlation between spermidine supplementation and thyroid function, iron storage, B12, and folic acid levels. However, after measuring B12 levels for the second time, a slight difference in B12 concentrations was noted in group A (p=0.016).

In conclusion, this three-month randomized, two-group, double-blind, multi-centric, and longitudinal study shows a significant correlation between higher intake of spermidine and increased cognitive performance in older adults with mild to moderate dementia. Limitations of the study include needing further investigation on what foods were consumed by participants at the time which could have affected their spermidine levels. Researchers plan to learn more about the positive effects spermidine has on cognition by conducting a follow-up study with a one-year duration.

Source:  Pekar, Thomas, Katharina Bruckner, Susanne Pauschenwein-Frantsich, Anna Gschaider, Martina Oppliger, Julia Willesberger, Petra Ungersbäck et al. “The positive effect of spermidine in older adults suffering from dementia.” Wiener klinische Wochenschrift 133, no. 9 (2021): 484-491.

© The Author(s) 2020

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Posted December 1, 2021.

Taylor Woosley studied biology at Purdue University before becoming a 2016 graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a major in Writing. She currently resides in Glen Ellyn, IL.

References:

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