Blood Flow to the Brain, Cognition and Resveratrol Therapy

Blood Flow to the Brain, Cognition and Resveratrol Therapy – An Interview with Peter C. Howe, PhD (24:28)
Trans-resveratrol (synthetic) at 30 mg in a single dose has been shown to improve endothelial function. 75 mg twice daily has also improved cognition in diabetics presumably by improving nitric oxide release, endothelial function and integrity, thereby improving blood flow to the brain. Resveratrol may also reduce the permeability of the endothelium (single cell thick inner lining of the artery) reducing the uptake of toxic compounds to the brain. 75 mg twice daily of resveratrol may be useful in postmenopausal women who have an increased risk of dementia compared to men, and may act not only by improving blood flow via nitric oxide enhancing endothelial function, but also because resveratol, like soy polyphenols, may act as “weak estrogens” providing circulatory and cognitive benefit.

Evidence for circulatory benefits of resveratrol in humans. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2013 Jul;1290:52-8. Low dose resveratrol improves cerebrovascular function in type 2 diabetes mellitus Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases Available online 14 March 2016 Peter R.C. Howe, PhD, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia, +61(0)2 4921 7309 peter.howe@newcastle.edu.au http://www.newcastle.edu.au/research-centre/cnrc/