Fact Check: Is Cinnamon a cure for Neurodegenerative disorders?

Is Cinnamon a cure for  Neurodegenerative disorders?

Claim: A post on social media site Instagram claims that cinnamon can cure Neurodegenerative disorders.The post explains several benefits of cinnamon like toothache,weight management, diabetes prevention etc. Among the other benefits, the post also claims that cinnamon can cure Neurodegenerative disorders  The link to the claim is here.

FACT CHECK:

The claim is FALSE.

What are neurodegenerative disorders?

Neurodegenerative disorders are a broad group of conditions characterized by progressive degeneration of the structure and function of the nervous system .The term encompasses a broad range of clinical diseases, including progressive dementing conditions, of which the most common are Alzheimer's disease (AD), movement disorders, exemplified by Parkinson's disease (PD), and a range of other neurological disorders. Neurodegenerative disorders have in common a gradual loss of neurons and synaptic connections, usually occurring in later life. Specific diseases are distinguished by the presence of characteristic symptoms that depend on the location at which neuronal loss is occurring in the brain. (1)

Dr Rahul Chawla Associate consultant, Department of Neurology, PSRI Hospitals while talking to Medical Dialogues explained “neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the progressive degeneration and loss of function of neurons, leading to a decline in cognitive function, movement, and/or other neurological functions. Examples of neurodegenerative diseases include Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinocerebellar ataxia. Their etiology is multifactorial including genetic, environmental related factors, toxicity of heavy metals, protein misfolding, prion related and life style related. When we evaluate any patient who is suspected to be having a neurodegenerative condition such as Alzheimer, we try to evaluate for any possible reversible condition that could have caused dementia in the patient and accordingly treat that.”

Causes of Neurodegenerative disorders:

The major basic mechanisms leading to neurodegeneration (ND) are considered multifactorial caused by genetic, environmental and endogenous factors related to aging, but their pathogenic role and their basic molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. (2)

Can cinnamon cure neurodegenerative disorders?

No, we didn’t find any evidence to validate this claim. Having said that, there are some evidence of neuroprotective benefits of cinnamon.

According to a study by Ahmadi et al Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of phytochemical constituents enable cinnamon to be applied as a safe preventive and therapeutic agent against neurological disorders such as neuroinflammation, brain injury, ADHD, AD, PD, MS, and migraine. The eugenol is found to be neuroprotective with possible application to treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and Parkinsons disease. (3)

Another study by Angelopoulou et al “A growing body of evidence has revealed that cinnamon, being widely used as a spice of unique flavour and aroma, may exert neuroprotective effects in several neurodegenerative diseases, including PD. In vitro evidence has indicated that the essential oils of Cinnamomum species, mainly cinnamaldehyde and sodium benzoate, may protect against oxidative stress-induced cell death, reactive oxygen species generation, and autophagy dysregulation, thus acting in a potentially neuroprotective manner.” (4)

Talking to Medical Dialogues team Dr Sheetal Goyal, Senior Neurologist, Wockhardt Hospitals Mumbai Central clarified ‘‘While promising, the potential of cinnamon in treating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's is not yet definitive for human application. Research suggests that cinnamon may boost levels of neurotrophic factors, which are crucial for neuronal health and could potentially mitigate neurodegenerative processes. However, these findings are predominantly based on animal studies, and extrapolating such effects to humans requires caution.

Moreover, the complexity of neurodegenerative diseases involves multifaceted mechanisms beyond just neurotrophic factor levels. Human clinical trials are necessary to assess the safety, efficacy, and optimal dosage of cinnamon for neuroprotection. Additionally, individual variations, disease stages, and coexisting conditions need consideration. While cinnamon shows promise as a potential adjunctive therapy, it's essential to view it as part of a comprehensive approach that includes lifestyle modifications, pharmacotherapy, and possibly other complementary interventions. Further research, particularly clinical trials in humans, is crucial to ascertain the true therapeutic potential of cinnamon in managing neurodegenerative disorders.”

Medical Dialogues Final Take:

 While cinnamon may boost levels of neurotrophic factors, cinnamon doesn't cure neurodegenerative diseases. Hence, the claim of cinnamon curing neurodegenerative disorders is FALSE.

References:

1.https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/neurodegenerative-disorder.

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3823450/.

3. https://www.neurology-asia.org/articles/neuroasia-2022-27(1)-001.pdf.

4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33587308/.

5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4003790/.