Preclinical study finds aged garlic extract enhances memory and lowers anxiety levels

In this controlled study, 48 male C57BL/6J mice were randomized to either a standard or AGE-supplemented diet and underwent extensive behavioral testing after 40 weeks. Tests assessed anxiety-related behavior, exploratory activity, learning, memory, sociability, and sensorimotor function. Findings showed significant improvements in anxiety and memory domains: AGE-fed mice spent more time in lighted areas (less anxious) and performed better in novel object recognition and spatial learning tasks, with no effect on general health or motor skills.

Proteomic analyses of hippocampal and cortical tissue highlighted molecular changes linked to synaptic signaling, apoptosis reduction, and neural plasticity, especially in the hippocampus. Key protein pathways affected involved tau, amyloid precursor protein, presenilin 1, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, known players in aging and neurodegeneration.

While promising, the researchers caution that these results from mice require further validation for human application. The study supports aged garlic extract as a potential nutraceutical to enhance cognitive resilience and reduce anxiety during aging, inviting more research into its mechanisms and clinical relevance.

This work adds to a growing field exploring multi-targeted, natural approaches to aging-related neurological decline.

REFERENCE: Mony T, Jackson M, Zuckerman A, Yu W, Nguyen TT, Balderrama A, Li R, Sun GY, Cui J, Gu Z. Supplementation of aged garlic extract attenuates age-associated memory impairment and cognitive decline: Involvement of molecular pathways in the cortex and hippocampus. Biomedical Reports 2025, 24(1). DOI 10.3892/br.2025.2075, https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/br.2025.2075