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

A new study from the University of Missouri reveals that long-term supplementation with aged garlic extract (AGE) may offer promising neuroprotective benefits during aging. Published in Biomedical Reports, this research tested AGE on middle-aged mice fed a diet enriched with the extract for 40 weeks, examining its effects on behavior and brain molecular pathways.

Aging in humans and animals often leads to cognitive decline, anxiety, and an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. These issues are linked to brain changes such as shrinkage of the hippocampus, oxidative stress caused by harmful reactive oxygen species, and chronic inflammation. Aged garlic extract (AGE), rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory sulfur compounds, helps protect brain cells by reducing oxidative damage, calming inflammation, and supporting healthy neurotransmitter function. This makes AGE a promising natural option to counteract age-related brain deterioration.

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