Extracts of sage and lemon balm may help to improve memory and behavioral problems in people with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.
Professor Elaine Perry, of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in northern England, told a medical conference that the plant extracts produced promising results in studies.
“In controlled trials in normal volunteers, both extracts improved memory, and lemon balm improved mood. Lemon balm reduced agitation and improved quality of life in people with Alzheimer’s disease,” Perry said in a statement.
“Extracts of both sage and lemon balm are clearly worth pursuing as potential treatments..,” Perry added.
Millions of people worldwide suffer from dementia, which is characterized by memory loss and a progressive decline in thinking, comprehension and judgment. Alzheimer’s disease is the leading type of the disorder in the elderly.
Alzheimer’s is caused by the build-up of protein deposits called amyloid plaque and the accumulation of tangles in the brain. Drugs can alleviate symptoms but there is no cure.