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2006 Grant - Sano

Randomized Trial of a Nutritional Supplement in Alzheimer's Disease

Mary Sano, Ph.D.
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Bronx, New York

2005 Investigator-Initiated Research Grant

A growing body of evidence suggests that oxidative damage may be a very early event in Alzheimer's disease processes. Normal cellular activities result in byproducts called free radicals, toxic oxygen molecules that can damage cellular components. Free-radicals and subsequent oxidative damage are usually held in check by other processes, including the body's use of vitamins. These findings raise the possibility that certain antioxidants may suppress oxidative damage associated with Alzheimer's disease

Mary Sano, PhD., and colleagues are conducting a 12-month trial of a nutritional supplement derived from malate and resveratrol, natural antioxidant compounds found in certain fruits and wine. A short pilot study with this supplement yielded promising results.

The researchers will recruit participants through clinics of the Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease will be randomly assigned to receive either the nutritional supplement or a placebo, an inactive ingredient. Participants will undergo a series of assessments of cognitive, behavioral and functional skills before treatment and at three, six, nine and 12 months.

Outcome of this work may indicate the potential benefit of this nutritional supplement as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease and provide safety and effectiveness data for the implementation of a larger, multisite trial.