Two Common Herbs Found to Improve Memory and Learning Capabilities

Enhanced extracts made from special antioxidants in spearmint and rosemary have been found to improve learning and memory, according to new lab research.

“We found that these proprietary compounds reduce deficits caused by mild cognitive impairment, which can be a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease,” said Susan Farr, PhD, research professor geriatrics at Saint Louis University School of Medicine (MO, USA). “This probably means eating spearmint and rosemary is good for you. However, our experiments were in an animal model and I don’t know how much—or if any amount—of these herbs people would have to consume for learning and memory to improve. In other words, I’m not suggesting that people chew more gum at this point.”

Dr. Farr presented her earlier findings at Neuroscience 2013, a meeting held in San Diego, CA, USA, on November 11, 2103. She evaluated a unique antioxidant-based compound made from spearmint extract and two different doses of a similar antioxidant made from rosemary extract on mice that have age-related cognitive decline. She discovered that the higher dose rosemary-extract compound was the most powerful in improving memory and learning in three evaluated behaviors. The lower dose rosemary extract enhanced memory in two of the behavioral tests, as did the compound derived from spearmint extract.

Furthermore, there were signs of reduced oxidative stress, which is considered a hallmark of age-related decline, in the part of the brain that controls learning and memory. “Our research suggests these extracts made from herbs might have beneficial effects on altering the course of age-associated cognitive decline,” Dr. Farr said. “It’s worth additional study.”

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Saint Louis University School of Medicine