"Over the years resveratrol an antioxidant found in grapes chocolate and red wine has been touted as a possible antidote to Alzheimers disease cancer diabetes and many other conditions. Now the first study in people with Alzheimers suggests that the compound when taken in concentrated doses may actually have benefit in slowing progression of this disease. Researchers at  medical centers across the United States looked at the safety and effectiveness of taking high doses of resveratrol in an experimental pill  equal to the amount found in  bottles of red wine  in people with mild to moderate Alzheimers.  The researchers looked at several biomarkers of Alzheimers and found that people who took up to four pills a day for a year had higher levels of amyloidbeta proteins in their spinal fluid than those who took a placebo control pill. Although accumulation of amyloidbeta in the brain is a hallmark of Alzheimers disease patients actually have lower levels of this protein outside of the brain. The study finding suggests that resveratrol could help change the balance from amyloidbeta buildup in the brain to circulating protein in the body.  Even if concentrated forms of resveratrol pills like the kind used in this study were available its too soon to recommend going out and getting some just yet. The study is encouraging enough that we should certainly go ahead and do a larger clinical trial because we showed that it is safe and does have significant effects on Alzheimers biomarkers said Dr. R. Scott Turner professor of neurology at Georgetown University Medical Center and lead investigator of the study which was published on Friday in the journal Neurology. The main goal of the current study which included  patients was to find out whether high doses of resveratrol could be safe. The only small concern they found was that patients taking resveratrol lost about two pounds during the oneyear study and weight loss is already a problem with Alzheimers Turner said. In comparison the control group gained about  pound. Much more research is needed The study was not big enough to answer some important questions such as whether patients taking resveratrol actually had lower levels of amyloidbeta plaques in their brain and most importantly whether they experienced less decline in their mental faculties. A large phase  clinical trial getting at these issues could start in as soon as a year Turner said. The current study was a phase  trial typically meant to evaluate safety and get an early look at efficacy of a new drug. Related Is Alzheimers disease preventable  http Even for the relatively small number of participants in the study the researchers did see indication that resveratrol could improve cognition. Patients in this group had slight improvements in their ability to carry out daily tasks such as remembering to brush their teeth. And anecdotally patients who took resveratrol told the researchers that they felt like they were maintaining their mental ability. Neither the participants nor the researchers knew who was taking resveratrol and who was taking placebo.  To really get a better feel of how effective this could be you really need to do larger studies for longer periods of time such as several years said James A. Hendrix director of global science initiatives at the Alzheimers Association a research and advocacy organization. Other potential therapies weve had had some early exciting results and then they didnt pan out in later trials he added if resveratrol does pan out in further research it may add to the medications that are currently available such as Aricept and Exelon which slow but do not halt progression of the disease Hendrix said. Ultimately it will probably be a combination of several drugs as well as diet exercise and social and mental stimulation that help stave off the rapid mental decline that is often associated with Alzheimers he added. Antioxidant may be most effective in combination This is one of the first studies to look not only at these biomarkers but also the metabolites of resveratrol in spinal fluid to show that resveratrol is probably getting into the brain said Dr. Giulio M. Pasinetti who is the Saunders Family Chair and professor in neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. However he added that changes in biomarkers may not necessarily lead to mental and behavioral improvements which larger studies will address.  In addition resveratrol on its own might not end up working as well as a combination of resveratrol and other polyphenol compounds found in red wine grape juice and grape seed extract which could help people at risk of Alzheimers and those who already have mild symptoms Pasinetti said. Related Healthy diet may improve memory says study  http The current study used high doses of resveratrol to increase the chances that enough of the compound got into the brain to have an effect. But for now the best way to get resveratrol is probably through diet. One glass of red wine a day could help those with mild Alzheimers but no more than that Turner said.  There is probably little benefit in taking currently available resveratrol supplements even if they claim to contain levels similar to the ones used in this study. The things that are on the market are not regulated and you dont know how much is in them Turner said. There could be  milligrams which is what they advertise researchers gave participants in the study four  milligram pills a day or there could be zero he said. Previous research has suggested that people who consume diets rich in resveratrol do not have lower rates of cancer heart disease and other conditions."