NeuroTalk Support Groups - Reduction of Lewy Body Pathology by Oral Cinnamon

α-Synucleinopathies in a broader sense comprise of several neurodegenerative disorders that primarily include Parkinson’s disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). These disorders are well characterized by the accumulation of aggregated insoluble α-synuclein (α-syn) protein known as Lewy bodies. Till date no effective cure is available to reduce the burden of Lewy body. The present investigation underlines the importance of a naturally used spice and flavoring agent viz. cinnamon in reducing α-syn deposits in transgenic mice expressing mutant A53T human α-syn. Upon oral administration, cinnamon markedly reduced the level of insoluble α-syn in nigra, hippocampus and brain stem of A53T mice. We also demonstrated that sodium benzoate (NaB), a metabolite of cinnamon, a widely used food additive and a FDA-approved drug for glycine encephalopathy, was also capable of reducing α-syn deposits in A53T mice. In addition, both cinnamon and NaB treatments showed improvement in their motor and cognitive functions. Glial activation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative disorders including PD, DLB and MSA, and we found suppression of microglial and astroglial activation in the nigra of A53T mice upon cinnamon treatment. Moreover, neuroprotective proteins like DJ-1 and Parkin are known to reduce the formation of Lewy bodies in the CNS. Accordingly, we observed upregulation and/or normalization of DJ-1 and Parkin in the nigra of A53T mice by treatment with cinnamon and NaB. Together, these results highlight a new therapeutic property of cinnamon and suggest that cinnamon and NaB may be used to halt the progression of α-synucleinopathies.

Abstract only:

Reduction of Lewy Body Pathology by Oral Cinnamon | SpringerLink

Reduction of Lewy Body Pathology by Oral Cinnamon | SpringerLink

Full report PDF:

(PDF) Cinnamon and its Metabolite Protect the Nigrostriatum in a Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease Via Astrocytic GDNF

This is a very strong result. The abstract is validated by the data presented in the full study.
They used Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamonum verum). The mice were dosed with cinnamon at 100 mg/kg daily for 60 days. The conversion factor from mouse to human equivalent dose based on body area is .08, so the human dose would be 8 mg/kg/d, about 1/2 g daily for a 60 kg human. Reasonable dose.

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