Saffron may have neuroprotective effects that could benefit a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, but research is too preliminary to draw any meaningful conclusions.
Saffron might improve cognition in people with Alzheimer’s disease, with limited research suggesting that saffron is more effective than placebo and provides similar benefits to those seen with commonly used medications like donepezil and memantine.[1][2][3] However, it’s important to note that the benefits observed for both saffron and conventional medicine were limited, either providing marginal improvements in cognitive function or simply delaying further cognitive decline.
In vitro research suggests that saffron could theoretically improve the function and survival of neurons in the brain by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, reducing glutamine signaling, and preventing the formation of amyloid-beta fibrils (part of the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease). Animal research has also found that saffron can reduce oxidative stress markers in the brain. Regardless, none of these effects have been observed in humans, and further research is needed to determine whether saffron has a role in Alzheimer’s disease.[4][5]