Historically, shilajit has been used to improve memory and cognition, which has led to the promotion of shilajit for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, there is no strong evidence to support this recommendation.
In vitro research has provided possible mechanisms for such an effect, including enhanced cholinergic signaling (important for memory and learning)[1] and the ability of fulvic acid — one of the principal active compounds in shilajit — to disassemble and prevent the formation of tau protein aggregates[2] (clusters of proteins thought to contribute to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s). Despite this, the available evidence in human clinical trials to date has been unconvincing.[3][4]
References
- ^Schliebs R, Liebmann A, Bhattacharya SK, Kumar A, Ghosal S, Bigl VSystemic administration of defined extracts from Withania somnifera (Indian Ginseng) and Shilajit differentially affects cholinergic but not glutamatergic and GABAergic markers in rat brain.Neurochem Int.(1997-Feb)
- ^Cornejo A, Jiménez JM, Caballero L, Melo F, Maccioni RBFulvic acid inhibits aggregation and promotes disassembly of tau fibrils associated with Alzheimer's disease.J Alzheimers Dis.(2011)
- ^Guzman-Martinez L, Farías GA, Tapia JP, Sánchez MP, Fuentes P, Gloger S, Maccioni RBInterventional Study to Evaluate the Clinical Effects and Safety of the Nutraceutical Compound BrainUp-10® in a Cohort of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Trial.J Alzheimers Dis.(2021)
- ^Carrasco-Gallardo C, Farías GA, Fuentes P, Crespo F, Maccioni RBCan nutraceuticals prevent Alzheimer's disease? Potential therapeutic role of a formulation containing shilajit and complex B vitamins.Arch Med Res.(2012-Nov)