Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is a neurological condition in which changes in cognitive function and quality of life are important aspects of assessment. Research has examined interventions such as Ginkgo Biloba, Melatonin, Resveratrol, and Saffron Extract in relation to the condition.
Alzheimer's Disease is a condition within the neurological health category.
This list shows research findings, not treatments. Nothing here replaces medical care. If you have this condition, talk to a doctor.
What may help
What studies found for each option, best evidence first.
14 options:4 some evidence8 not enough evidence2 no benefit found
AcupuncturepracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 4 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
A meta-analysis of 12 randomized trials found improved cognitive and functional outcomes when acupuncture was added to donepezil. The research focused on people with Alzheimer's disease taking acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, with acupuncture evaluated as an adjunct.
Open the Acupuncture pageCardiopracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 4 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
Open the Cardio pageMeditationpracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 2 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
Open the Meditation pageRed Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)practiceSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 7 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
Reviews of human studies reported cognitive improvement in people with Alzheimer's Disease; one also described reduced Aβ plaques and neuroprotective effects in disease models. These findings combine different kinds of studies and do not establish that the reported effects apply uniformly to patients.
Open the Red Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation) pageDancepracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
2 of 3 studies found a benefit; 1 found none.
Pooled randomized trials reported cognitive improvements across people with mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia, but only 10% of the scoping-review studies involved Alzheimer’s Disease. A pilot trial in 16 participants with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias found no dance-specific improvement in agitation, balance, gait, strength or caregiver burden; another review judged the evidence insufficient to support efficacy.
Open the Dance pageBrain Games / PuzzlespracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
The one study found a benefit.
A randomized trial in 79 people with Alzheimer's disease found improvements in cognitive functions, depression, and quality of life after 8 weeks of combined training; benefits persisted after 4 weeks of detraining.
Open the Brain Games / Puzzles pageFastingpracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
All 2 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
In a randomized trial of 60 people with early-to-mid-stage Alzheimer's disease, the primary cognitive outcome improved within the intervention group and differed between groups over time. Reduced amyloid-β accumulation and tau phosphorylation were reported in preclinical models, but direct human evidence for these biomarker changes is lacking.
Open the Fasting pageFinnish SaunapracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
All 2 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
An observational cohort of 2,315 people found lower Alzheimer’s disease incidence among those attending sauna 4-7 sessions per week. A later review reported 65% lower Alzheimer’s risk and 66% lower dementia risk at 4–7 sessions/week, and 53% reduced dementia risk in another Finnish cohort.
Open the Finnish Sauna page
The expert view shows every study, dose protocol and source.
What may help
Interventions recorded as helping with this condition14 listedMost likely to help, from the evidence we have
- →PracticesAcupunctureCertaintyMediumSourceRCT
A meta-analysis of 12 randomized trials found improved cognitive and functional outcomes when acupuncture was added to donepezil. The research focused on people with Alzheimer's disease taking acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, with acupuncture evaluated as an adjunct.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Alzheimers Disease
- Stroke
Open AcupunctureStudy result
Trials in Alzheimer's disease patients on AChEIs were pooled; acupuncture was evaluated as an adjunct for this population.
- →PracticesCardioCertaintyMediumSourceRCT
Pooled analyses of randomized trials reported improvements in cognitive test scores and quality of life in people with Alzheimer's Disease; one pooled analysis whose designs were not recorded reported SMD=0.95 for MMSE. Functional improvement was described as modest, with moderate-intensity aerobic exercise ranking best for the Barthel Index outcome.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
Open CardioStudy result
Pooled RCTs in AD patients; moderate-intensity aerobic exercise ranked best for Barthel Index functional outcome, though overall functional improvements were described as modest.
- →PracticesMeditationCertaintyMediumSourceRCT
A 2025 pooled analysis whose study designs were not recorded included people with Alzheimer's disease and reported improvements in MMSE (MD 2.22, 95% CI 0.83–3.62), PSQI (MD −1.40), and SF-36 (MD 3.50).
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Alzheimers Disease
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
Open MeditationStudy result
Pooled population included AD; meditation improved MMSE (MD 2.22, 95% CI 0.83–3.62), PSQI (MD −1.40), and SF-36 (MD 3.50).
- →PracticesRed Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)CertaintyMediumSourceRCT
Reviews of human studies reported cognitive improvement in people with Alzheimer's Disease; one also described reduced Aβ plaques and neuroprotective effects in disease models. These findings combine different kinds of studies and do not establish that the reported effects apply uniformly to patients.
Who was studied
- Healthy people and patients
- Age Related Macular Degeneration
- Alzheimers Disease
- Anxiety Disorder
- Anxiety Generalized
- Cancer
- Depression
- +8 more
Open Red Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)Study result
Multiple animal and human studies showed improved cognition, reduced Aβ plaques, and neuroprotective effects in AD models and patients
Low probability(8)
- →PracticesDanceCertaintyLowSourceRCT
Pooled randomized trials reported cognitive improvements across people with mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia, but only 10% of the scoping-review studies involved Alzheimer’s Disease. A pilot trial in 16 participants with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias found no dance-specific improvement in agitation, balance, gait, strength or caregiver burden; another review judged the evidence insufficient to support efficacy.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Alzheimers Disease
- Dementia
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
Open DanceStudy result
Pooled RCTs in the meta-analysis reported significant improvements in cognition in people with MCI, AD or dementia; only 10% of the scoping-review studies involved AD.
- →PracticesBrain Games / PuzzlesCertaintyLowSourceClinical
A randomized trial in 79 people with Alzheimer's disease found improvements in cognitive functions, depression, and quality of life after 8 weeks of combined training; benefits persisted after 4 weeks of detraining.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Alzheimers Disease
Open Brain Games / PuzzlesStudy result
RCT showing significant improvements in cognitive functions, depression, and quality of life after 8 weeks of combined training, with benefits persisting after 4 weeks of detraining.
- →PracticesFastingCertaintyLowSourceClinical
In a randomized trial of 60 people with early-to-mid-stage Alzheimer's disease, the primary cognitive outcome improved within the intervention group and differed between groups over time. Reduced amyloid-β accumulation and tau phosphorylation were reported in preclinical models, but direct human evidence for these biomarker changes is lacking.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Alzheimers Disease
Open FastingStudy result
Primary cognitive outcome (MMSE) improved within the intervention group and differed significantly between groups over time; the study population was people with early-to-mid-stage AD.
- →PracticesFinnish SaunaCertaintyLowSourceClinical
An observational cohort of 2,315 people found lower Alzheimer’s disease incidence among those attending sauna 4-7 sessions per week. A later review reported 65% lower Alzheimer’s risk and 66% lower dementia risk at 4–7 sessions/week, and 53% reduced dementia risk in another Finnish cohort.
Who was studied
- Healthy people
Open Finnish SaunaStudy result
Alzheimer's disease incidence was an outcome; lower hazard observed at 4-7 sessions per week in an observational cohort.
- →PracticesGardening TherapyCertaintyLowSourceClinical
A 2022 systematic review reported quality-of-life improvements in four randomized trials among people with Alzheimer's disease; the conclusions were limited to this population.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Alzheimers Disease
- Dementia
- Depression
Open Gardening TherapyStudy result
Four RCTs showed significant QoL improvements in Alzheimer's Disease patients, though conclusions limited to this population.
- →PracticesStrength TrainingCertaintyLowSourceClinical
A review found beneficial effects on motor function in people with Alzheimer's Disease, while cognitive evidence was limited and very low certainty. A separate review found no significant cognitive effect from combined aerobic and resistance training (SMD 0.19, 95% CI −0.06 to 0.43).
Who was studied
- People with a condition
Open Strength TrainingStudy result
Systematic review of 7 studies showing beneficial effects on motor function (moderate certainty); cognitive evidence limited and very low certainty
- →PracticesYogaCertaintyLowSourceReview
A narrative review of preliminary studies, including a case-control study and randomized controlled trials, described cognitive and mood improvements and biomarker changes in people with Alzheimer's disease.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Alzheimers Disease
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Parkinsons Disease
Open YogaStudy result
Narrative review of preliminary studies, including a case-control study and RCTs showing cognitive and mood improvements, and biomarker changes.
Very low probability(2)
- →PracticesTai ChiCertaintyVery lowSourceRCT
The studies did not support a Tai Chi-specific cognitive benefit in Alzheimer's Disease: results were not reported separately for Tai Chi, and the MMSE result for mind-body exercise overall was non-significant. The authors described the cognitive findings as preliminary and inconclusive.
Open Tai ChiWho was studied
- People with a condition
- Alzheimers Disease
- Parkinsons Disease
- →PracticesCyclingCertaintyVery lowSourceClinical
A review of randomized and non-randomized human studies found that several Alzheimer's Disease studies did not support cognitive, executive function, or memory benefits over controls.
Open CyclingWho was studied
- Healthy people and patients
- Alzheimers Disease
- Heart Disease
- Parkinsons Disease
What to avoid
Interventions recorded as making it worseNothing in this library is currently recorded as making Alzheimer's Disease worse. Coverage is partial, and absence here is not evidence of safety.
How to read the evidence
Evidence tier — overall strength of the evidence for the whole compound
- StrongWell established — backed by strong, consistent human research.
- ModerateSome genuine support, but mostly from small or lower-quality studies. Promising, not proven.
- PreliminaryEarly-stage evidence — a promising hypothesis, not an established effect yet.
- LimitedVery limited evidence — treat this as a hypothesis, not proof.
- InsufficientNot enough good evidence to draw conclusions yet.
Certainty — how sure we can be that the effect is real
- Very highVery sure — strong, consistent evidence
- HighFairly sure — consistent evidence from good studies
- MediumModerately sure — new studies could change this
- LowNot sure — little or mixed evidence
- Very lowVery unsure — almost no usable evidence
Source — where the data comes from
- Meta-analysisPooled analysis of many trials — the strongest evidence
- RCTRandomized controlled trial — a strong human study design
- ClinicalA human clinical study
- Reference knowledgeFrom general health-science or pharmacology references, not a study of this exact claim
- Animal researchStudied in animals, not humans
- Community reportsAggregated user reports — anecdotal signal, not evidence
- TheoreticalMechanism-based reasoning, not yet tested
Study grade — quality of each underlying study (A best, D weakest)
- AHigh-quality — strong, consistent human trials
- BGood — solid evidence with some limitations
- CModerate — limited, small, or mixed-quality studies
- DWeak — preliminary, indirect, or animal-only
Confidence — how strongly the sources back a finding
A 0–100 score from study quality and agreement
Most supplement evidence is graded C–D. Read it as preliminary signal, not proof.
Full write-up
What is it
Alzheimer's disease is a neurological condition in which changes in cognitive function and quality of life are important aspects of assessment. Research has examined interventions such as Ginkgo Biloba, Melatonin, Resveratrol, and Saffron Extract in relation to the condition. These are investigated options, not definitions of Alzheimer's disease itself, and findings about one intervention should not be taken as describing the condition as a whole.
Evidence-backed options
The options associated with Alzheimer’s Disease span findings from randomized controlled trials, clinical research, reviews, and animal studies. The most clinically relevant signals include Ginkgo Biloba, Melatonin, Resveratrol, Saffron Extract, and Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin). Ginkgo Biloba was associated with better SKT results than placebo, while medium-term low-dose melatonin was associated with higher post-treatment MMSE and quality of life. Resveratrol findings involved CSF markers of neuronal damage, and Saffron Extract was associated with improvements on ADAS-cog and CDR-SB. Vitamin B12 was studied together with folic acid in patients not on a folic acid-fortified diet.
The timing and duration of treatment are not established for most options. One specific clinical example is Coenzyme Q10 at 400 mg, three times/day, for 16 weeks in 70 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s Disease; that trial reported no clinical benefit or significant effect on CSF amyloid-beta and tau protein levels. This result illustrates why a favorable biological rationale or an earlier positive finding does not necessarily translate into clinical improvement.
Several other options, including Astaxanthin, Berberine, CBD (Cannabidiol), Chlorella, Curcumin, and Green Tea Extract (EGCG), are supported mainly by reviews or preclinical findings. Caffeine, Chamomile, and Ginger are represented by animal research, so their findings do not establish effects in people with Alzheimer’s Disease. No clear onset of benefit is provided for these options, and the evidence does not define a generally applicable treatment duration. Medical conditions such as Alzheimer’s Disease warrant discussion with a clinician.