“Our study suggests that a natural compound like resveratrol, which can be obtained either through dietary supplementation or diet itself, could actually decrease some of the motor deficiencies that are seen in our aging population. And that would, therefore, increase an aging person's quality of life and decrease their risk of hospitalization due to slips and falls," said lead researcher Dr. Jane E. Cavanaugh, Ph.D. from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.
For the study, researchers fed young and old mice a diet rich in resveratrol for eight weeks. The mobility of the mice was tested by making them walk on a steel mesh balance beam. Researchers calculated the number of times the mice faltered. It was found that the older mice had problems while navigating the course at the beginning of the study,. But, by fourth week they were able to navigate better and with the speed of the young mice.
Falls are more common as one grows older and are the leading cause of injury-related death among people older than 65 and about a third in this age group reportedly have difficulty with balance or walking. Previous studies have already shown that resveratrol might help reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol, slash the risk of heart disease and certain cancers and have some anti-aging effects in the body.
However, the researchers admit that the body doesn't readily absorb resveratrol. To get the required amount of resveratrol that could help mobility, a person has to drink 700 glasses of red wine per day. This is why researchers are now focusing their attention on man-made compounds containing resveratrol that can be absorbed by the body. This might mean no practical benefits for those subscribing to red wine drinking.
Researchers will also be working to determine how much of the chemical actually reaches the brain. They are investigating similar man-made compounds that mimic the effects of resveratrol and might be more bio-available to the body. They're also trying to determine how much resveratrol actually enters the brain.
The study was presented at the National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society. |