Get a Crush on Resveratrol

How this extract from wine and grapes can help fight brain aging, diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and more.

- VERA TWEED

Resveratrol has been touted—and doubted—as an all-round, age-reversing miracle supplement, partially based on early research showing that it extends the life of some animals, such as worms and killifish. Initial lab and animal studies also fueled its popularity by finding that resveratrol stimulates beneficial genes, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and enhances function on a cellular level.

How does this translate into tangible improvements in human well-being? In the past few years, dozens of clinical trials have looked at the effects of resveratrol on different health risks and conditions and have identified some specific benefits.

Reversing Brain Aging

“Our observed improvement in overall cognitive performance with resveratrol could potentially reverse cognitive aging by up to 10 years.” This statement was made by Australian researchers in the journal Nutrients, after comparing the effects of resveratrol and a placebo in a group of 129 postmenopausal women between the ages of 45 and 85.

A decline in mental function is a common complaint of women who are approaching or have gone through menopause. In this study, women took 75 mg of resveratrol, twice daily, for 12 months and experienced overall improvement in mental performance.