We’re diving into a fascinating scientific study, actually a series of studies, connected to Alzheimer’s disease, a condition that affects memory and thinking. Alzheimer’s is a leading killer of Americans, imparts a significant toll on the quality of life of the patient and primary caregiver, and results in inordinate costs in an already overburdened medical system.
More specifically, we’ll look at how a special supplement — made mostly from Acemmannan, the active ingredient of the aloe vera plant — might help improve brain function and support the immune system. This first exposure in a series will be a focus on a 2013 study.
Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disorder. That means it gets worse over time. It slowly destroys memory, thinking skills, and the ability to perform simple daily tasks. It primarily affects older adults and is currently the 6th leading cause of death in the United States.
One of the biggest challenges with Alzheimer’s is that there’s no cure, and most treatments available do little to stop or reverse the disease. That’s why researchers are actively exploring new options—including those outside traditional pharmaceuticals.
The study is titled: The Effect of an Aloe Polymannose Multinutrient Complex on Cognitive and Immune Functioning in Alzheimer’s Disease.
Standard drugs have shown little to moderate benefit. Many natural treatments have been studied too, including:
- Vitamin E: One study showed it could delay progression in moderate AD, but high doses (>400 IU) are linked to increased risk of death.
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Helped people with mild memory problems, but not Alzheimer’s.
- Ginkgo biloba: A review showed a small but real improvement in memory with short-term use.
Aloe Polymannose, referenced in the title of the study is Acemannan and the complex nutraceutical used in this study, that Acemannan was the main ingredient of, they named APMC or Aloe Polymannose Multinutrient Complex. It also contained Rice bran, yam powder, cherry tart, and omega-3s; and various other natural compounds that support the immune system.
Participants mixed 4 teaspoons of this powder into liquids daily for a full year. This was a near equivalent of 10 grams of APMC powder daily. Doctors checked their memory, thinking skills, and daily abilities at the start, and again after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. They also looked at parts of the immune system in the blood at the start and at the end.
Who Participated?
The study involved 34 older adults with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease. The average age was around 80 years old. Many of them were already on Alzheimer’s medications and didn’t qualify for other typical clinical trials due to the severity of their condition.
That’s what makes this study unique — it focused on real people with real challenges, not just ideal test cases.
And before we move on to the study at hand, one author of this study (H. Reginald McDaniel) had already shown strong interest in this subject and had initiated a pilot study as early as 2006 called “A Multi-Site Pilot Survey of Micronutrients in Alzheimer’s Patients”. Presented at: The 2nd Annual Glycomics MedicalConference: Science of Glycobiology. Houston, TX.
The study is not available online but it has been cited here and in another study on the subject. It reported that after the use of an Acemannan-based multinutrient on 48 Alzheimer’s patients that after 6 months, 52% improved their Alzheimers’s severity scores by an average of 28.9%. The others declined by 34%. No serious side effects were reported.
Now back to our featured 2013 study
What Did the Study Measure?
Researchers tracked progress over 12 months, measuring:
- Cognitive function – how well people could think, remember, and focus
- Daily living skills – like eating, bathing, and dressing
- Immune health – using blood tests to track changes in inflammation and immune cell behavior
They used tools like the ADAS-Cog (a memory and thinking test) and the MMSE (Mini-Mental State Exam) to assess cognitive changes.
What Happened to Brain Function?
The results were promising.
- Nearly half the participants (46%) saw improvements in their ADAS-Cog scores (a primary tool for dementia assessment), especially after 9 and 12 months.
- That’s significant, because in Alzheimer’s, most patients gradually decline over time.
Other tests, like the MMSE and ADCS-ADL (which measures everyday function), didn’t show strong improvement. In fact, some showed a decline. But the main cognitive test improved — a strong signal that the supplement may be supporting brain health. This figure is from the study and I have highlighted the cognitive improvements in yellow. Take note that with this cognitive test a lower score is better, indicating improved thinking and memory.
It is important to note that this study contributes novel data (something not seen or studied before) by combining cognitive assessments with detailed immunological profiling over time in Alzheimer’s patients. So they evaluated both cognition and biochemical. Speaking of biochemical; the next question needing answers is What Happened to the Immune System?
What Happened to the Immune System?
And since this novel data included the folding in of measurements of the immune system blood samples were taken. These Blood samples showed reduced inflammation. This is significant. Scientists found lower levels of cytokines like IL-2, IL-4, TNF-alpha, and VEGF — which are proteins that signal the immune system and are involved in both pro-inflammation and anti-inflammation, as well as immune activation. The yellow highlight points to those measurements researchers classified as statistically significant; statistics that represent a decrease in inflammation
VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) promotes blood vessel growth and is linked to brain health. When these cytokine measurements are too high, it can lead to chronic inflammation, which is bad for the brain. Of the seven cytokines that are inclined toward pro-inflammation only two indicated a higher rating after 12 months. The other five, though not classified as statistically significant leaned downward.
These changes suggest that the Acemannan-based supplement modulated the immune system — helping it calm down where needed and function more effectively overall. This last statement is one that is confirmed by other studies already published at this site that can be found at these links:
These links can be accessed in the transcription below.
Was the Acemannan Supplement Safe?
Yes —it was reported as generally safe and well-tolerated. A few had mild effects, like loose stools and increased blood pressure, but those were managed by adjusting the dosage. Three participants passed away during the study, due to unrelated conditions like stroke or heart disease.
What’s the Connection Between Brain and Immune Changes?
Here’s where it gets really interesting: The novel data was helping us think more deeply.
- People who had better cognitive scores also tended to have lower levels of inflammation and healthier immune cell patterns.
- In other words, as the immune system improved, so did brain function — at least for some participants.
This supports a growing theory in medicine: that the immune system plays a major role in brain health. If you reduce chronic inflammation and support immune balance, you may improve cognitive function, even in conditions like Alzheimer’s.
What Were the Limits of this study?
Like any early-stage study, that reveals novel data, the authors pointed to the limitations that existed.
- It was a small sampling (started with 34 people with 26 who completed the 12-month study)
- It didn’t have a control group to compare against
- Other factors like diet, medication, and exercise weren’t controlled
However, even with those limits, the results are strong enough to say: this is worth studying further.
Final Thoughts
Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of people — and there’s still no cure. And treatment optins are limited. But this study shows that nutrition and immune support may open a new path toward better brain health.
APMC, the acemannan-based supplement, not only showed signs of slowing cognitive decline, but also brought the immune system into better balance — something most current treatments don’t address.
This is a scientific step forward — one that deserves more attention.
This Curator Conjectures
What if we spent a lifetime proactively caring for our immune system—and addressing the chronic inflammation that so often goes unnoticed—could we reduce, delay, or even escape the grip of dementia altogether? It’s a question worth asking, and one that science is just beginning to explore in earnest.
This is Tony McWilliams. I hope you will always be careful to maintain good works to meet urgent needs and become heroes to your generation.
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