How TCM could help fight dementia. With cases set to triple, a Hong Kong expert explains

This series is based on our reporting on TCM: its history, treatments and growing acceptance around the world. This is the fourth instalment. When she watched her beloved aunt – a former secondary-school teacher who once helped her with her homework – transform from a sprightly 75-year-old into a confused woman who lost her memory and spoke nonsense, Dr Fanny Ip Chui-fun was determined to find a treatment for dementia. Since 1993, Ip has been researching ways to identify and prevent brain degeneration. There is a pressing need to find solutions to dementia, says Ip, chief scientific officer of the Hong Kong Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (HKCeND) set up by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. By 2050, the number of people living with dementia is expected to triple from 50 million to 152 million, when more than 16 per cent of the global population will be 65 years or older. Whole-body health is vital for brain health, as the brain serves as the central control unit of the body and is influenced by all our bodily systems. That is why she believes traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a significant role to play in brain health and the fight against dementia. “Chinese medicine theorises that the body is a harmonious network of interconnected organ systems, each with unique functions and relationships with others,” she says. It views brain health problems as the result of imbalances in the body, and Chinese herbs are prescribed to restore balance and improve brain function over time. Many recent studies have reviewed TCM’s potential roles in dementia prevention, addressing, for example, its positive impact on gut microbiota, which influences cognitive behaviour and brain health through the gut – brain axis, and the way it may support heart health – which is linked to good brain health. One recent study found TCM use to be associated with improved grip strength in the elderly; grip strength is recognised as an easy and inexpensive screening tool for cognitive health. Other research finds TCM may promote neurogenesis – the formation of new neurons, or brain cells, which support learning and memory. The authors concluded: “TCM is a great treasure. We believe that the future development of medications from TCM that can improve adult neurogenesis would bring us one step closer to its application in the treatment of human diseases.” Many TCM ingredients may benefit brain health, by supporting healthy blood flow, reducing inflammation and protecting nerve cells. Curcumin, from Curcuma longa, a member of the ginger family, is an example. It, or the turmeric derived from the plant’s roots, has also been used in Ayurveda – traditional Indian medicine – and is prescribed to treat diseases of the liver and urinary tract among other ailments. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are seen as valuable in supporting brain health. Elements of Ginkgo biloba, a tree which has been around for 250 million years and is known as a “living fossil”, have been used in TCM for thousands of years. Known as the “brain herb”, its leaves and bark are believed to improve cognitive function, boost immunity and treat tinnitus, sexual dysfunction, migraine and the common cold. Research continues to identify what specifically in these and other substances is working – and how. And it is challenging. Ip knows this. Her early research focused on the potential benefits of TCM for neurodegenerative and neurological disorders. “Traditional Chinese medicines often contain multiple ingredients that work [together], making it difficult to isolate specific active compounds,” Ip says. Studying and understanding how combinations of herbs interact at the level of cells, tissues and organs is key. One area of her team’s research focuses particularly on how they support the brain messaging systems – the synapses – she says. When communication between neurons at synapses, the tiny connections between neurons for message transmission, deteriorates, there is a decline in brain health and activity. Ip is also a co-founder and director of HKUST start-up Infitech, which develops brain health products under the Cogniherbs name. The basis of its NerveReform supplement is the dietary prescriptions used by doctors in Qing dynasty China to treat “forgetfulness”. It aims to restore function in synapses by targeting the early changes that happen through ageing and brain degeneration. Spotting dementia early As important as developing treatments or a cure is finding a way to spot dementia early: the changes in the brain associated with its symptoms can begin up to two decades before they start to show. Ip and researchers at HKCeND have made good progress in the early diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by identifying biomarkers – measurable indicators in blood, organs and tissues – which help to flag risk. “Incorporating biomarkers into TCM research bridges ancient practices with modern science,” Ip says. So, for example, biomarkers can measure amyloid and tau – the proteins that build up in the brain and are linked to Alzheimer’s – and also “evaluate the effectiveness of TCM interventions in slowing down cognitive decline”. The goal once those risks are identified, Ip says, is to “tailor treatments to individual patients, ultimately aiming to develop effective, scientifically validated therapies in the fight against dementia”. Like what you read? Follow SCMP Lifestyle on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also sign up for our eNewsletter here.

How TCM could help fight dementia. With cases set to triple, a Hong Kong expert explains

A neuroscientist describes how traditional Chinese medicine may provide modern solutions to preserving cognitive function as we age