Menu
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Healthy Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Diets & Nutrition - Food Safety
    Nutrition
    healthy nutrition
    Recipes
    healthy recipes
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    herbal remedies - herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    suppliments & remedies
    Vitamins
    ask-dr-weil_vitamins-supplements-herbs_vitamins-topnav
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    The Legacy Of Living Yes | Spontaneous Happiness | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Health Tips
    Healthy Drinks To Start Sipping | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Spontaneous Happiness
    blog_spontaneous-happiness_topnav
  • COVID-19
  • Dr. Weil Origins Skin Care
  • Marketplace
  • Healthy Aging
  • Podcasts
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Accessibility
  • Subscribe
A Supplement to Prevent Alzheimer's
Subscribe
Press "Enter" to search
  1. Home
  2. Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
  3. Supplements & Remedies

A Supplement to Prevent Alzheimer's

Could you discuss the use of phosphatidylserine complex in relation to aging and the brain?

Andrew Weil, M.D. |August 20, 2002

Hands Of Woman Deformed From Rheumatoid Arthritis holding pills
1 min

Phosphatidylserine (PS, for short) is a component of the membranes that enclose nerve cells. Several small studies have indicated that PS supplements may help prevent age-related mental decline and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. We know that with Alzheimer’s disease brain cells (neurons) deteriorate resulting in a loss of function. In theory, PS works by strengthening cell membranes thus protecting them and their contents from damage, particularly from the stress hormone cortisol.

Initially, researchers used PS made from the brain cells of cows. This seemed to work well but concerns about mad cow disease made researchers look for another source. Today, PS is synthesized from soy, and in 2000 the results of a small clinical trial using a soy-based supplement yielded promising results. Experts say that larger trials are now needed to determine if PS really does help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of age-related mental deterioration.

I have no direct experience using PS supplements, so I asked Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa, Medical Director and President of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Foundation here in Tucson, how useful they are. Dr. Khalsa, who uses PS to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease, says it:

  • Improves short term memory in aging patients who have difficulty recalling names, faces and phone numbers.
  • Improves the memory of patients with early dementia.
  • Helps patients with depression associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
  • Reverses some of the degenerative changes in brain function.

Dr. Khalsa recommends 100 mg of PS daily to maintain optimal brain function; 200 mg to treat mild cognitive impairment and 300 mg to treat Alzheimer’s disease itself. He also feels that PS augments the memory enhancing effects of Ginkgo biloba. Note that PS may have a blood-thinning effect and should be used with caution if you are on Coumadin or other prescribed anticoagulant drugs.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Read more tips, recipes, and insights on a wide variety of topics from Dr. Weil here.

Eating to Prevent Alzheimer's?
Aging Gracefully

Eating to Prevent Alzheimer's?

naturopathic medicine
Wellness Therapies

Naturopathic Medicine

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil's FREE health living advice delivered to you!

By clicking "Subscribe," you agree to the DrWeil.com Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive emails from DrWeil.com, and you may opt out of DrWeil.com subscriptions at any time.

Trending Now

Businessman hand typing on keyboard and working in office in vintage color filter
Supplements & Remedies

A New Kind of Calcium?

Hands Of Woman Deformed From Rheumatoid Arthritis holding pills
Supplements & Remedies

A Supplement to Prevent Alzheimer's

iodine deficient non dairy milk
Supplements & Remedies

Am I Iodine Deficient?

Glass of light beer on the glass bar counter.
Supplements & Remedies

An Antioxidant In Beer?

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Information
  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Email Subscription
Trending Articles
Businessman hand typing on keyboard and working in office in vintage color filter
Supplements & Remedies

A New Kind of Calcium?

Hands Of Woman Deformed From Rheumatoid Arthritis holding pills
Supplements & Remedies

A Supplement to Prevent Alzheimer's

Daily Tips
Do You Need Vitamin K? | Health Tips | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Health Tips

Do You Need Vitamin K?

Is Cooking with Aluminum Harmful? | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Health Tips

Aluminum Cookware: What Are The Concerns?

  • Flickr
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

©Copyright2023 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com