Wednesday Dc 4, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- Coenzyme Q10 supplementation may reverse age-related impairments in spatial learning and reduce protein toxicity found in Alzheimer's disease, a new study in the journal Age suggests.

The study led by Ritu A. Shetty from University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth in Fort Worth, TX, USA and colleagues shows older mice that ate a diet supplemented with Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) in a dose of 2.81 mg per gram for 15 weeks had better performance in the Morris water maze test, compared their counterparts on a control diet.   

Coenzyme Q10 also reduced protein oxidative damage, which may be at least partially responsible for disorders like Alzheimer's disease.  

Coenzyme Q10 has been already under consideration as a treatment for age-related neurodegenerative conditions.  There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, which affects an estimated 6 million older Americans.  The disease eventually completely disables the patient.  (David Liu)