Dr. Xin-Min Li

Dr. Xin-Min Li is looking towards using Traditional Chinese Medicine and natural medicine, such as plants and herbs, to help treat a number of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease.

Currently Dr. Li is working with a Chinese herb known as Polygonum Multiflorum, an herb that has been used to slow the aging process for thousands of years. Dr. Li thinks this herb might be able to help delay aging and treat Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the future.

According to Dr. Li, Alzheimer's is the most common neurodegenerative disorder. Amyloid Beta (Aβ) plaques are believed to be the start of neurological loss and AD.

Dr. Li says that aging is the greatest risk factor when it comes to AD.

"The likelihood of developing Alzheimer`s doubles about every five years after age 65," he says. "After age 85, the risk reaches nearly 50 percent."

Dr. Li is looking into how oxidative stress plays a part in the overproduction of Aβ. Dr. Li feels that we can delay the onset of aging by using an anti-oxidant which will slow down the progression of AD.

TSG (2,3,5,4' tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D- glucose) is the primary active ingredient of Polygonum Multiflorum. TSG has helped improve learning and memory and also protects neuronal synaptic structures in test animals.

Dr. Li's research is working to determine the anti-oxidant properties of TSG. Tests are being conducted on animal samples already effected by Aβ, also to see if TSG protects against Aβ-induced oxidative stress and then to determine the effects of TSG on Aβ.

Dr. Li plans on using TSG in randomized clinical tests to determine how effectively it might be used as a treatment option. Studies are being conducted in China, where the large population makes it easier to find people willing to take the treatments.

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