Supplement
Huperzine A is a compound extracted from a Chinese club moss that slows the breakdown of acetylcholine, a brain chemical involved in memory and learning. People mostly look at it for Alzheimer's disease, where the evidence is moderate: a meta-analysis found thinking-test scores improved at 8, 12, and 16 weeks, and memory scores improved too. The studies only lasted a few months, and evidence for daily activities and vascular dementia is limited.
- Updated
- How we grade
- 5 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade B
- Conditions studied
- 2
- Outcomes
- 6
- Graded outcomes
- 0321
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Function (MMSE) Significant improvement in MMSE scores at 8, 12, and 16 weeks (meta-analysis) | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 1,823 people | |||
| Cognitive Function (ADAS-Cog) 2.27-point improvement at 400 mcg BID (Phase II trial) | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 210 people | |||
| Memory (WMS) Significant improvement in Wechsler Memory Scale at 8 and 12 weeks | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 600 people | |||
| Activities of Daily Living Improved ADL scores at 6, 12, and 16 weeks | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 400 people | |||
| Cognitive Function (200 mcg BID) Lower dose (200 mcg BID) showed no demonstrable effect in Phase II trial | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 210 people |
Vascular Dementia
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Function Cognitive benefits in vascular dementia (meta-analysis) | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 300 people |
Key findings
- Cognitive Function (MMSE)Improves (the measure goes up)
- Cognitive Function (ADAS-Cog)Improves (the measure goes up)
- Memory (WMS)Improves (the measure goes up)
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Third-party tested Huperzine A products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.
- Grade B
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Studies cited
5 studies from PubMed
- Huperzine A: a natural acetylcholinesterase inhibitor with multifunctional neuroprotective effects
- Huperzine A: Is it an effective disease-modifying drug for Alzheimer's disease?
- Huperzine A, a nootropic alkaloid, inhibits N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced current in rat dissociated hippocampal neurons
- The NMDA receptor ion channel: a site for binding of Huperzine A
- Pharmacological profile of Huperzine A, a novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitor from Chinese herb