Alpha lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant. It also easily crosses the blood brain barrier (BBB) to help boost other natural antioxidant compounds in the brain that can't cross the BBB. (iii.1)
Research suggests that alpha lipoic acid could help prevent, treat, and/or relieve the symptoms of many brain and neurological diseases as well as mood disorders. These include:
Alpha lipoic acid may also help slow cognitive or even reverse decline related to aging — especially when combined with beneficial lifestyle changes. Although in many instances these are preliminary lab and animal studies, in some conditions there is clinical evidence of benefit. (iii.1, 6, 23-25)
If you take vitamin C supplements that are made from synthetic ascorbic acid, one nutritional expert suggests taking alpha lipoic acid supplements to protect your brain. Synthetic vitamin C interacts with the extra iron in many enriched breads and pastas to form a free radical that's dangerous to brain cells. Alpha lipoic acid protects neurons against damage caused by excess iron. (iii.26)
Healthy brains are highly regulated but delicate. Compared to other organs, the brain is particularly vulnerable to damage. That's because the brain: (iii.27-28)
Neurological conditions each have their own distinct causes and symptoms. However, factors that disturb the brain's environment and contribute to these diseases are often the same. The conditions themselves further aggravate and add to these factors. They include: (iii.2-4, 12-13, 16, 27-33)