Its smooth green leaves often serve a soothing purpose. But research suggests this familiar houseplant could provide another key benefit.
Decades of research have shown that adding specific foods to your diet can help lower the odds of developing Alzheimer’s disease or help to slow the disease’s progression—think leafy green vegetables, green tea, or fatty fish. But today, researchers are uncovering even more about a particularly versatile plant, revealing that its potential benefits reach far beyond traditional uses—including how it might be able to make a difference for the estimated 7 million Americans currently living with Alzheimer’s disease.
Aloe vera is a succulent long prized for its healing powers, most often used to soothe skin or support digestion—but eventually, it may be a tool in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
A study, published in March 2025 in Current Pharmaceutical Analysis, found that beta sitosterol—a compound naturally found in aloe vera and other plants—may help protect against Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers observed that this compound, which has a chemical structure similar to cholesterol, works by blocking two key enzymes involved in the formation of toxic proteins that contribute to Alzheimer’s progression.
“Our findings suggest that Beta sitosterol, one of the aloe vera compounds, exhibits significant binding affinities and stability, making it a promising candidate for further drug development,” said Meriem Khedraoui, the lead author of the study, via a news release.
But this isn’t the first time aloe vera has been tied to a promising future in the fight against Alzheimer’s. John Lewis, PhD, founder and president of Dr Lewis Nutrition and an associate professor of family medicine and community health at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, is passionate about the potential of aloe vera as an agent of better cognitive health. Between 2012 and 2024, he conducted seven studies on the brain health benefits of the powerhouse plant.
In one such study. which investigated how concentrated aloe vera might impact brain health, Dr. Lewis and his team gave people with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s disease an aloe polysaccharide-based dietary supplement, administered orally in a concentrated powder. A total of 34 subjects took a daily dose of four teaspoons per day for 12 months, and the team measured their memory, thinking, and brain function every three months to track changes over time.
The results “showed remarkable, unparalleled clinically and statistically significant improvements in cognitive function in this patient population,” Dr. Lewis tells The Healthy.
When this study’s research team administered a test known as the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale – Cognitive Subscale, they saw that mean scores significantly improved after nine and 12 months. In total, 46% of the subjects showed clinically-significant cognitive gains—at least a four-point change on that test—from baseline to 12 months. They also showed a modest increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor , a protein used to promote neuroplasticity and help the hippocampus work properly.
Additionally, the researchers observed “significant improvements” in other areas of health, including:
- Overall immune function
- Inflammation
- Adult stem cell production
- Immune system balance
Dr. Lewis notes that aloe polysaccharides can be utilized by more than 30 trillion cells in the body to enable their proper functioning. “The polysaccharides (or complex sugars) in aloe vera are this plant’s most important, yet almost assuredly unheard of, nutrients,” he explains. “While most people think of aloe vera as a topical solution for any skin issue, taking the aloe polysaccharides orally in a concentrated powder is a completely novel and the most effective way to benefit from aloe vera.”
Though this particular study had a small sample size and was performed in 2012, more recent research, such as the beta sitosterol study from earlier this year, supports the ongoing idea that aloe vera could have a positive impact on the brain.
If you’re considering supplements as an addition to your brain health regimen, always speak to your healthcare provider first.
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