In 2020, nearly six million people were living with Alzheimer’s disease in the US, and that number will likely increase in the coming decades. Attempts to develop drugs to treat the neurodegenerative condition have seen limited success, with only six drugs currently approved by the FDA. Researchers have also explored the potential of existing drugs to improve the condition of people suffering from this form of dementia. Niacin, a form of vitamin B3 also known as nicotinic acid, has recently caught the attention of some researchers in the field.
The vitamin has sparked interest over the past 20 years with a few epidemiological studies that reported an association between niacin intake and a reduction in risk of general cognitive decline. More recently, researchers have begun exploring whether the compound has a positive effect on individuals with neurodegenerative diseases. Research findings published in the last few years have suggested that niacin ...
