Lycopene and age-related brain changes in older mice
What it found
In older mice, lycopene supplements reduced memory loss, brain inflammation, and signs of oxidative stress.
The treated mice also had less buildup of a protein linked to brain aging.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Memory and thinking
Older mice given lycopene performed better on memory and thinking tests than untreated older mice.
Brain cell damage
Looking at brain tissue, the researchers found that lycopene reversed nerve cell damage and problems with connections between brain cells in aged mice.
Oxidative stress markers
Lycopene lowered a marker of cell damage called malondialdehyde in the mice. It also boosted several natural antioxidant defenses in their brains.
Brain inflammation
Treated mice showed less brain inflammation. Lycopene calmed overactive immune cells in the brain and lowered inflammatory signals.
Protein buildup
Mice receiving lycopene had less buildup of a protein fragment called Aβ 1-42 in their brains compared to untreated aged mice.
What the authors conclude
- They suggest lycopene could be useful for treating several long-term conditions linked to aging.
- The authors base this on the improvements they saw in memory, brain inflammation, and cell damage in older mice.
How it was done
Lycopene is a plant pigment known for fighting cell damage and inflammation. The researchers wanted to see if adding it to food could help with memory problems that come with aging.
The team fed lycopene to older CD-1 mice over a long period. They then tested the animals' memory and examined their brain tissue for signs of damage and inflammation.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- These results come from mice, so they cannot show what happens in people who eat lycopene.
- Scientists do not yet know if the same dose or length of treatment would work in humans.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Northwest A&F University, China
The paper
- Title
- Lycopene Supplementation Attenuates Oxidative Stress, Neuroinflammation, and Cognitive Impairment in Aged CD-1 Mice
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Zhao B, Liu H, Wang J, et al (2018). Lycopene Supplementation Attenuates Oxidative Stress, Neuroinflammation, and Cognitive Impairment in Aged CD-1 Mice. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.7b05770PubMed 29509007DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error