Spirulina and brain health: what the research shows
What it found
In lab and animal studies, spirulina and its blue protein phycocyanin reduced oxidative stress and calmed activated brain immune cells.
Human evidence is not presented in this review.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Brain immune cells
In rats, phycocyanin reduced reactive oxygen species and decreased astrocyte activation caused by tributyltin chloride. It also partly restored microglial activity.
Parkinson's models
In rats and mice, spirulina or its polysaccharides protected dopamine-producing neurons and reduced activated microglia. In fruit fly models, spirulina improved lifespan and movement.
Alzheimer's models
In mice and worms, spirulina extracts and phycocyanin reduced amyloid-related damage and inflammation. In rats, phycocyanin improved cognitive dysfunction and increased BDNF and IGF-1.
Brain penetration
One study measured phycocyanin in rat brain tissue after injection, suggesting it can reach the brain. Another found oral phycocyanin affected the hippocampus, implying it crossed the blood-brain barrier.
Malnutrition in offspring
In protein-deprived rats, spirulina given to mothers reduced brain inflammation and improved behaviour and learning in the young. It also increased cortical thickness and dendritic complexity.
Studies in people and animals
Multiple sclerosis models
In rodent models of MS, phycocyanin reduced inflammatory infiltrates in the spinal cord and protected myelin. It also increased regulatory T cells, including in blood cells from MS patients.
What the authors conclude
“However, despite the numerous and encouraging scientific evidence both in vitro and in vivo, additional studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms of action of Spirulina.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say spirulina is a rich source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substances that supports nervous system development and normal brain function.
- They conclude that spirulina could be a potential pharmacological agent for preventing and treating Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis.
- They state that additional studies are needed to clarify how spirulina works.
How it was done
The authors note that antioxidant and anti-inflammatory defences drop with age and in neurodegenerative disease, making the brain more vulnerable to oxidative damage. They wanted to pull together research on whether spirulina can counter that.
They gathered published studies on spirulina and its components, mostly in cells and in rodents, including models of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. The paper does not report a new experiment or a set number of participants.
What it can’t tell you
- Most of the evidence comes from cells and animals, so it cannot show what happens in people.
- The review does not report controlled trials in people with brain conditions, so no human dose or effect can be stated.
- The exact molecular mechanisms by which spirulina acts in the brain are still unknown.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- University of Foggia, Italy; University of Bari, Italy
The paper
- Title
- Beneficial Effects of Spirulina Consumption on Brain Health
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Trotta T, Porro C, Cianciulli A, Panaro MA (2022). Beneficial Effects of Spirulina Consumption on Brain Health. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu14030676Free full textPubMed 35277035DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error