Antioxidant found potentially valuable to fight Alzheimer's disease

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Harold Mandel

Alzheimer's disease is a greatly feared disease. The U.S. National Library of Medicine defines dementia as a loss of brain function which occurs with certain diseases, with Alzheimer's disease (AD), being one form of dementia that gradually gets worse over time. Alzheimer's disease affects memory, thinking, and behavior. Elderly people in Syracuse and their families should be pleased to learn that an antioxidant compound called MitoQ may have the potential to effectively fight Alzheimer's.

The University of Georgia (UGA) News Service has reported "Antioxidant has potential in the Alzheimer’s fight, UGA researchers find." When too much oxidative stress occurs in the brain Alzheimer’s sets in. This is believed to be due to the improper processing of a protein which is associated with the creation of free radicals that cause oxidative stress. A study by researchers in the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy has shown that an antioxidant can delay the onset of all the indicators of Alzheimer’s, including cognitive decline.

An antioxidant compound called MitoQ was administered to mice which were genetically engineered to develop Alzheimer’s. The results of this study have been published in the Journal of Neuroscience. The Alzheimer’s Society says more than 5 million Americans currently suffer from this neurodegenerative disease. It is projected that without successful prevention, almost 14 million Americans will have Alzheimer’s by 2050. This would account for healthcare costs of more than $1 trillion a year.

It is believed that oxidative stress causes neurons in the brain to die which results in Alzheimer’s. Study author James Franklin, an associate professor of pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences, along with Meagan McManus, who received her Ph.D. in neuroscience from UGA, have said “The brain consumes 20 percent of the oxygen in the body even though it only makes up 5 percent of the volume, so it’s particularly susceptible to oxidative stress.”

It was hypothesized by these researchers that antioxidants administered unsuccessfully by other researchers to treat Alzheimer’s were not being concentrated enough in the mitochondria of cells. Mitochondria are structures within cells which have many functions which includes producing oxidative molecules that damage the brain and cause cell death. McManus has said “MitoQ selectively accumulates in the mitochondria. It is more effective for the treatment to go straight to the mitochondria, rather than being present in the cell in general." This study presents an important consideration of the potential for MitoQ to treat Alzheimer's in people.

Potential New Alzheimer's Drug Shows Promise

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Intellect Neuroscience announced that a Phase 1b clinical trial of OXIGON (OX1) showed that this Alzheimer’s drug is safe and well tolerated at all dosages.

OX1 is a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. It inhibits the activity of beta amyloid acids. These acids are a type of amino acid that is thought to be related to the development of harmful protein plaques found in Alzheimer's disease patients. This drug,OX1, has also been shown to protect

Read more about Potential New Alzheimer's Drug Shows Promise

Brain-aging gene identified, opening door for new treatment

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Long Term Care

Scientists at the Université de Montréal have discovered a gene that is responsible for the aging of neurons in the brain and central nervous system. This finding could lead to new therapies for Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's.

The gene, called Bmi1, prevents the activation of certain other brain functions, and also prevents the accumulation of free-radicals in the brain, which can lead to diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, according to research authors. Without the gene, the aging process of the brain and the eye was dramatically accelerated in laboratory mice, the research shows.

The primary risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease is age, researchers say. By controlling this gene, they hope to be able to reduce pathological aging of the brain and central nervous system, thus preventing the development of those degenerative diseases. The study appears in......read the whole article

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How to make sense of oxidative stress and dementia

You shouldbe interested in this multipart series about oxidative stress and dementia
dementia.today.com

We were talking about oxidative stress and why it is bad. It is bad because of the damage to cells caused by free radicals which are a result of breathing in oxygen. Free radicals are extremely unstable and can cause damage to various parts of a cell.

Besides taking in oxygen which everyone has to do to live, other pollutants can increase the amount of free radicals in a person’s body.

Things such as pollution, sunlight, smoking and mercury can increase the amount of free radicals in your body.

The important thing is how can your body combat the formation of free radicals.

The answer is……… read all the info