http://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/full/10.2217/fnl-2016-0008
Future Medicine
March 11 2016
Nicolas G. Bazen
Alzheimer's disease has become more prevalent in recent years. This is because as life spans increase so does the risk for Alzheimer's. While some measures can be taken to prevent alzhiemer's there are currently zero therapies to combat it. Alzheimer's is complex and overall results in cognitive decline. Both synaptic pruning and dendritic spine damage both caused by oxidative stress lead to dementia. DHA is throughout the central nervous system and is concentrated in the synaptic, dendritic, and photo-receptor membranes. DHA in the brain decreases with age and Alzheimer's disease. Even in early stage dementia the amount of DHA is lower. Also an Alzheimer's brain is unable to produce NPD1 (a pufa) effectively which is a defense mechanism. The importance of NPD1 is furthered by when there is oxidative stress in the brain the body counteracts this by producing more NPD1.
DHA has been proven to help prevent cognitive decline in normal brains, but no research shows the effect on brains with dementia. This is because multiple studies have been conducted, but conflicting results have been found. This makes the question of DHA supplementation to combat dementia tough. Another issue is that the intake and absorption of DHA is not well understood. With uptake into the body, Alzheimer's causes the liver enzymes that transfer DHA into the brain to be dysfunctional. Conclusively, how these fatty acids affect dementia has a lot of questions and within the answers to these questions could hold the solutions for preventive measures, slowing of progression, and restoration of brain cells. The issue with much of this research that needs to be done is that it is highly complex with many different factors and that there is no perfect animal to study besides humans that replicate how the brain and dementia work exactly like the human brain.
A person with Alzheimer's disease produces less DHA and NPD1 in their brain.
ReplyDeleteDoes Alzheimer's disease cause individuals to produce less NPD1, or is Alzheimer's disease caused by a lack of production of neurotransmitters such as NPD1?
Less NPD1 is made in brains with alzheimers, which decreases the brain's ability to combat oxidative stress.
ReplyDeleteHow does NPD1 work? Which liver enzymes absorb omega-3s and how does that work on a mechanical level?
Alzheimers affects omega 3 intake because Alzheimers reduces the number of enzymes in the liver which absorb omega 3's.
ReplyDeleteAre there other areas of the body that absorb omega 3's and could they be targeted for Alzheimers patients?
Much of the research done for brains in normal cognitive decline is not applicable for patients with alzheimer's as their brain can react differently to n-3's.
ReplyDeleteDo people who have naturally high n-3 diets show any different effects? (i.e. those who live near the sea and eat lots of fatty fish).
NPD1 is a PUFA that occurs within our brains naturally. A brain with Alzheimer's, however, is not able to produce NPD1.
ReplyDeleteCould it be possible to supplement NPD1 to Alzheimer's patients, or are we only able to supplement DHA?
In a person with Alzheimer's, there are less liver enzymes to absorb omega-3's into the body.
ReplyDeleteI did research on Alzheimer's, and it showed that a major reason why omega-3's did not work is because they were being oxidized before they could be converted into a useful form. How do the liver enzymes connect with the idea of oxidation?
PUFA NPD1 in the brain goes down with Alzheimer's disease.
ReplyDeleteIs there any studies with how EPA can help with symptoms of Alzheimer's?
Liver enzymes that help the uptake of omega-3s are not as plentiful in the patient with Alzheimer's.
ReplyDeleteCould you elaborate on the function of NPD-1 and why less of it exists in a patient with Alzheimer's?
NPD1, an importnat omega-3 in the brain, can not be produced by Alzheimer patients' brains.
ReplyDeleteWhat is special in NPD1 that it is prevalent in brains?