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.
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Supplementation with Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Psychiatric Disorders
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4999787/
Title: Supplementation with Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Psychiatric Disorders: A Review of Literature Data
Authors: Lindsay Brown, Academic Editor, Bernhard Rauch, Academic Editor, and Hemant Poudyal.
Date: July 27, 2016
Source: MDPI Journal of Clinical Medicine
Summary
Highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) are in neural phospholipids and are important in neuronal cell membrane. They help the mechanisms of brain cell signaling like dopaminergic and serotonergic pathways. Dopaminergic is the dopamine neurotransmitter and serotonergic means a nerve cell that releases and is stimulated by serotonin.
Schizophrenia
Studies show that patients with schizophrenia have low levels of EPA and DHA. A 12-week placebo-controlled trial in 30 males and 15 females on stable antipsychotic medication who were still symptomatic. Only 35 patients completed the trial. EPA was shown more effective in the reduction of symptoms as assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Less encouraging findings were also present with a study by Fenton and Colleagues who designed a 16-week study. 87 patients were given 3g of EPA a day vs. placebo. There were no positive or negative results shown.
Conclusion
Biggest improvements with omega-3 supplementation have been seen with mood disorders, in particular, depressive symptoms with a does as low as 1g a day. EPA is seen to be more effective than DHA.
Title: Supplementation with Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Psychiatric Disorders: A Review of Literature Data
Authors: Lindsay Brown, Academic Editor, Bernhard Rauch, Academic Editor, and Hemant Poudyal.
Date: July 27, 2016
Source: MDPI Journal of Clinical Medicine
Summary
Highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) are in neural phospholipids and are important in neuronal cell membrane. They help the mechanisms of brain cell signaling like dopaminergic and serotonergic pathways. Dopaminergic is the dopamine neurotransmitter and serotonergic means a nerve cell that releases and is stimulated by serotonin.
Schizophrenia
Studies show that patients with schizophrenia have low levels of EPA and DHA. A 12-week placebo-controlled trial in 30 males and 15 females on stable antipsychotic medication who were still symptomatic. Only 35 patients completed the trial. EPA was shown more effective in the reduction of symptoms as assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Less encouraging findings were also present with a study by Fenton and Colleagues who designed a 16-week study. 87 patients were given 3g of EPA a day vs. placebo. There were no positive or negative results shown.
Conclusion
Biggest improvements with omega-3 supplementation have been seen with mood disorders, in particular, depressive symptoms with a does as low as 1g a day. EPA is seen to be more effective than DHA.
High ω-3 diet could alleviate blood-brain barrier dysfunction
Title: High ω-3/ω-6 ratio diet could alleviate blood-brain barrier dysfunction in rat model with traumatic brain injury
Author: Jianguang Su, Kai Quan, Kun Fan, Jiaying Zhang, Jingfang Liu, Wei Hua, Ying Mao
Source: www.ijcem.com
Link: http://www.ijcem.com/files/ijcem0039219.pdf
Source publish date: November 30, 2016
Summary:
Author: Jianguang Su, Kai Quan, Kun Fan, Jiaying Zhang, Jingfang Liu, Wei Hua, Ying Mao
Source: www.ijcem.com
Link: http://www.ijcem.com/files/ijcem0039219.pdf
Source publish date: November 30, 2016
Summary:
Researchers in this research is working to find out the protective effect of high omega-3 diet on delayed blood brain barrier dysfunction in post-traumatic brain injury using mice model. There are several significant results of the lab. First, the high omega-3 diet helps the brain after traumatic brain injury. The brain injury and cerebral edema is less extensive in mice with high omega-3 diet. The cerebral edema attenuated in high omega-3 group as well, indicating the protective effect. Second, high omega-3 diet help reduce the amount of 4-HNE in production. 4-HNE is known as a biomarker of oxidative stress. It also enhances the tight junction proteins shown by the increase of ZO-1 and Occludin. These proteins are crucial in cell communication. Third, 4-HNE inhibitor helps protect the post-TBI brain as well. When 4-HNE inhibitor is injected into the low omega-3, the cerebral edema shows less damage as well. They hypothesize that there’s correlation between Omega-3 and 4-HNB inhibitor. Fourth, high omega-3 diet helps increase recovery speed of cognitive function. Using the water maze test, the researcher find out that high omega-3 group has shorter escape latency, longer time in target quadrant, and higher number of platform crossing. These means high Omega-3 diet could improve the spatial learning and memory function.
Cerebral edema is one of the biggest risk factor in Blood Brain Barrier dysfunction. The researchers speculate mechanism of how Omega-3 and Omega-6 affect the BBB dysfunction is related to the metabolites of them. The product of Omegs-3 peroxidation is 4-HHE known to protect the brain. The product of Omega-6 peroxidation is 4-HNE which has carbonyl group to cause protein carbonylation effecting the function. The result is the changes of permeability of endothelial cells caused by changing in tight junction protein.
Omega-3 Memory Function Benefits in Aging Population
Authors: Külzow, Nadinea | Witte, A. Veronicae | Kerti, Luciac | Grittner, Ulriked | Schuchardt, Jan Philippf | Hahn, Andreasf | Flöel, Agnes
Article:
Impact of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Memory Functions in Healthy Older Adults
Source: IOS Content Library
Date: 30 March 2016
Summary:
Memory loss in aging populations is a common phenomenon in aging populations, in some cases leading to serious conditions and diseases such in alzheimer's. Research has indicated that the beginning of such diseases and memory loss in aging individuals occurs far before their observable onset. Thus, taking steps to prevent such diseases is important in even for healthy aging individuals. This study looked to examine what (if any) effects long-chain omega-3 fatty acid supplementation had in helping this prevention. The test conducted was a double blind supplementation of either long chain n-3's or a placebo to 44 healthy adults aged 50-75. At beginning and end of the 26 week study, the researchers used the LOCATO tool (which is a "significant and robust" way to measure object-location memory) to test the cognitive performance of the test subjects. In addition, the team tested the participants using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, aquired the participants' dietary information, and tested their omega-3 blood levels. At the end of the study, the group given the omega-3 supplements had far higher omega-3 blood levels than the placebo group, showing the supplements had been successfully digested and added to the body. This did not correlate to auditory learning, as neither group (placebo or supplemented) showed a significant advantage over the others in the Rey Auditory Verbal Test. However, more importantly, the omega-3 supplemented group showed significant improvements over the placebo group in object-location memory.
Thus, this study strongly indicates that omega-3 levels can improve a person's ability to retain and use object location memory as they age. Obviously there are more areas of memory than object-location, and it is unclear why this specific type of memory is affected by the presence of n-3's more than others.
Although the general idea of omega-3's being beneficial for memory retention is not a new concept, this study provides one of the most substantial pieces of evidence that exists to back up the claim.
Thus, this study strongly indicates that omega-3 levels can improve a person's ability to retain and use object location memory as they age. Obviously there are more areas of memory than object-location, and it is unclear why this specific type of memory is affected by the presence of n-3's more than others.
Although the general idea of omega-3's being beneficial for memory retention is not a new concept, this study provides one of the most substantial pieces of evidence that exists to back up the claim.
Cognitive Impairment, B Vitamens, and Omega 3s
Title: Omega-3 Fatty Acid Status Enhances the Prevention of Cognitive Decline by B Vitamins in Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Abderrahim Oulhaj, Fredrik Jerneren, Helga Refsum, A. David Smith, Celeste A. de Jager
Source: IOS Press Content Library
Date: Jan. 2016
Link: http://content.iospress.com/download/journal-of-alzheimers-disease/jad150777?id=journal-of-alzheimers-disease%2Fjad150777
Summary: This trial studied the combined effects of B vitamins (folic acid, B6, and B12) and omega 3s (docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid) on patients who had mild cognitive impairment. MCI is basically an intermediate stage between the expected levels of cognitive decline that come with aging and dementia. Over the course of two years, 266 patients with MCI over the age of seventy were either placed in a group that took B vitamins or a placebo group. Over that course of time, patients were rated on their performance on baseline cognitive tests and their clinical dementia rating. Plasma concentrations of homocysteine and omega 3's were measured.
Those in the Vitamin B group with increasing levels of omega-3s achieved increasingly better scores on the baseline cognitive tests and dementia ratings. The increasing concentrations of omega-3's in the placebo group, however, had no effect on these scores. This suggests that Vitamin Bs and omega-3s work together to achieve the effect of slowing cognitive decline. Another telling factor was that when omega-3 fatty acid concentrations were low in patients, the B vitamins had no effect of the cognitive decline of mild cognitive impairment.
Among those with "good omega-3 status", it was found that 33% of those on Vitamin B supplements had clinical dementia scores greater than zero (if you score above zero, you have progressed into the stages of dementia), compared to 59% of placebo patients. Basically, more placebo patients had progressed into the early stages of dementia. It was found that DHA alone significantly enhanced the cognitive effects of the Vitamin B. EPA was less effective.
B vitamins lowered levels of homocysteine in blood plasma. Homocysteine is a non-essential amino acid. Elevated levels of homocysteine in the blood is recognized as a risk factor for cognitive impairment, Alzheimers, and dementia. The vitamin B treatment in this trial only improved the status of patients with high baseline homocysteine concentrations, slowing the rate of both global and regional brain atrophy.
Authors: Abderrahim Oulhaj, Fredrik Jerneren, Helga Refsum, A. David Smith, Celeste A. de Jager
Source: IOS Press Content Library
Date: Jan. 2016
Link: http://content.iospress.com/download/journal-of-alzheimers-disease/jad150777?id=journal-of-alzheimers-disease%2Fjad150777
Summary: This trial studied the combined effects of B vitamins (folic acid, B6, and B12) and omega 3s (docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid) on patients who had mild cognitive impairment. MCI is basically an intermediate stage between the expected levels of cognitive decline that come with aging and dementia. Over the course of two years, 266 patients with MCI over the age of seventy were either placed in a group that took B vitamins or a placebo group. Over that course of time, patients were rated on their performance on baseline cognitive tests and their clinical dementia rating. Plasma concentrations of homocysteine and omega 3's were measured.
Those in the Vitamin B group with increasing levels of omega-3s achieved increasingly better scores on the baseline cognitive tests and dementia ratings. The increasing concentrations of omega-3's in the placebo group, however, had no effect on these scores. This suggests that Vitamin Bs and omega-3s work together to achieve the effect of slowing cognitive decline. Another telling factor was that when omega-3 fatty acid concentrations were low in patients, the B vitamins had no effect of the cognitive decline of mild cognitive impairment.
Among those with "good omega-3 status", it was found that 33% of those on Vitamin B supplements had clinical dementia scores greater than zero (if you score above zero, you have progressed into the stages of dementia), compared to 59% of placebo patients. Basically, more placebo patients had progressed into the early stages of dementia. It was found that DHA alone significantly enhanced the cognitive effects of the Vitamin B. EPA was less effective.
B vitamins lowered levels of homocysteine in blood plasma. Homocysteine is a non-essential amino acid. Elevated levels of homocysteine in the blood is recognized as a risk factor for cognitive impairment, Alzheimers, and dementia. The vitamin B treatment in this trial only improved the status of patients with high baseline homocysteine concentrations, slowing the rate of both global and regional brain atrophy.
Cerebral Ischemia and Omega 3s
Article 1: Novel insights into the effect of Vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acids on brain function
Author: Richa Rathod, Anvita Kale, and Sadhana Joshi
Source: Journal of Biomedical Science
Date: January 2016
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4727338/pdf/12929_2016_Article_241.pdf
Article 2 (source used in Article 1): Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids enhance cerebral angiogenesis and provide long-term protection after stroke.
Authors: Wang J, Shi Y, Zhang L, Zhang F, Hu X, Zhang W, et al.
Source: Journal of Biomedical Science
Date: August 2014
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24794156
Explanation of Cerebral Ischemia: http://www.columbianeurosurgery.org/conditions/cerebral-ischemia/
Author: Richa Rathod, Anvita Kale, and Sadhana Joshi
Source: Journal of Biomedical Science
Date: January 2016
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4727338/pdf/12929_2016_Article_241.pdf
Article 2 (source used in Article 1): Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids enhance cerebral angiogenesis and provide long-term protection after stroke.
Authors: Wang J, Shi Y, Zhang L, Zhang F, Hu X, Zhang W, et al.
Source: Journal of Biomedical Science
Date: August 2014
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24794156
Explanation of Cerebral Ischemia: http://www.columbianeurosurgery.org/conditions/cerebral-ischemia/
Homocysteine is a non-protein alpha-amino acid. Homocysteine is recycled into methionine or converted into cysteine with the aid of Vitamin B12. If there are high levels of homocysteine in the blood stream, meaning homocysteine is not being converted, a person is more prone to endothelial cell injury. Endothelial cells line our blood vessels and help control inflammation and blood clotting among other things. When endothelial cells are damaged, they cannot perform all their function properly. This could lead to blood clotting. When a blood clot blocks a cerebral vessel, not enough oxygen gets to the brain. This leads to the death of brain tissue, cerebral infarction, or ischemic stroke. Cerebral ischemia is a condition that occurs when there isn't enough blood flow to the brain to meet metabolic demand.
After a stroke caused by cerebral ischemia, the most important therapeutic strategies are enhancing angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels) and improve cerebral microcirculation (circulation of blood in the smallest blood vessels). Supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids have been found to improve neurological function after cerebral ischemia. A study done on mice showed that omega-3s induced upregulation (process of increasing the response to a stimulus) of angiopoietin 2 (a growth factor that signals a process where new arteries and veins form from preexisting blood vessels). And angiopoietin 2 facilitates endothelial proliferation, which caused a new barrier to form in the blood vessels. The reformation of these barriers has led to studies showing the overall improvement of cognitive function after someone has suffered from a stroke.
Thursday, February 9, 2017
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