QUOTE : Lowering arachidonic acid prevents memory loss in mouse model of Alzheimer's disease
An article published online on October 19, 2008 in the journal Nature Neuroscience reported the discovery of Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease researchers that modifying fatty acid levels in the brain has a protective effect against Alzheimer's disease in an animal model.
"Several different proteins have been implicated in Alzheimer's disease," explained Gladstone Institute Director Lennart Mucke, MD, "but we wanted to know more about the potential involvement of lipids and fatty acids."
The team compared brain fatty acid levels in normal mice with levels found in mice bred to produce human amyloid precursor protein, which is expressed in humans with familial Alzheimer's disease. "The most striking change we discovered in the Alzheimer mice was an increase in arachidonic acid and related metabolites in the hippocampus, a memory center that is affected early and severely by Alzheimer's disease," lead author Rene Sanchez-Mejia, MD noted.
Fatty acids are taken up by the brain to be incorporated into phopholipids which form the cell membrane. Arachidonic acid is released in the brain from phospholipids by an enzyme known as group IVA phospholipase A2 ( PLA2). By genetically modifying the Alzheimer mice to produce lower levels of PLA2, memory loss and behavioral abnormalities characteristic of Alzheimer's disease were prevented. "Arachidonic acid likely wreaks havoc in the Alzheimer mice by causing too much excitation, which makes neurons sick," Dr. Sanchez-Mejia remarked. "By lowering arachidonic acid levels, we are allowing neurons to function normally,"
"In general, fatty acid levels can be regulated by diet or drugs," Dr Mucke added. "Our results have important therapeutic implications because they suggest that inhibition of PLA2 activity might help prevent neurological impairments in Alzheimer's disease. But a lot more work needs to be done before this novel therapeutic strategy can be tested in humans." UNQUOTE
Source : http://www.lef.org/whatshot/2008_10.htm#Lowering-arachidonic-acid-prevents-memory-loss-Alzheimers-disease |
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