Tuesday, March 6, 2012

A couple on Alzheimer's / Dementia

My Dad has dementia and anything I see about it has special impact. 

First off, Vitamin D looks like it has potential here as often elsewhere:

the early findings show that vitamin D3 may activate key genes and cellular signaling networks to help stimulate the immune system to clear the amyloid-beta protein.

Previous laboratory work by the team demonstrated that specific types of immune cells in Alzheimer's patients may respond to therapy with vitamin D3 and curcumin, a chemical found in turmeric spice, by stimulating the innate immune system to clear amyloid beta. But the researchers didn't know how it worked.
 Then this one which I don't fully understand (but thanks to Colin for sending it on)
neurons that were exposed to the antibody remained healthy, with no synaptic disintegration.

Dr Salinas said: "Despite significant advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in Alzheimer's disease, no effective treatment is currently available to stop the progression of this devastating disease."

She added: "This research identifies Dkk1 as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease."
 

3 comments:

Nigel Kinbrum said...

Vitamin D3 doesn't appear to have cleared any of mum's alpha-synuclein tangles (Lewy Body Dementia).

The curcumin in turmeric is very poorly absorbed. Piperine (in black pepper) increases the bioavailability of curcumin by 2,000% by interfering with Cytochrome P450 (no use if patient is on drugs cleared by CYP 450). See Look after your brain.

Tsimblist said...

Have you heard about the coconut oil story?
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience/2012/January/Coconut-Oil-Touted-as-Alzheimers-Remedy/

Nigel Kinbrum said...

Coconut oil only delays the inevitable. See Look after your brain, Part 4.