Posted on 05/24/2024 9:40:41 AM PDT by ConservativeMind
It has long been known that a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, and most other neurodegenerative diseases, is the clumping together of insoluble protein aggregates in the brain. During normal disease-free aging, there is also an accumulation of insoluble proteins.
Researchers have recently completed a systematic study in worms that paints an intricate picture of the connections between insoluble proteins in neurodegenerative diseases and aging. Furthermore, the work demonstrated an intervention that could reverse the toxic effects of the aggregates by boosting mitochondrial health.
"Our study shows how maintaining healthy mitochondria can combat protein clumping linked to both aging and Alzheimer's," said Manish Chamoli, Ph.D.
They found that there is a subset of proteins that seem to be very vulnerable to becoming insoluble, either by adding amyloid beta or during the normal aging process. They called that vulnerable subset the "core insoluble proteome."
The team went on to demonstrate that the core insoluble proteome is full of proteins that have already been linked to different neurodegenerative diseases in addition to Alzheimer's disease, including Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and prion disease.
The amyloid protein is very toxic to the worms and the team wanted to find a way to reverse that toxicity.
That's exactly what they found, using Urolithin A, a natural gut metabolite produced when we eat raspberries, walnuts, and pomegranates which is known to improve mitochondrial function: it significantly delayed the toxic effects of amyloid beta.
"Mitochondria have a strong link with aging. They've got a strong link with amyloid beta," he said.
"Because the mitochondria are so central to all of this, one way to break the vicious cycle of decline is to replace damaged mitochondria with new mitochondria," said Lithgow. "And how do you do that? You exercise and follow a healthy diet."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Urolithin A are available, though, and I’ve previously posted on this. The first reputable form available was through Amazentis, which sells through Nestlé’s Celltrient and Solgar lines, along with Amazentis-affiliated TimeLine Nutrition. I have now seen other companies selling a separately developed form, but have not tried it.
Urolithin A forces defective mitochondria in our cells to self-destruct, while creating new, defect-free mitochondria. Mitochondria are the “engines” that power our cells.
Exercise can also help your body naturally multiply healthy mitochondria, but I am uncertain if it helps trigger defective mitochondria to self-destruct.
Curious if pomegranate juice is as effective as the whole fruit?
“Researchers have recently completed a systematic study in worms...”
HUH?
ping
How about intermittent fasting?
Bookmark.
Destruction of malfunctioning cell organelles is called apathogy, which can be induced by even a day of fasting. Removal of malfunctioning mitochondria is called mitophagy. I don’t know if time-based intermittent fasting also does that for mitochondria.
Apotosis, the destruction of malfunctioning cells, takes about 3 days of fasting to get started. The Fasting Mimicking Diet parameters put the body in a fasting state while still consuming some food (600-800 calories; <16g protein; 50-100g carbs; vitamins and micronutrients through vegetables, supplements, or green drinks).
Walnuts are high in linoleic acid (38% IIRC), which Dr. Mercola recommends 8g of less. (The SAD —Standard American Diet — is over 30% linoleic acid up from a historical 1%-2%, which leads to all kinds of health issues.)
I believe intermittent fasting and exercise remains a critical way of staying healthy, both physically and mentally.
“Researchers have recently completed a systematic study in worms”
Why would they restrict the study group to only Democrats?
How much Urolithin A is necessary per day?
I am only aware of one commercial company pushing UA. I am somewhat skeptical that the studies aren’t being funded by interested parties.
People who can make Urolithin A get something less than 125 mg a day, assuming they ate servings of such foods.
About 30-40% of people have these gut bacteria. I believe one is also used for brewing beer.
Urolithin A forces mitophagy, which gets rid of malfunctioning mitochondria and makes cells make new, healthy mitochondria, in their place.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.