Posted on 12/02/2011 10:10:08 AM PST by decimon
A red dye derived from lichens that has been used for centuries to color fabrics and food appears to reduce the abundance of small toxic protein aggregates in Alzheimer’s disease. The dye, a compound called orcein, and a related substance, called O4, bind preferentially to small amyloid aggregates that are considered to be toxic and cause neuronal dysfunction and memory impairment in Alzheimer’s disease. O4 binding to small aggregates promotes their conversion into large, mature plaques which researchers assume to be largely non-toxic for neuronal cells. Further research with animal models is needed to determine whether this new approach by Dr. Jan Bieschke (Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, MDC, Berlin-Buch), Dr. Martin Herbst (Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin) and Professor Erich Wanker (MDC) in Berlin, Germany, will be useful for therapy development (Nature Chemical Biology, doi:
(Excerpt) Read more at mdc-berlin.de ...
Ping
A litmus test?
20 years of big pharma research on amyloid plaque has been
abandoned because preventing the plaque does not alter the
progression of the symptoms and cell death.
20 years of big pharma research on amyloid plaque has been
abandoned because preventing the plaque does not alter the
progression of the symptoms and cell death.
You likin’ your lichen?
I'm not sure of what you're saying.
Harris Tweed! It does a body good!
Big pharma has developed products that can completely prevent/remove the plaque. The alzheimer’s symptoms continue to worsen and the patient eventually dies.
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