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Major cause of dementia discovered
medicalxpress.com ^ | 12-11-2017 | Provided by: University of Manchester

Posted on 12/11/2017 1:33:07 PM PST by Red Badger

An international team of scientists have confirmed the discovery of a major cause of dementia, with important implications for possible treatment and diagnosis.

Professor Garth Cooper from The University of Manchester, who leads the Manchester team, says the build-up of urea in the brain to toxic levels can cause brain damage - and eventually dementia.

The work follows on from Professor Cooper's earlier studies, which identified metabolic linkages between Huntington's, other neurodegenerative diseases and type-2 diabetes.

The team consists of scientists from The University of Manchester, the University of Auckland, AgResearch New Zealand, the South Australian Research and Development Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University.

The latest paper by the scientists, published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that Huntington's Disease - one of seven major types of age-related dementia - is directly linked to brain urea levels and metabolic processes.

Their 2016 study revealing that urea is similarly linked to Alzheimer's, shows, according to Professor Cooper, that the discovery could be relevant to all types of age-related dementias.

The Huntington's study also showed that the high urea levels occurred before dementia sets in, which could help doctors to one day diagnose and even treat dementia, well in advance of its onset.

Urea and ammonia in the brain are metabolic breakdown products of protein. Urea is more commonly known as a compound which is excreted from the body in urine. If urea and ammonia build up in the body because the kidneys are unable to eliminate them, for example, serious symptoms can result.

Professor Cooper, who is based at The University of Manchester's Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, said: "This study on Huntington's Disease is the final piece of the jigsaw which leads us to conclude that high brain urea plays a pivotal role in dementia.

"Alzheimer's and Huntington's are at opposite ends of the dementia spectrum - so if this holds true for these types, then I believe it is highly likely it will hold true for all the major age-related dementias.

"More research, however, is needed to discover the source of the elevated urea in HD, particularly concerning the potential involvement of ammonia and a systemic metabolic defect.

"This could have profound implications for our fundamental understanding of the molecular basis of dementia, and its treatability, including the potential use of therapies already in use for disorders with systemic urea phenotypes."

Dementia results in a progressive and irreversible loss of nerve cells and brain functioning, causing loss of memory and cognitive impairments affecting the ability to learn. Currently, there is no cure.

The team used human brains, donated by families for medical research, as well as transgenic sheep in Australia.

Manchester members of the team used cutting-edge gas chromatography mass spectrometry to measure brain urea levels. For levels to be toxic urea must rise 4-fold or higher than in the normal brain says Professor Cooper.

He added: "We already know Huntington's Disease is an illness caused by a faulty gene in our DNA - but until now we didn't understand how that causes brain damage - so we feel this is an important milestone.

"Doctors already use medicines to tackle high levels of ammonia in other parts of the body Lactulose - a commonly used laxative, for example, traps ammonia in the gut. So it is conceivable that one day, a commonly used drug may be able to stop dementia from progressing. It might even be shown that treating this metabolic state in the brain may help in the regeneration of tissue, thus giving a tantalising hint that reversal of dementia may one day be possible."

Explore further: Kidney disease increases risk of diabetes, study shows

More information: Renee R. Handley el al., "Brain urea increase is an early Huntington's disease pathogenic event observed in a prodromal transgenic sheep model and HD cases," PNAS (2017). www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1711243115

Journal reference: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences search and more info website


TOPICS: Education; Health/Medicine; Science; Society
KEYWORDS: aging; alzheimers; brain; dementia; diabetes; huntingtons; urea
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1 posted on 12/11/2017 1:33:07 PM PST by Red Badger
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Comment #2 Removed by Moderator

bfl


3 posted on 12/11/2017 1:35:48 PM PST by DoodleDawg
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To: Red Badger

These findings might warrant further investigation at important research centers like Boston,New York,Baltimore,San Francisco,London,etc.


4 posted on 12/11/2017 1:38:51 PM PST by Gay State Conservative (Remember: All Cultures Are Equal!)
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To: Red Badger
If urea and ammonia build up in the body because the kidneys are unable to eliminate them, for example, serious symptoms can result.

Why causes the urea to build up? Renal failure? Don't go to the bathroom often enough? Proteins in the brain are degenerating and creating urea as waste? Other biologic issues? Isn't this kind of a key point?

5 posted on 12/11/2017 1:40:14 PM PST by Obadiah
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To: fhayek

FU troll


6 posted on 12/11/2017 1:41:28 PM PST by gibsonguy
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To: Red Badger
the build-up of urea in the brain to toxic levels can cause brain damage - and eventually dementia.

And this is what causes liberalism:


7 posted on 12/11/2017 1:43:44 PM PST by The Sons of Liberty (Uranium One = BRIBERY and TREASON - HANG THEM ALL!!!!)
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To: Red Badger

Gout of the brain.


8 posted on 12/11/2017 1:44:03 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: fhayek

Nope, the Hildabeast stroking out at her rallies.


9 posted on 12/11/2017 1:47:17 PM PST by Cobra64 (Common sense isn't common any more.)
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To: Mariner
Gout of the brain.

That would be Uric Acid, not Urea

10 posted on 12/11/2017 1:47:58 PM PST by HangnJudge
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To: Obadiah

UTIs in the elderly can cause dementia-like symptoms. Dealt with many with elderly parents.


11 posted on 12/11/2017 1:49:37 PM PST by RushIsMyTeddyBear (Screw The NFL!!!!!! My family fought for the flag!)
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To: Mariner

gout is caused by urea too right?


12 posted on 12/11/2017 1:49:54 PM PST by Bob434
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To: Red Badger
Piss for Brains

13 posted on 12/11/2017 1:51:02 PM PST by HangnJudge
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To: Obadiah
Why causes the urea to build up?

My bet would be constipation.

14 posted on 12/11/2017 1:52:37 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (<img src="http://i.imgur.com/WukZwJP.gif" width=800>)
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To: gibsonguy
Most assuredly not a troll. My point (joke?) was that Donald J. Trump has seemingly caused more dementia amongst our liberal friends than any other possible cause. Just listen to them. Just watch them. They have become detached from any semblance of reality. Lighten up. Sarcasm isn't THAT hard to understand.
15 posted on 12/11/2017 1:53:31 PM PST by fhayek
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To: HangnJudge

For some, that would be an improvement!.................


16 posted on 12/11/2017 1:53:50 PM PST by Red Badger (Road Rage lasts 5 minutes. Road Rash lasts 5 months!.....................)
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To: Red Badger

“Urea anything good lately?”
“I don’t remember...”


17 posted on 12/11/2017 1:54:50 PM PST by DainBramage
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To: fhayek

“Donald Trunp?”

I see that spelling is not your strong suit.


18 posted on 12/11/2017 1:54:58 PM PST by Parley Baer
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To: Parley Baer

Mo, it isn’t.


19 posted on 12/11/2017 1:57:16 PM PST by fhayek
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To: HangnJudge

How can urea be bad?

It’s Organic...

And gluten free...


20 posted on 12/11/2017 1:57:43 PM PST by Paladin2 (There is no credible evidence that 0sama is a NBC.)
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