Chelsea Handler approves...
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
You’re absolutely correct.
I have no sense of humor when discussing an issue as important as dementia.
bkmk
So true. My mom with Alzheimer’s has a 26 Oz full glass of water beside her 24/7. Lots of times she will say “I am so thirsty!” Because she forgets to actually drink.
To help, I don’t let her eat her meal until she drinks a glass. It’s the only thing to motivate her to drink. Will drink for food. Her kidney function is not good.
And when you get to that point, there is a better incontinence pant than depends. Lol.
Spare me your virtue signalling. I was the sole caretaker for my mother w/Alzheimer’s for 10 years.
Get a large tub of Resinol. Used it for generarions in my family. Miracle salve.
Wrong; cause is watching CNN without solar eclipse glasses, correctly affixed over the eyes...
“UTIs in the elderly can cause dementia-like symptoms. Dealt with many with elderly parents”.
Thank you for sharing that.
I tried organic coconut oil on my step-father. 1 tsp 2x daily. Noticed a difference in him.....but drove my mom NUTS. She said it woke him up too much. LOL!
All I know is that when I’m really working physically hard,in the gym or around the farm, I’m off-gasing serious ammonia. I can really smell it when I get in the shower.
You are correct. The article never states why urea might be increased in the brain. The urea could be a secondary metabolite to some other pathologic process. As such, the article is crap.
“That would be Uric Acid, not Urea”
I think the only difference between the two is that Urea still has ammonia in it.
Close enough to bear further research.
They lose a lot of moisture through their thin skin as well. Can easily dehydrate....which can ‘send them into orbit’ just like a UTI.
How did you give it to him? I figure she may be too far gone to do much good. And I don’t want her up at night...
Chelsea Handler approves...
Sometimes in oatmeal, coffee, or mix with Hershey’s syrup. I started out small and increased over time. It didn’t help but a little because the dementia was more advanced. Not long after.....he experienced psychosis. He’s doing well,now...with proper meds.
We eventually had to put him in a locked unit at the rest home. Became too much of a handful. The nurses adore him necause he’s such a sweety and a man of faith.
Bkmrk.
So drinking beer would be a good think? (remember, you only rent beer)
Does she also have “Sundowners”? Hate you both are going thru this......but we want the best for them!
Be careful she doesn’t aspirate. Thin liquids can get into the lungs and lead to probs. There are thickening agents and special sippy cups if you notice any choking/coughing.
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