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Scientists say they might have discovered the cause of Alzheimer's: Researchers Focus on a Protein called Tau and how it’s linked to brain buildup
The Hill ^ | 12/08/2021 | Shirin Ali

Posted on 12/08/2021 9:28:46 PM PST by SeekAndFind

* Researchers at the University of California-Riverside published results of a study that analyzed donated brain samples.

* They focused on the form of tau proteins, which can be either right-handed or left-handed.

* Researchers discovered that those who had a “different handed” form of tau proteins along with brain plaque and tangles also had dementia.

Scientists in California tried to study Alzheimer’s disease from a different perspective and the results may have led them to the cause of the disease.

Researchers at the University of California- Riverside (UCR) recently published results from a study that looked at a protein called tau. By studying the different forms tau proteins take, researchers discovered the difference between people who developed dementia and those who didn’t.

The tau protein was critical for researchers because they wanted to understand what the protein could reveal about the mechanism behind plaques and tangles, two critical indicators doctors look for when diagnosing people with Alzheimer’s.

By analyzing donated brain samples, researchers found that those with brain buildup, like plaques and tangles, but had no dementia had a normal form of tau. However, those who had a “different-handed” form of tau and developed plaques or tangles did have dementia.

Ryan Julian, a chemistry professor at UCR, said in a press release, “roughly 20% of people have the plaques, but no signs of dementia. This makes it seem as though the plaques themselves are not the cause.”

The amino acids that make up proteins like tau can either be right-handed or left-handed isomers, and normally proteins in living things are made from all left-handed amino acids, explained Julian.

However, most proteins only survive for less than 48 hours in the body, and if they hang around too long, certain amino acids can convert into the other-handed isomer. So that means a left-handed isomer could inadvertently convert into a right-handed isomer, which can lead to serious problems.

“If you try to put a right-handed glove on your left hand, it doesn’t work too well. It’s a similar problem in biology; molecules don’t work the way they’re supposed to after a while because a left-handed glove can actually convert into a right-handed glove that doesn’t fit,” said Julian.

However, the human body has a solution through a process called autophagy, which clears spent or defective proteins from cells.

Unfortunately, as people age autophagy slows down, especially in people over the age of 65. It’s not clear exactly why, and Julian’s lab intends to study the phenomenon.

Fortunately, there are drugs currently being tested to improve the process of autophagy, and some existing ones that are approved for cardiovascular disease and other conditions could speed up the approval process

According to UCR, autophagy can be induced by fasting because when cells run short on proteins from a person’s diet, they fill the void by recycling proteins already present in cells. Exercise is also another way researchers say can increase autophagy.

If there is a connection between autophagy and developing Alzheimer’s, Julian said, “if a slowdown in autophagy is the underlying cause, things that increase it should have the beneficial, opposite effect.”


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Science; Society
KEYWORDS: alzheimers; autophagy; exercise; fasting; tauprotein

1 posted on 12/08/2021 9:28:46 PM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

No more left handed sugar for me


2 posted on 12/08/2021 9:41:53 PM PST by algore
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To: SeekAndFind

bookmark


3 posted on 12/08/2021 10:37:53 PM PST by dadfly
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To: SeekAndFind

“According to UCR, autophagy can be induced by fasting because when cells run short on proteins from a person’s diet, they fill the void by recycling proteins already present in cells. Exercise is also another way researchers say can increase autophagy.

If there is a connection between autophagy and developing Alzheimer’s”


4 posted on 12/09/2021 12:11:33 AM PST by tired&retired (Blessings )
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To: tired&retired

The Process of Autophagy
HomeAnatomyGeneral Interest

By
Jennifer Trimbee, RN
Updated: Mar 19, 2021

Autophagy is a natural cellular process in eukaryotes — cells with membrane-bound organelles. It’s the regulated, destructive process in which a cell eliminates components that are unnecessary or not working correctly. Scientists have limited understanding of how autophagy works, but it has attracted a lot of attention as a way to treat or cure disease.

1. Regulation

Studies show that the regulation of autophagy is very complicated. In many cells, amino acid depletion seems to induce autophagy, though each amino acid has a different effect.

Leucine, for instance, predominantly affects skeletal and cardiac muscle. The exact mechanism used by the body to control this response is unknown, but researchers speculate that insulin and the endocrine system play a big role.

2. Triggers

Starvation is the most common trigger of autophagy, and lack of any nutrient can start the process. Studies on yeast show that starvation results in the most efficient autophagy, but withholding amino acids, sulfate, and carbon would also induce it.

In humans, autophagy can be a defense mechanism against stressors, such as a lack of nutrients, aging, or disease.

3. Sequestration

The first phase in autophagy is sequestriation. A unique membrane forms called a phagophore, enclosing organelles or other components of the cell that need eliminating. Once the phagophore completely encapsulates the object, an autophagosome forms. Autophagosomes typically have a double membrane and, depending on the size, may be visible as a ring under an electron microscope.

There is no degradation in this phase. Sequestration is about isolating and encapsulating the elements that need eliminating.

4. Degradation

Degradation is the next phase of autophagy. In it, autophagosomes fuse with lysosomes, organelles containing enzymes that break down components of the cell. Some researchers speculate that endosomes, the organelles that transport molecules inside the cell, are involved in this process as well.

This process is difficult to measure and evaluate, even under electron microscopy, so experts still have a lot to learn.

5. Utilization

The final phase of autophagy is utilization. Little is known about this phase, but researchers believe that the cell transports components that have been broken down to the cytosol or intercellular fluid for reuse.

Researchers believe that cells use this process with amino acids, but whether cells can reuse lipids or carbohydrates is unknown.

Fasting

Knowing that a lack of amino acids and nutrition influences autophagy has led researchers to examine the effects of intermittent fasting on aging and age-related diseases.

Animal studies involving flies, worms, and rodents suggest that intermittent fasting lengthens the life span; the resulting autophagy affects many age-related diseases in these animals, including Huntington’s disease and cancer.


5 posted on 12/09/2021 12:25:50 AM PST by tired&retired (Blessings )
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To: tired&retired

Bookmark


6 posted on 12/09/2021 3:53:44 AM PST by Loud Mime (A living and breathing Constitution empowers evil; living and breathing Commandments do was well. )
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To: SeekAndFind

Reminds me of Arthur C. Clarke’s short story “Technical Error” from his collection titled “Reach for Tomorrow”.


7 posted on 12/09/2021 4:05:26 AM PST by motor_racer (Who will bell the cat?)
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To: SeekAndFind

Bkmk


8 posted on 12/09/2021 5:48:20 AM PST by 6ppc (Democrats would have to climb Everest to reach the level of "scum of the earth")
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To: SeekAndFind

Fasting.
Exercise.
Keto.
All keys to brain health.


9 posted on 12/09/2021 5:52:18 AM PST by 5by5 (ad)
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To: SeekAndFind

ping


10 posted on 12/09/2021 5:52:56 AM PST by rolling_stone
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To: SeekAndFind

What I find most interesting in this article is the right and left tilt.

When I feel a person’s consciousness and the stored memories in it, I can tell if the memory involved a masculine or feminine person by the spin aspect of consciousness attached to it.

Every person has both aspects of consciousness. Masculine consciousness spins to the left and feminine to the right.

The right spinning field is centered on the amygdala and the left on the hippocampus.

Memories are stored in the soul as holograms at the intersection of the two aspects of consciousness and can be retrieved by either pathway.

When the logical hippocampus aspect is blocked, a person can still utilize the emotional amygdala pathway.

Asperger’s is a super masculine consciousness caused by an early shift in consciousness in the thalamus’s ability to priority sort sensory stimilus.


11 posted on 12/09/2021 6:20:10 AM PST by tired&retired (Blessings )
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To: tired&retired

What I’ve stated above is also what causes learning disabilities in children.

It’s easy to demonstrate and prove as it’s all physical to my perception.


12 posted on 12/09/2021 6:22:20 AM PST by tired&retired (Blessings )
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To: SeekAndFind

White House sends agent for a box of cure.


13 posted on 12/09/2021 8:41:51 AM PST by Vaduz (women and children to be impacIQ of chimpsted the most.)
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To: tired&retired

About 25 words into your comment (second sentence) I knew it was written by you.


14 posted on 12/09/2021 8:49:31 AM PST by steve86 (Prophecies of Maelmhaedhoc O'Morgair (Latin form: Malachy))
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To: steve86

LOL. .


15 posted on 12/09/2021 11:36:11 AM PST by tired&retired (Blessings )
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To: SeekAndFind

No, no, no, no, no.

All this research is pursuant to profit-based treatments and all fail to address the cause.

I’ll elaborate this one time on the causative actions which result directly from a combination of each person’s unique biology, geographical location, health situation and ‘diet’.

The human body is most commonly known for its need for oxygen, water & food. When referencing waste, most people - perhaps 9999 out of 10k - don’t understand the cellular processes which take place in each organ, including the brain.

It ain’t rocket science.

For every cellular assimilation of water, oxygen & nutrients, there is also cellular waste, as well as BOTH cellular regeneration and death.

The waste has to go somewhere.

If you restrict the body’s ability to efficiently deliver nutrients, you ALSO restrict it’s ability to remove waste.

“Alzheimer’s” is compromised neurological function resulting from a biological reaction to built up waste, no different than a collapsing sewer pipe on your home’s line connecting to city sewer or septic tank; Things back up and get rather nasty.

They use the fancy words such as plaque and Tau, etc. Think of it as ‘sewage sludge’. Someday they might have a drug which may prove to help people, but if concerns about the ‘vaccines’ and blood clots are valid, how about a pharmacological roto-rooter job on your cranial vascular system? Not for me.

Anyone reading this who genuinely wants to prevent getting Alzheimer’s should focus on prevention and ignore what little results from the hundreds of millions of dollars of fundraising/contributions.

After 30 years of cognitive decline on my part, I recovered my health and am sharper today than when I was 16 years old. Unfortunately, I’m also watching those around me display all the signs of decline.

You can lead a horse to water...

Free advice.


16 posted on 12/09/2021 12:29:56 PM PST by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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To: logi_cal869
” Unfortunately, I'm also watching those around me display all the signs of decline. “

Yeah, I've noticed that I'm the only person in my social group (60s - 70s) who displays no cognitive symptoms or any signs of aging at all. Lol /s

17 posted on 12/09/2021 1:02:26 PM PST by steve86 (Prophecies of Maelmhaedhoc O'Morgair (Latin form: Malachy))
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To: logi_cal869

Appreciated your post. I’m noticing decline in memory. My Dad had a slow decline that progressed to severe dementia. Worries me.

Can I ask what you have done to improve your health and cognitive ability?

Thx.


18 posted on 12/09/2021 3:25:10 PM PST by xenia ("In times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." George Orwell)
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To: xenia

It’s a long story and complicated puzzle - each person is unique - but in simple terms I dramatically reduced my exposure to manufactured food ingredients and pesticides.

But here’s the catch: “Eating clean” did nothing for my health due to an underlying gut condition which was causing nutrient deficiency and all the associated effects.

Health is a synergy. There’s no ‘diet’ which applies. In fact, my book (still unpublished) is NOT a ‘diet’ guide but, rather, a guide to help the reader figure out their own individual situation.

When I write ‘dramatically” regarding my changes, it’s an understatement on the basis of what I accomplished:

>60 eliminated individual health symptoms, a dozen of which were eliminated when I began getting the proper amount of iodine.

Better, the secondary health compromises I suffered (my gut was primary) were as a result of seasonal allergies: I had them BAD, nearly all year long, peaking 3 times a year with tree, grass and fall ragweed seasons.

I cured my seasonal allergies totally by accident, which I found out 6 months later was due to one of the single most common compounds in processed, fast & restaurant food, and common in most kitchens. Allergies are a state of persistent systemic inflammation and merely ONE symptom of such a state, for which there are many triggers.

I’m not going to name what cause my allergies - when I’m exposed the allergies return for about 48 hours - because every time I tell the story I get eyerolls and I do NOT assert that everyone has the same sensitivity to the same compound, it or others.

But it’s true. And I do notice almost weekly an improvement in cognitive ability, but that’s after some major, major issues following years of decline.

Suffice to state that the word “compensate” describes nearly everyone in my prior state as things very, very gradually got worse. I was lucky enough to have the ability to identify a medical condition for which there is no medical name and, in spite of the major neurological problems I had at the time, was still able to solve my puzzle while simultaneously self-educating, researching and writing my book.

I took a break from the book for complicated reasons, but I’m trying to motivate to finish the final volume (which will turn modern medicine on its head). Contained in this comment are multiple clues as to how to begin. If you need help on how to start, FReepmail me after the holidays. I know that sounds cliche’, but it’s basic psychology (i.e., New Year’s resolution: I’m prepping for a new change the first of the year myself to springboard into the next phase...if this Omicron crap doesn’t impede my plans).


19 posted on 12/09/2021 7:01:11 PM PST by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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