Posted on 03/03/2025 9:38:14 PM PST by ConservativeMind
Enhancing levels of "healthy fats" like omega-3s in the brain could be beneficial in motor neuron disease (MND) finds a study in fruit flies and brain cells, led by researchers.
The study found increasing the levels of these healthy fats in the brain cells of fruit flies carrying a gene mutation called C9orf72, saw a "dramatic" increase in their survival.
The C9orf72 mutation is the most common genetic cause of MND and a rare form of dementia, known as frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Cells were also collected from people with these conditions and converted into brain cells in the lab. Healthy fats also increased the survival of these MND/FTD brain cells.
MND, including its most common subtype, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), causes progressive muscle weakness due to the degeneration of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord.
Researchers measured levels of different types of fats in human brain cells and in flies carrying the C9orf72 gene mutation. They found that the levels of poly-unsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3 fatty acids, were significantly reduced in the MND/FTD flies compared with a control. These fatty acids were also reduced in brain cells from people with MND/FTD.
There are two essential fatty acids that must be consumed in food. They are alpha linoleic acid, a type of omega-3 fatty acid found in flaxseed, and linoleic acid, a type of omega-6 fatty acid.
They delivered the fatty acids directly to the brain cells of the flies by expressing the genes capable of producing them. They found that this increased the survival of the flies by 83%, from 15 days to 27.5 days.
They repeated the experiment in cells taken from people with MND/FTD and found that increasing levels of the fatty acids in the cells prolonged survival by 30%.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Supplementing the fats appeared to help address the disease survival by 30% in human cells, but 83% in the flies.
Possibly supports the idea of a “balanced” omega regimen (3 and 6 in a ratio, and maybe 9 (less critical)), not 3 alone). I take both marine and plant-based omegas.
The scientists first fed the flies linoleic acid and alpha linoleic acid, to test whether this would impact on their survival.
Idiocy.
Sadly, it’s too late for Joe. He had his frontotemporal removed years ago, the only thing left is his dementia.
First it was good germs and now there’s “heathy” fats. What’s next, “recreational” poisons?
I would like to see a graph comparing the increase in type 2 diabetes with the low-fat craze of the 1990s. Highly processed food substituted sugar for fat in order to make it palatable. People need to eat a balance of fat, protein and carbs.
Break out the butter, lard, and tallow!!
Idiocy is right! Still pushing those oils, “flaxseed, soybean and vegetable oils such as canola oil”.
Is it plausible that widespread use of statins in the Western culture led to deficiency of fats in general, and fats needed for normal brain functioning in particular? Is is connected to the increase in all kinds of cognitive problems In the elderly? And family physicians are still jumping on the chance to prescribe statins if your cholesterol levels slightly exceed 200….
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.