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Alzheimer's Heart Link Explained
BBC ^ | 11-20-2006

Posted on 11/20/2006 6:33:30 PM PST by blam

Alzheimer's heart link explained

Amyloid protein damages brain cells

Scientists have discovered how heart disease or a stroke may trigger Alzheimer's disease. Both conditions lead to a reduction of oxygen flow to the brain.

A University of British Columbia team, studying mice, found this stimulates increased development of the protein clumps thought to cause Alzheimer's.

The lack of oxygen increases activity in a gene controlling production of the key protein, found the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study.

This protein, beta amyloid, collects in knots in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease, and is thought to cause damage to the brain cells.

The gene identified in the latest study, BACE1, is responsible for regulating the maturation of beta amyloid.

The researchers, who carried out their work on mice, say their findings suggest that boosting oxygen delivery to the brain may be one way to treat Alzheimer's disease.

'Exercise important'

Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said the charity was currently funding research to investigate the role of oxygen levels in amyloid plaque build-up.

She said: "Scientists have known for some time that people with certain diseases that restrict their supply of oxygen, such as stroke or lung disorders, are more prone to Alzheimer's and also that people who live at high altitudes are also at greater risk of developing the disease.

"This research provides a molecular explanation for that anecdotal finding and shows that cues from cells, genes and a person's environment all play a role in causing this dreadful disease.

"We hope that research in this area could suggest new methods to prevent and treat dementia in the future - particularly for those individuals who have suffered head trauma or a stroke."

Professor Clive Ballard, director of research at the Alzheimer's Society, said there was growing evidence that a good supply of blood and oxygen to the brain was vital to minimise the risk of developing dementia.

He said: "The Alzheimer's Society strongly believes that what is good for the heart is also good for the brain.

"You can reduce your risk of developing dementia by taking regular exercise, eating healthily and getting your blood pressure checked."


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: alzheimer; alzheimers; brain; heart; link

1 posted on 11/20/2006 6:33:33 PM PST by blam
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To: blam

bttt


2 posted on 11/20/2006 6:39:08 PM PST by Tax-chick (My remark was stupid, and I'm a slave of the patriarchy. So?)
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To: blam

I have my own belief where large quantities of alcohol will continually keep those proteins from forming.


3 posted on 11/20/2006 6:43:21 PM PST by MarkeyD (The tree of liberty must from time to time be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots.)
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To: blam
The only thing I remember from my bypass surgery 2 years ago was the doctor telling me I may have memory loss afterwards. I really do believe oxygen is to key to a healthy brain...
4 posted on 11/20/2006 6:46:11 PM PST by tubebender (Growing old is mandatory...Growing up is optional)
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To: blam

Thanks for any info on this disease. My 79 year old mother has it and my brother was just diagnosed with it at the early age 54.


5 posted on 11/20/2006 6:48:34 PM PST by dalebert
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To: MarkeyD
Alcohol probably dilates the arteries bringing more blood and oxygen to the brain, resulting in a healthier brain and cirrhosis of liver. I guess we can't win. I was looking for an excuse to start drinking.
6 posted on 11/20/2006 7:46:50 PM PST by Wiggins
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To: Wiggins
"Alcohol probably dilates the arteries bringing more blood and oxygen to the brain, resulting in a healthier brain ..."

Then explain to me what is Ted Kennedy's excuse .... hummmm? He would be an Einstein by now.
7 posted on 11/20/2006 8:03:38 PM PST by MaDeuce (Do it to them, before they do it to you! (MaDuce = M2HB .50 BMG))
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To: Bellflower

ping...remember to breath from your stomach and deeply! Stress, worry and lack of sleep cause us to breath shallowly and from as high up as the back of the throat area. Thus, only adding to the problems above mentioned.


8 posted on 11/20/2006 8:10:20 PM PST by Bittersweetmd (God is Great and greatly to be praised.)
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To: blam; nw_arizona_granny
http://science.education.nih.gov/home2.nsf/Educational+Resources/Resource+Formats/Online+Resources/+High+School/D07612181A4E785B85256CCD0064857B

Prions: Puzzling Infectious Proteins

Ruth Levy Guyer, Ph.D.

Sometimes a scientific discovery shakes the confidence of scientists, making them question whether they truly understand nature's "ground rules."

That's exactly what prions have done to scientists' understanding of the ground rules for infectious diseases. Prions cause diseases, but they aren't viruses or bacteria or fungi or parasites. They are simply proteins, and proteins were never thought to be infectious on their own. Organisms are infectious, proteins are not. Or, at least, they never used to be.

Prions entered the public's consciousness during the mad cow epidemic that hit England in 1986. For decades, however, scientists had searched for unusual, atypical infectious agents that they suspected caused some puzzling diseases that could not be linked to any of the "regular" infectious organisms. One possibility was that slow viruses--viruses that spent decades wreaking havoc in their hosts--might be the culprits, and these putative viruses were not only leisurely about multiplying but also hard to isolate. Now researchers are coming around, albeit reluctantly, to accepting the shocking fact that naked proteins can be infectious. "More than one protein chemist has declared this to be insane--and yet this is precisely what is implied by a growing number of studies" was the way one news article put it (1).

Prions (pronounced pree-ahns) enter cells and apparently convert normal proteins found within the cells into prions just like themselves. The normal cell proteins have all the same "parts" as the prions--specifically the same amino acid building blocks--but they fold differently. They are much like the toy "Transformers" that intrigued little kids in the 1980s. A sphynx could become a robot; a bug could become a warrior. Nothing was added; nothing subtracted.
9 posted on 11/20/2006 8:47:55 PM PST by struwwelpeter
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To: MaDuce

Good point. Another thing that amazes me about Ted Kennedy is how his liver still functions after all that booze?


10 posted on 11/20/2006 10:11:27 PM PST by Wiggins
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To: MarkeyD
I have my own belief where large quantities of alcohol will continually keep those proteins from forming.

Believe what you want, but my observation, strictly anecdotal I suppose, is that such a "treatment" is more likely encourage the formation of those proteins.

My Dad and Aunt essentially died of the complications of those proteins. Both were more or less functioning alcoholics for most of their adult life. Their brother drank more, and had fewer obligations, since he had no wife or children. He died in his 50s.

11 posted on 11/20/2006 10:33:18 PM PST by El Gato
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To: MaDuce
Then explain to me what is Ted Kennedy's excuse .... hummmm? He would be an Einstein by now

Alcohol in large quantities, that is high blood concentrations, also kills nerve/brain cells. He's probably got a dozen left, although strangely the effect seems to have skipped the parts of the brain that control his vocal apparatus.

12 posted on 11/20/2006 10:35:50 PM PST by El Gato
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To: El Gato

Man, you are just ruining my perception of things. ;)


13 posted on 11/20/2006 10:37:06 PM PST by MarkeyD (The tree of liberty must from time to time be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots.)
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To: MarkeyD
Man, you are just ruining my perception of things. ;)

I read this morning, in my Dr's waiting room, that THC helps prevent the formation of the proteins. So get a yourself a big old doobie, or a bong or something and stop those proteins from forming.

14 posted on 11/21/2006 11:17:51 AM PST by El Gato
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To: struwwelpeter; Velveeta; DAVEY CROCKETT; LucyT

Bump and ping.

Thanks for the alert.


15 posted on 11/22/2006 3:11:12 PM PST by nw_arizona_granny (Time for the world to wake up and face the fact that there is a war going on, it is world wide!)
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