A team of researchers at RUSH recently discovered that a popular muscle-building supplement might also be a potent weapon against Alzheimer’s disease.
The supplement, known as beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate or HMB, is widely used by bodybuilders to boost muscle size and strength.
What’s unique about HMB is that it’s not a prescription drug or steroid, but an over-the-counter product available in sports and fitness stores. It’s considered safe and doesn’t have known side effects even with long-term use.
The Power of HMB
“HMB could be one of the simplest and safest ways to prevent Alzheimer’s disease progression and protect memory,” says Kalipada Pahan, a professor at RUSH Medical College.
When tested on mice with Alzheimer’s disease, HMB demonstrated remarkable abilities.
It reduced plaques, harmful build-ups in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s, and promoted the growth of brain cells. The result was a significant improvement in learning and memory.
Understanding Alzheimer’s
To fight Alzheimer’s, we first need to understand how it works.
Previous research suggests that a group of proteins, known as neurotrophic factors, play a crucial role in the health and function of our neurons, the cells responsible for transmitting information throughout our body.
These proteins are found in significantly lower levels in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Pahan’s study found that HMB can increase these beneficial proteins in the brain.
Consuming HMB helps restore neural connections, decreases plaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer’s, and improves memory and learning in mice.
The Mechanism Behind HMB
The study also found that HMB activates a receptor in the brain called PPARα, which controls the transport of fatty acids. This is a crucial aspect of HMB’s neuroprotective abilities.
“If the effects we’ve seen in mice are also seen in humans with Alzheimer’s, this could open up an exciting new treatment approach for this debilitating disease,” says Pahan.
With Alzheimer’s affecting millions of people worldwide, the prospect of an over-the-counter supplement providing a measure of protection is indeed a promising one.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, and higher magnesium intake could help benefit brain health.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and coconut oil could help improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s.
The study was published in Cell Reports.
Follow us on Twitter for more articles about this topic.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
