Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s affect a substantial number of individuals in the United States and incur significant healthcare costs each year.
However, researchers from The University of Texas at El Paso have potentially discovered an unconventional solution in a common waste product: used coffee grounds.
The team explored the potential of caffeic-acid based Carbon Quantum Dots (CACQDs) derived from spent coffee grounds to protect brain cells from damage caused by various neurodegenerative diseases triggered by factors like obesity, age, and exposure to toxic environmental chemicals.
Neurodegenerative disorders involve the loss of neurons or brain cells, leading to impairments in basic functions like movement, speech, bladder and bowel control, and cognitive abilities.
They are associated with elevated levels of harmful molecules called free radicals in the brain and the aggregation of amyloid-forming proteins that can result in plaques or fibrils in the brain.
The researchers found that CACQDs exhibited neuroprotective properties in experiments involving test tubes, cell lines, and models of Parkinson’s disease induced by the pesticide paraquat.
CACQDs were effective in removing or preventing damage caused by free radicals and inhibiting the aggregation of amyloid protein fragments without significant side effects.
The team believes that CACQDs could be effective in preventing neurodegenerative diseases in their early stages when caused by lifestyle or environmental factors.
Early intervention is crucial, as neurodegenerative disorders become progressively more challenging to treat in advanced stages.
Current treatments primarily manage symptoms and are often costly. The goal is to develop a cost-effective solution that can prevent most cases of these conditions.
Caffeic acid, a key component in CACQDs, is a polyphenol with antioxidant properties. What sets it apart is its ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, enabling it to affect brain cells directly.
The extraction process for CACQDs from used coffee grounds is environmentally friendly, aligning with green chemistry principles.
Coffee grounds are heated to 200 degrees Celsius for four hours to reconfigure the carbon structure of caffeic acid and form CACQDs. The abundance of coffee grounds makes this process cost-effective and sustainable.
While the researchers acknowledge that there is still a long way to go, they are determined to pursue further testing and research.
They believe that their journey may lead to a medication, possibly in the form of a pill, that can prevent the majority of neurodegenerative disorders caused by non-genetic factors.
This promising research, supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, underscores the potential of repurposing common waste materials to address significant health challenges and offers hope for the prevention of debilitating neurodegenerative diseases.
If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies Scientists find how to improve walking in people with Parkinson’s disease and findings of Scientists find causes of Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about 9 unhealthy habits that damage your brain, and results showing this stuff in cannabis may protect aging brain, treat Alzheimer’s.
The research findings can be found in Environmental Research.
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