Alzheimer’s disease is a common condition affecting older individuals worldwide, leading to dementia.
Despite over two decades of research, the exact cause of Alzheimer’s remains a mystery, and there’s no known cure yet.
Scientists have two main theories about what causes Alzheimer’s.
The first is that a protein called amyloid-beta builds up in the brain and triggers the disease. The second, a newer theory, suggests that issues with mitochondria, the cell’s powerhouses, might be responsible.
Recent research by scientists from Yale-NUS College has shed more light on this second theory. They found that problems in how cells produce energy happen before there’s a noticeable increase in amyloid-beta protein.
This discovery was made using a small worm called Caenorhabditis elegans, which shares many molecular similarities with human cells.
Interestingly, these metabolic issues were reversed, and the health and lifespan of the worms improved when treated with Metformin, a common anti-diabetes drug.
This finding suggests that focusing on these early metabolic defects, rather than waiting for protein build-ups, could be a more effective prevention strategy for Alzheimer’s.
The researchers propose that Alzheimer’s might be a sign of aging, since metabolic and mitochondrial dysfunctions are key aspects of getting older.
They believe that targeting aging processes might be a better way to prevent or treat Alzheimer’s than addressing the disease symptoms later on.
While we can’t yet fully prevent Alzheimer’s, there are lifestyle steps you can take to lower your risk:
- Regular Exercise: Exercise can cut your Alzheimer’s risk by up to 50%.
- Healthy Diet: Eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats helps protect your brain.
- Mental Activity: Keep your brain engaged with new learning or hobbies.
- Adequate Sleep: Good sleep is essential for brain health, and poor sleep patterns can increase Alzheimer’s risk.
- Stress Management: Chronic stress harms your brain. Manage stress through exercise, meditation, or yoga.
- Social Connections: Avoid social isolation. Keeping in touch with friends and participating in social activities is important.
- Head Injury Prevention: Protect your head during sports and take measures to prevent falls, as head injuries can increase Alzheimer’s risk.
These steps, while not a guarantee against Alzheimer’s, can help lower your risk and promote overall health and well-being. The study by Jan Gruber and colleagues is published in the journal eLife, offering significant insights into Alzheimer’s disease.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies about Vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and Oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and results showing flavonoid-rich foods could improve survival in Parkinson’s disease.
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