Alzheimer’s may soon be treatable with the all new ‘Alzheimer’s in a dish’ system

By: Editorial Team | | Updated: October 13, 2014 3:09 pm

Alzheimer’s is a condition that is quickly becoming a fairly common occurence. A disease that does not have a cure and eventually leads to the complete debilitation of a person, Alzheimer’s research has also been slow to progress. But it seems the future for people with Alzheimer’s might be brighter than thought. A new study, has found that it is possible to replicate the process of Alzheimer’s in a petri dish. Conducted by Rudolph E. Tanzi ofMassachusetts General Hospital in Boston, this study involved placing brain cells in a petri dish and inducing Alzheimer’s in them. Also Read - Beware! This could be an early sign of Alzheimer’s

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Using the system they were able to reproduce the full course of events underlying the development of Alzheimer’s disease and investigators from the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) now provide the first clear evidence supporting the hypothesis that deposition of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain is the first step in a cascade leading to the devastating neurodegenerative disease. (Read: Can regular exercise help slow the progression of Alzheimer s disease?) Also Read - World Alzheimer's Day 2020: Misfolded proteins in the gut may be the culprit

They also identified the essential role in that process of an enzyme, inhibition of which could be a therapeutic target. Cultured neurons from human patients with Alzheimer’s exhibit elevated levels of the toxic form of amyloid found in plaques and the abnormal version of the tau protein that makes up tangles, but not actual plaques and tangles. (Read: World Alzheimer s day 2014: Diagnosis of Alzheimer s disease)

The team used a gel-based, three-dimensional culture system to grow human neural stem cells that carried variants in two genes, the amyloid precursor protein and presenilin 1, known to underlie early-onset familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD). Rudolph Tanzi, PhD, said that this new system, which could be adapted to other neurodegenerative disorders, should revolutionize drug discovery in terms of speed, costs and physiologic relevance to disease. (Read: How to reduce your risk of Alzheimer s disease)

Here are some natural remedies for Alzheimer s disease

Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids were initially believed to reduce the risk of heart disease; later, they were found to be protective against AD, too. These fatty acids belong to the class of polyunsaturated fatty acids which are found in the membranes around the nerve cells of the brain. They are believed to have an anti-inflammatory action that plays a protective role against cognitive impairment. Consuming salmon and tuna, flaxseed, edamame, beans, nuts such as walnuts and almonds, soaked or sprouted whole grains and oils which are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids can therefore help in dealing with the effects of AD.

Dark Berries

Dark berries such as black berries, blueberries, goji berries and strawberries are rich sources of antioxidants. Since AD is associated with oxidative damage to the brain cells, consuming these berries can help to slow down the oxidative process and have a protective effect on the nerve cells. Add a handful of dark berries into your daily diet and you are likely to notice and improvement in brain function.

Ginkgo biloba

A traditional remedy in Chinese medicine, Ginkgo biloba is receiving a lot of attention from researchers studying AD. Ginkgo is a plant extract and contains many different compounds that together exert an antioxidant and therefore, anti-inflammatory action on nerve cell membranes; it is also believed to play a role in regulating the levels of important neurotransmitters and thus, has a positive effect on brain function. Read more about Natural remedies for Alzheimer s disease

With inputs from ANI

Photo source: Getty images

Published : October 13, 2014 3:09 pm | Updated:October 13, 2014 3:09 pm

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