The debilitating, incurable, Alzheimer's disease remains a puzzle to scientists, but a key to unlocking it might lie in better understanding the development of certain proteins in the brain. As researchers better understand these proteins, they might be able to develop effective treatments, or at least better predict the disease. In the meantime, you can do your own part in keeping your brain's proteins in balance by maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Identification
Alzheimer's is a usually slow-moving disease that kills brain cells, leading to memory loss, cognitive impairment, loss of the ability to communicate and, ultimately, death. More than half of dementia cases are related to Alzheimer's, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Researchers have observed proteins in the brain that contribute to its deterioration in Alzheimer's patients. These proteins exist in your brain naturally, but they function abnormally in Alzheimer's's patients' brains. Researchers have yet to determine, however, whether these protein abnormalities are a direct cause of Alzheimer's or whether they are symptoms caused by an undiscovered underlying problem.
Types
Scientists focus on two types of protein when researching Alzheimer's: beta-amyloid and tau. Beta-amyloid is a protein fragment that your brain breaks down, but in Alzheimer's patients, these fragments proliferate and form hard plaques between brain nerve cells. Tau protein is the key component of fiber tangles in your brain cells. Alzheimer's patients develop abnormal levels of tau, which impairs the cells' ability to transport nutrients. Researchers also have examined a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF, a protein produced in the part of the brain that supports memory. Preliminary research suggests that the brains of Alzheimer's patients are less able to produce this protein, which helps to keep brain cells alive.
Potential
Understanding these brain proteins could be a key to preventing, treating or even curing Alzheimer's. Monitoring levels of the proteins could give clues as to who is more prone to Alzheimer's or how severely and quickly the disease will develop. Drug companies also are working to develop medications that can reduce levels of both tau and beta-amyloid in the brain. Tests in which researchers inject the BDNF protein directly into the brain also have shown promise, with animal subjects beginning to produce more of the protein themselves and showing brain function improvement. A 2009 study published in "Nature Medicine" reported that the protein, used in animal tests, both prevented brain cells from dying and was able to improve connections between brain cells, reversing prior damage.
Dietary Considerations
Research also suggests at least a tenuous link between the protein in your diet and developing Alzheimer's. A 2009 study published in "Molecular Neurodegeneration" showed that high-protein diets impair development of the portion of the brain responsible for memory. Similarly, a 2002 study published in the "New England Journal of Medicine" showed an increased Alzheimer's risk in people with high levels of homocysteine in their blood. Homocysteine is an amino acid that is more prevalent in the blood if you eat a diet high in animal fats and low in fruits and vegetables. Eating a balanced diet low in saturated fat and maintaining a healthy weight might help to keep your brain healthy and lower the chance of abnormal protein development in the brain related to Alzheimer's.
References
- Alzheimer's Association: What We Know Today About Alzheimer's Disease
- Alzheimer's Disease Research: Plaques and Tangles
- The Associated Press; Alzheimer's Brain Protein Tnagles Off Clue on Worsening; September 2010
- "U.S. News and World Report"; Brain Protein May Have Potential Against Alzheimer's; February 2009
- U.S. National Institutes of Health: Study Ties Brain Protein to Alzheimer's Brain Abnormalities
- Alzheimer's Association: Adopt a Brain-Healthy Diet
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