How high cholesterol can raise risk of Alzheimer’s
CHOLESTEROL could trigger the beginning of dementia disease Alzheimer’s, scientists said last night.
British researchers have shown how the fatty substance commonly linked with heart disease could also speed up the progression of the incurable brain-wasting illness.
Cholesterol, vital for the normal functioning of the body, is mainly made by the liver, but can also be found in some foods. High cholesterol itself does not usually cause any symptoms, but it increases the risk of serious health conditions.
In the brain, it acts as a catalyst which triggers the formation of toxic clusters of amyloid, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s.
Experts are unclear whether diet plays a role in this process, but said the breakthrough could speed up the arrival of new treatments.
Professor Michele Vendruscolo of Cambridge University, which led the research, said: “The question for us now is not how to eliminate cholesterol from the brain, but about how to control cholesterol’s role in Alzheimer’s through the regulation of its interaction with amyloid-beta.
“We’re not saying cholesterol is the only trigger for the aggregation process, but it’s certainly one of them.”
Researchers found cholesterol was the beginning of a toxic chain reaction which culminates in the death of brain cells. The link between amyloid and Alzheimer’s is already well established,
Folic acid cuts strokes
TAKING folic acid can slash high blood pressure patients’ stroke risk by three-quarters, research reveals.
The study of almost 11,000 Chinese patients monitored for the condition found those given a daily blood pressure pill combined with the B vitamin were 73 per cent less likely to suffer a stroke.
Researchers at Peking University analysed 10,789 men and women aged 45 to 75 years old who had hypertension (high blood pressure) or were on anti-hypertensive medication.
Senior author Dr Yong Huo, said: “Our analysis has shown we can remarkably lower stroke risk with folic acid – a simple, safe and inexpensive treatment.” but researchers remain baffled at how the amyloid starts to aggregate in the brain.
Scientists from Cambridge and Sweden’s Lund University found cholesterol can act as a trigger.
In Alzheimer’s, amyloid molecules stick to lipid cell membranes containing cholesterol.
Once fused, amyloid molecules have a greater chance to come into contact with each other and start to form clusters, with cholesterol speeding up the process by a factor of 20. The findings
Monitor to reduce salt
do not relate to cholesterol in diet – the brain makes its own supply rather than drawing cholesterol from the blood.
Trials of cholesterol-busting drugs like statins have not shown they can treat or prevent Alzheimer’s.
Dr Tim Shakespeare of the Alzheimer’s Society said: “Previous research has shown people with high cholesterol levels in mid-life are slightly more likely to develop dementia, but until now we didn’t know why.
“This study has demystified the PEOPLE with high blood pressure could soon be able to monitor their salt intake via an oral sensor.
US scientists have developed a wireless model that can be placed in the mouth, transmitting salt consumption levels to a smartphone or tablet.
The current sensor resembles a dental plate, but future models could be the size of a tooth.
Assistant Professor Woon-Hong Yeo, of the Georgia Institute of Technology, said: “We can unobtrusively measure the amount of sodium that people are taking in over time.”
The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. link. The findings suggest managing cholesterol levels in the brain could be a target for future treatments, but it’s still unclear whether there’s any effect from our diet.”
Dr David Reynolds of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Around 20 per cent of the body’s total cholesterol is found in the brain.
“Cholesterol in our diet can have a big impact on heart health and maintaining a healthy blood supply to the brain can help to keep dementia risk as low as possible.”