Signs of a cure for an aging brain - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

link · #1 08-29-2013, 12:09 PM

Small and other researchers at Columbia University Medical Center examined brains, young and old ones, donated from people who died without signs of neurologic disease. They discovered that a certain gene in a specific part of the hippocampus, the brain's memory center, quits working properly in older people. It produces less of a key protein called RbAp48.

That section of the brain, called the dentate gyrus, has long been suspected of being especially vulnerable to aging. Importantly, it is a different neural neighborhood than where Alzheimer's begins to form.

But the evidence that having less RbAp48 affects memory loss in older adults is circumstantial. So the researchers took a closer look at mice, which become forgetful as they age in much the same way that people do.

Sure enough, cutting levels of the protein made healthy young rodents lose their way in mazes and perform worse on other memory tasks just like old mice naturally do.

More intriguing, the memory loss was reversible: Boosting the protein made forgetful old mice as sharp as the youngsters again, the researchers reported in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

"Can we take an old mouse and now increase the levels of this protein in that very small area of the brain affected by aging and show that we can make an old mouse look like a young mouse," Small, who is also director of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Columbia asked. "And we did."

Scientists find clue to reasons for age-related memory loss - CBS News

MTI · #2 08-29-2013, 12:27 PM

And do the mice of the world appreciate any of this? I think not.

BobK · #3 08-29-2013, 01:37 PM

Cool, they are figuring out how to fix my failing brain.....now can they do something about my liver......

link · #4 08-30-2013, 10:39 AM

^I know someone who had a liver transplant recently. It’s a fairly new procedure. Guess the anti-rejection meds are hard to tolerate for some. My partner, the medical professional, is currently working in the dept. that treats liver problems. She said that there are a lot of new treatments, including some which can reverse or cure hep C. If you haven't seen a specialist recently, you might want to do so.

But if this cure for diminished capacity works with people, it could spell an end to many types of reduced capacity among the aged. That would translate to a savings of billions of dollars used to aid those with diminished capacity, and help many have a longer career. Dunno if anyone has been around someone with Alzheimer’s but it’s not pretty or pleasant for anyone.

elchivito · #5 08-30-2013, 06:20 PM

wait. what did I come in here for???

The Clk Man · #6 08-30-2013, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by link

Small and other researchers at Columbia University Medical Center examined brains, young and old ones, donated from people who died without signs of neurologic disease. They discovered that a certain gene in a specific part of the hippocampus, the brain's memory center, quits working properly in older people. It produces less of a key protein called RbAp48.

That section of the brain, called the dentate gyrus, has long been suspected of being especially vulnerable to aging. Importantly, it is a different neural neighborhood than where Alzheimer's begins to form.

But the evidence that having less RbAp48 affects memory loss in older adults is circumstantial. So the researchers took a closer look at mice, which become forgetful as they age in much the same way that people do.

Sure enough, cutting levels of the protein made healthy young rodents lose their way in mazes and perform worse on other memory tasks just like old mice naturally do.

More intriguing, the memory loss was reversible: Boosting the protein made forgetful old mice as sharp as the youngsters again, the researchers reported in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

"Can we take an old mouse and now increase the levels of this protein in that very small area of the brain affected by aging and show that we can make an old mouse look like a young mouse," Small, who is also director of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Columbia asked. "And we did."

Scientists find clue to reasons for age-related memory loss - CBS News

I donated my Brain to that very research project many years ago. I got $300 for it.

TwitchKitty · #7 08-31-2013, 09:21 AM

You can cure brain the same way you cure any meat. Just like ham, bacon, etc.

Eating cured meats will have a similar effect on an aging brain while it is attempting to function. Most beer contains the same chemicals used in the curing process and implicated in "senior brain diseases".

Eat food the way it grows naturally. If it takes a machine, chemicals, a laboratory, or a factory to make it, don't eat it.

elchivito · #8 08-31-2013, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwitchKitty

You can cure brain the same way you cure any meat. Just like ham, bacon, etc.

Eating cured meats will have a similar effect on an aging brain while it is attempting to function. Most beer contains the same chemicals used in the curing process and implicated in "senior brain diseases".

Eat food the way it grows naturally. If it takes a machine, chemicals, a laboratory, or a factory to make it, don't eat it.

I normally agree with you, but this time not so much. You're no doubt talking about nitrates, nitrites, nitrosamines. Those levels have come down significantly in cured meats and particularly in beer in the last 20 years or so. Nitrates are used as preservatives only in the cheapest industrial beers. Many studies have shown that even in mainstream beers, nitrosamine levels are nearly nil. The problem is, they don't have to be listed as an ingredient in beer like they do in cured meats, so you have to do your homework. A 30 pack of Keystone? I'm betting it's in there.
It's now possible to buy "uncured" bacon and ham in the average grocery store. They're cleverly labeled. "Contains no added nitrates, other than that found naturally in celery seed." Turns out celery seed, and lots of other vegetables are naturally high in nitrates.
I love bacon and cured meats of all kinds. I make my own. I still don't eat a lot. I try to follow Michael Pollan's advice. "Eat real food, mostly plants, not too much."