London, Oct 20: Here`s some good news for those
suffering from dementia -- a study has found that controlling
the level of a fatty acid in the brain could help treat the
Alzheimer`s disease.
Researchers have carried out the study and found that
reducing excess levels of a fatty acid called arachidonic acid
can mitigate memory problems and behavioural changes in those
suffering from Alzheimer`s disease.
In fact, the researchers from the Gladstone Institute
of Neurological Disease and the University of California have
based their findings on an experiment on laboratory rodents,
a science journal reported.
They looked at fatty acids in the brains of normal
mice and compared them with those in mice who are genetically
engineered to have an Alzheimer`s-like condition.
They identified raised levels of arachidonic acid in
the brains of the Alzheimer`s mice. Its release is controlled
by the PLA2 enzyme. They again used genetic engineering to
lower PLA2 levels in the animals, and found even partial
reduction halted memory deterioration.
"The most striking change we discovered in the
Alzheimer`s mice was an increase in arachidonic acid and
related metabolites (products) in the hippocampus, a memory
centre that is affected early and severely by Alzheimer`s
disease," co-researcher Dr Rene Sanchez-Mejia was quoted by
the as saying.
Added lead researcher Dr Lennart Mucke: "In general,
fatty acid levels can be regulated by diet or drugs. Our
results have important therapeutic implications because they
suggest that inhibition of PLA2 activity might help prevent
neurological impairments in Alzheimer`s disease. But a lot
more work needs to be done before this novel therapeutic
strategy can be tested on humans."
Bureau Report
