Vitamin 'may be Alzheimer's aid' (Vitamin B3)

A vitamin found in meat, fish and potatoes may help protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease - and even boost memory in healthy people.

US researchers found vitamin B3 lowered levels of a protein linked to Alzheimer's damage in mice.

The Journal of Neuroscience study also showed the animals performed better at memory tests.

UK Alzheimer's charities said people should not start taking the vitamin before results from human studies.

This suggests that not only is it good for Alzheimer's disease, but if normal people take it, some aspects of their memory might improve

The vitamin, also called nicotinamide by scientists, is sold in UK pharmacies and health food shops.

It has already been shown to help people suffering from diabetes complications and has some anti-inflammatory qualities.

The researchers, from the University of California at Irvine, added the vitamin to drinking water given to mice bred to develop a version of Alzheimer's disease, then tested the levels of certain chemicals associated with the condition.

They found that levels of one, called phosphorylated tau, were significantly lower in the animals.

This protein is involved in abnormal 'deposits' in brain cells, called 'tangles', which contribute to the brain damage which progressively affects people with Alzheimer's.

Using 'water mazes', the team also found some evidence that memory was enhanced in both 'Alzheimer's' mice and unaffected mice.

Dr Kim Green, who led the study, said that human tests were progressing: "Nicotinamide has a very robust effect on neurons. It prevents loss of cognition in mice with Alzheimer's disease, and the beauty of it is we already are moving forward with a clinical trial."

http://alzheimer.neurology.ucla.edu/Curcumin.html

Curcumin and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Our group has tested curcumin in several models for Alzheimer’s and found that it not only reduces oxidative damage and inflammation (as expected), but also reduces amyloid accumulation and synaptic marker loss and promotes amyloid phagocytosis and clearance. Curcumin worked to prevent synaptic marker and cognitive deficits caused by amyloid peptide infusion and abeta oligomer toxicity in vitro. Our work on curcumin and AD is discussed in detail in our publications.

Curcumin comes from the plant from which turmeric is made.

The current diet of most Americans is deficient in many important nutrients.

Fast food, highly refined products, (which are all the packaged foods in the entire center of the supermarkets, including 97% of all bread products are nutrient empty, contaminated food sources, meats, fresh vegetables, and now most of our food being produced by China. Who puts “melamine” in our pet food (killing) thousands of pets here in the U.S.; and in even their own baby food. Do not think that we are immune to the same strategy on going. So a good source of all vitamins is desirable.

Begin to eat healthy. A variety of many vegetables/fruits and nuts, eggs, good meats, fish etc., Much of the farm land is depleted. It is never allowed to rest. Also chemical fertilizers build up levels of arsenic in the soil. Many bad health issues are sacrificed in order to make money. Grow and eat your own vegetables where you can. We would be healthier. Problem is we are addicted to convenience and would rather eat loads of high fat,trans fats, hydrogenated oils etc. Bad news. We are responsible for our own diet, and being actively involved in in changing what we eat for the better. It makes for a stronger healthier body ... guaranteed.

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