In the mysterious world of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), various changes occur within the brain that affect the way neurotransmitters work. It’s like having a delicious cake recipe, but missing a few crucial ingredients. Researchers hypothesized that different types of dementia and MCI might share similar reductions in amino acid precursors, which are essential for neurotransmitter synthesis, as well as impaired energy production and increased oxidative stress. They recruited demented patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), frontotemporal disease (FTD), or vascular disease (VaD), as well as subjects with MCI and control subjects, to test their theory. The levels of amino acid precursors, energy substrates, and oxidative stress markers were measured in the participants’ cerebrospinal fluid and plasma. It was found that both demented patients and those with MCI had reduced levels of important amino acid precursors and increased levels of oxidative stress compared to the control group. These metabolic alterations may be caused by overconsumption of certain amino acids, mitochondrial dysfunction, and excessive free radical production. This information could help us better understand why these conditions occur and how we may be able to intervene to improve brain health. To dive deeper into the research, check out the full article!
The Institute for the Future of Human Potential
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