Alzheimer’s and Red Wine
November 24, 2008
Yet another benefit of red wine? Alzheimer’s disease may be slowed, or even perhaps stopped, by compounds in red wine.
New research suggests that polyphenols in red wine may be beneficial for Alzheimer’s plaques.
Polyphenol is the name of the large group of substances that are antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that are found in plants and plant products. Examples are resveratrol and catechin.
Red wine contains a number of polyphenols including resveratrol. It is resveratrol that has been suggested to be reason for the apparent healthful effects of red wine. However, there are a number of other polyphenols in red wine, and the grapes from which the wine is made,that have been shown to be antioxidants.
In the research, a grape seed extract was shown to have two benefits. First , the extract blocked the formation of the beta amyloid tangles. The progressive formation of the beta amyloid tangles is, at least in part, responsible for the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Second, the extract seemed to make the tangles that had already formed less toxic to brain cells.
There is evidence of some polyphenols having positive effects on the progression of Alzheimer’s. Mostly, the effect had been attributed to possible anti-inflammatory effects. Perhaps the effect is primarily on the formation and toxicity of the beta amyloid tangles.
This research suggests that regular moderate consumption of red wine may be of long term benefit for anybody who is going to get, or has developed Alzheimer’s. It will interesting to see if long term human studies of consumption of grape seed extract show a significant effect on the development and and progression of Alzheimer’s.
photo credit: dichohecho
Technorati Tags: Alzheimer’s, red wine, grape seed extract, polyphenols, beta amyloid tangles
How To Memorize Stuff
November 21, 2008
How do you memorize stuff? If there is something you want to remember for a while? What is the best way to do so?
There are several types of memory. There is short term memory, such as remembering the phone number long enough to dial it, or where you put your keys when you came in an hour ago. There is long term memory, such as remembering the house we lived in as a kid.
A new study suggests that the best way to commit something to long term memory is to repeat the learning at intervals that are widely spaced.
Participants in the study were asked to memorize obscure facts. Did you know that in Europe, Norway is the country that eats the most spicy Mexican food, or that Rudyard Kipling invented snow golf?
The study demonstrated that increasing the time between sessions going over the facts lowered the “amount of forgetting” at later times.
So if there is something you want to put in long term memory, you should have several well spaced attempts at memorization.
The authors of the study say that if you want to remember something for a week, go over it once a day. If you want to remember it a year later, go over it once a month.
I guess the only problem is at the later date being able to remember to go over it again.
photo credit: Margaret Anne Clarke
Technorati Tags: long term memory, , memorize
Who should take statins (the cholesterol lowering drugs)?
November 19, 2008
Statins are a group of cholesterol-lowering drugs that are taken by a large number of people. The best selling drug in the US Is Lipitor (atorvastatin).
In the last weeks there has been a lot of press about a study. The reports have suggested that “healthy people” without high cholesterol levels had a decrease in the cardiovascular disease. Other reports have said that it was a small subpopulation with only small differences and so it is meaningless.
The rush to judgment in the media does not consider who the subpopulation studied actually were. By some criteria they were not healthy.
The study population was those who had high levels of CRP, but not high cholesterol.
CRP, or C reactive protein, is a marker of inflammation. Recently there has been a ton of evidence that many diseases such as atherosclerosis (narrowing of blood vessels) and diabetes are inflammatory. Additionally chronic inflammation is itself damaging. (Mondays post Resistin, a hormone, a better predictor of heart trouble talks about how resistin may be a better indicator of inflammatory disease.)
So the study group, though they did not have high cholesterol, had high levels of inflammation. So, as stated above, by some criteria they had health problems.
Whether this warrants a statin, particularly Crestor is certainly open to debate. Crestor is one of the stronger statins, but also has the highest incidence of myopathy (muscle damage). Belly fat is inflammatory. Get rid of that belly fat and the level of the inflammation in the body should drop too. Eat a good diet, fish oils and many fruits and vegetables contain anti-inflammatory compounds.
Technorati Tags: statins, inflammation. CRP
Resistin, a hormone, a better predictor of heart trouble? I’m back
November 17, 2008
In the last few years hsCRP (C reactive protein), a marker of inflammation, has been used to predict heart disease and stroke. New finding suggest that the hormone resistin may be a better predictor of heart trouble.
Previously in this blog there have been a number of posts about belly fat, how it is different from other fat and is considered an endocrine (hormone-producing organ). See the post Potential new way to fight diabetes. In this post the macrophages (a type of immune cell) in the belly fat are discussed.
One of the hormones that is put out by belly fat is resistin. Resistin is a hormone that has been shown to be involved with inflammation. Macrophages within the fat secrete resistin into the body. This then will cause chronic (continual) inflammation responses in the body.
Chronic inflammation has been shown to be important in all aspects of cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, and in diabetes.
Recently it has been demonstrated that smooth muscle cells, which are the muscle cells surrounding blood vessels can also make resistin when they are under hypoxic (short of oxygen) conditions. Hypoxic conditions occur when blood vessels start to get blocked. So a combination of having belly fat, and blood vessels that are blocking the blood vessel could increase the rate of blockage.
It has been shown that high levels of resistin are a predictor of dying after having had a heart attack. A study presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association found that resistin levels were a better predictor of the heart failure than other current markers such as CRP.
If you needed it, another reason to try to lose belly fat.
The last two weeks were my first experience of being on a jury. It was one of the most stressful, depressing, all consuming experiences, of my life. Not one that I will ever forget.
Technorati Tags: resistin, inflammation, belly fat, cardiovascular disease, heart disease, stroke, diabetes
Roundup: New Weight Loss Treatment, Red Wine, High Fat And Alzheimers
November 3, 2008
I am on a jury for at least 2 weeks so the posts are going to be short and sweet for a while.
A potential new weight loss treatment. An antibody has been developed that attacks ghrelin. This hormone is high when hungry and is low when we are full. If it works in humans will suppress appetite. To read more about ghrelin see the post Aging, Carbohydrates, Appetite and Weight Gain.
More good news for those who drink red wine or like red grapes. This seems to be particularly true for the cardiovascular system.
High fat diet could increase the risk of Alzheimer’s. Research suggests that diet high in saturated fat and low in omega-3 fatty acids increases the amounts of markers for Alzheimer’s. Another reason to eat fish or flaxseed meal or take fish oil capsules.
photo credit: Andrew Feinberg
Technorati Tags: New Weight Loss Treatment, Red Wine, High Fat And Alzheimers
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