Free radicals are to blame for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’ s diseases

Alzheimer's, Oxidative damage, Parkinson's — 5:55 pm

Brain and free radicalsLogically speaking, anti-oxidants are substances that fight oxidants. Then what are oxidants? They are chemicals producing unstable form of oxygen, which make them deadly for some life forms and dangerous for the others. To name just two, chlorine and chloramines are oxidants and are used for disinfection – killing the microbes.

Now, antioxidants are chemicals (naturally occurring or synthesized) that absorb or scavenge and finally neutralize oxidants also known as free radicals. High levels of free radicals may eventually lead to damage of bodily cells and is believed are responsible for many diseases.

It is agreed upon that free radicals are to blame for diseases associated with long lasting oxidant stress: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, the most common forms of cancer, eye diseases, neurological diseases, infectious diseases, and rheumatoid arthritis, adult respiratory distress syndrome, drug induced lung lesions, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, asthma, emphysema, interstitial fibrosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’ s disease. (Stockholm, Swedish Council of Technology Assessment in Health Care)

Nature’s antioxidants

Antioxidants, Foods for the Brain — 3:53 pm

Studies have shown that a diet rich in antioxidants, which are primarily provided by fruits and vegetables, may help prevent a variety of serious diseases Among the best known antioxidants are vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, selenium, ubiquinone (Q10) and the flavonoids found in wine, apples, onions and tea.

Surprisingly, cooked artichokes were found the highest-ranking vegetable-antioxidant. Even more of surprise was the discovery of antioxidative properties of potato placed on the top twenty list. (Health Evidence Network, WHO)

Comparing 40 fruit and beriries for their antioxidative activities researchers put wild blueberries to # 1 position. Among many health benefits listed were: memory and heart support, vision protection, urinary tract health, and cancer prevention. Cultivated blueberries were rated lower than their wild relatives (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52: 4026-4037, 2004)

Not only wild blueberries, but other berries such as: dog rose, sour cherry, blackberry, strawberry, raspberry, crowberry, and especially black currant are now considered potent antioxidants. Cranberries ranked sixth, with blackberries eighth, raspberries tenth, and strawberries eleventh. (August 1, 2004 — Vegparadise News Bureau)

The long-lasting champion championship of blueberries as antioxidants, recently a new candidate for the position has been announced – small red kidney beans, leaving blueberries slightly behind and pinto and black beans seriously down the list. (June 9 issue of (The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry June 09)

Is calorie restriction stressful?

Age-protection, Calorie restriction, Oxidative damage — 8:46 am

Yes, but it seems to be a good stress. The mechanism of action of caloric restriction remains unknown; owever, data suggest that cellular functions are altered in such a way that destructive by-products of metabolism are reduced, and defense or repair systems are enhanced by this nutritional manipulation. (Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, 11(4):553-65, 1995)

The amount of oxidative damage increases as an organism ages and is postulated to be a major causal factor of senescence. Restriction of caloric intake lowers levels of oxidative stress and damage, retards age associated changes, and extends the maximum life span in mammals. Animal and human studies suggest potential benefits of dietary restriction, exercise, antioxidants, hormones and deprenyl.

Does deprenyl mimic at least some of calorie restriction effects? Probably, thinks Dr. Masoro. “Dietary restriction protects against oxidative damage and oxidative damage is probably an inevitable component of fuel use.” So does deprenil, though in rather narrow way. Deprenyl (selegiline) is a neuroprotective drug an inhibitor of brain monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B). That means it inhibits a very particular enzyme promoting oxidation of the brain chemical monoamines, which are very important in many vital functions, including cognition.

Dietary restriction was found to retard age associated decline of sensory and movement coordination, and improve performance of aged mice on learning problems. “Studies in aged calorie restricted mice indicated that lowering of protein oxidation by calorie restriction could be reversed within a time frame of three to six weeks. These findings suggest that the beneficial effects of dietary restriction upon brain function and life span may depend upon its ability to acutely reduce steady state levels of oxidative stress.” (Archives of Biochemistry & Biophysics, 333(1):189-97, 1996)

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