Towards a nutritional approach for prevention of Alzheimer's disease: biochemical and cellular aspects.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major public health concern in all countries. Although the precise cause of AD is still unknown, a growing body of evidence supports the notion that soluble amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) may be the proximate cause of synaptic injuries and neuronal death early in the disease. AD patients display lower levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6 ; n-3) in plasma and brain tissues as compared to age-matched controls. Furthermore, epidemiological studies suggest that high DHA intake might have protective properties against neurodegenerative diseases. These observations are supported by in vivo studies showing that DHA-rich diets limits the synaptic loss and cognitive defects induced by Abeta peptide. Although the molecular basis of these neuroprotective effects remains unknown, several mechanisms have been proposed such as (i) regulation of the expression of potentially protective genes, (ii) activation of anti-inflammatory pathways, (iii) modulation of functional properties of the synaptic membranes along with changes in their physicochemical and structural features.
Lipidomix (JE 2482), ENSAIA-INPL, University of Nancy, 15, rue du Bois de la Champelle 54505, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
Sabrina
S
Florent-Béchard
Catherine
C
Malaplate-Armand
Violette
V
Koziel
Badreddine
B
Kriem
Jean-Luc
JL
Olivier
Thierry
T
Pillot
Thierry
T
Oster
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D005526:Food, Formulated / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids