Vitamin A and Alzheimer's disease.
The deposition of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) in the brain is an invariant feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Vitamin A, which has been traditionally considered an anti-oxidant compound, plays a role in maintaining higher function in the central nervous system. Plasma or cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of vitamin A and β-carotene have been reported to be lower in AD patients, and these vitamins have been clinically shown to slow the progression of dementia. Vitamin A (retinol, retinal and retinoic acid) and β-carotene have been shown in in vitro studies to inhibit the formation, extension and destabilizing effects of β-amyloid fibrils. Recently, the inhibition of the oligomerization of Aβ has been suggested as a possible therapeutic target for the treatment of AD. We have recently shown the inhibitory effects of vitamin A and β-carotene on the oligomerization of Aβ40 and Aβ42 in vitro. In previous in vivo studies, intraperitoneal injections of vitamin A decreased brain Aβ deposition and tau phosphorylation in transgenic mouse models of AD, attenuated neuronal degeneration, and improved spatial learning and memory. Thus, vitamin A and β-carotene could be key molecules for the prevention and therapy of AD.
Department of Neurology and Neurobiology of Aging, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan. onoken@med.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Kenjiro
K
Ono
Masahito
M
Yamada
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D014815:Vitamins; D014801:Vitamin A