The Potential of Ascorbic Acid in Preventing Alzheimer's Disease
Around the world, populations are experiencing a surge in life expectancy. This increase in longevity has led to the prevalence of chronic afflictions in society, causing a growing interest in understanding the mechanisms that regulate aging and susceptibility to disease.
Alzheimer's disease, an age-related neurodegenerative condition, is one of these chronic diseases. Alzheimer's chiefly affects the network of 100 billion interconnected nerve cells in the brain. The disease sets in through the buildup of a protein called amyloid-beta, which comes from other nerve cell proteins found in cell membranes. These proteins are chemically "sticky" and clump together to form plaques. Neural plaques often interfere with cell signaling and can cause the generation of volatile free radicals.
Free radicals are reactive oxygen compounds with unpaired electrons that attack and damage crucial biochemical building blocks, such as lipids, proteins, and DNA. The breakdown of molecular oxygen in cellular respiration, an essential metabolic process, is a significant source of naturally-occurring radicals in the body. The brain is at exceptionally high risk for oxidative stress, or damage from free radicals, as it is composed mainly of easily oxidized lipids and has a high oxygen consumption rate. Amyloid-beta plaques accelerate free radical formation, creating a cascade effect that damages more parts of the brain and accumulates more plaques. This process can contribute to rapid development of Alzheimer's disease in susceptible individuals.
Alzheimer's disease, an age-related neurodegenerative condition, is one of these chronic diseases. Alzheimer's chiefly affects the network of 100 billion interconnected nerve cells in the brain. The disease sets in through the buildup of a protein called amyloid-beta, which comes from other nerve cell proteins found in cell membranes. These proteins are chemically "sticky" and clump together to form plaques. Neural plaques often interfere with cell signaling and can cause the generation of volatile free radicals.
Free radicals are reactive oxygen compounds with unpaired electrons that attack and damage crucial biochemical building blocks, such as lipids, proteins, and DNA. The breakdown of molecular oxygen in cellular respiration, an essential metabolic process, is a significant source of naturally-occurring radicals in the body. The brain is at exceptionally high risk for oxidative stress, or damage from free radicals, as it is composed mainly of easily oxidized lipids and has a high oxygen consumption rate. Amyloid-beta plaques accelerate free radical formation, creating a cascade effect that damages more parts of the brain and accumulates more plaques. This process can contribute to rapid development of Alzheimer's disease in susceptible individuals.
Amyloid-beta precursor protein, or APP, holds a significant role in neural growth and repair. Enzymes that cut the molecule into several functional fragments also create the amyloid-beta protein. Once free from the molecule, pieces of amyloid-beta leave the membrane and form plaques with other amyloid-beta fragments.
Image Source: Garrondo
However, recent research has shown that nutrition may impact Alzheimer's prevention. A crucial group of molecules that helps to mitigate free radical damage are antioxidants, which have the ability to donate electrons without losing stability themselves. The body produces some antioxidants naturally but not enough to sufficiently protect all vital structures. L-ascorbic acid, more commonly known as vitamin C, is a potent antioxidant prevalent in citrus fruits and leafy vegetables. It acts as a scavenger of free radicals in different tissues, including the spinal cord and brain.
Growing in vivo evidence provides support for the beneficial role of ascorbic acid in Alzheimer's onset. Mice models demonstrate that higher rates of dietary ascorbic acid can halt oxidative stress along with DNA degradation due to age. In studies focusing on mice hippocampi, the organs of the brain associated with long-term memory, ascorbic acid protected neurons from amyloid-beta-mediated cell death. Further, the rate of the cascade effect of amyloid plaque formation decreased overall. On the other hand, research suggests that ascorbic acid deficiency can play a role in accelerating amyloid accumulation, and thus both free radical accumulation and Alzheimer's development, during early stages of the disease.
Although results in humans are still inconclusive, diet is a modifiable risk factor for many diseases that is almost entirely under individual control. Antioxidants like ascorbic acid reduce the risk of developing other health issues, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Including more antioxidants through a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can favorably impact well-being. Implementing these simple dietary modifications earlier in life will continue the lasting benefits far into old age.
Growing in vivo evidence provides support for the beneficial role of ascorbic acid in Alzheimer's onset. Mice models demonstrate that higher rates of dietary ascorbic acid can halt oxidative stress along with DNA degradation due to age. In studies focusing on mice hippocampi, the organs of the brain associated with long-term memory, ascorbic acid protected neurons from amyloid-beta-mediated cell death. Further, the rate of the cascade effect of amyloid plaque formation decreased overall. On the other hand, research suggests that ascorbic acid deficiency can play a role in accelerating amyloid accumulation, and thus both free radical accumulation and Alzheimer's development, during early stages of the disease.
Although results in humans are still inconclusive, diet is a modifiable risk factor for many diseases that is almost entirely under individual control. Antioxidants like ascorbic acid reduce the risk of developing other health issues, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Including more antioxidants through a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can favorably impact well-being. Implementing these simple dietary modifications earlier in life will continue the lasting benefits far into old age.
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