- Aging can cause cognitive decline due to changes that happen in our brain cells; however, it is not clear how much of this is intrinsic or due to diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
- In order to improve energy metabolism in the brain, a group of scientists looked at the effect of supplementing a group of adults with a form of vitamin B3.
- The researchers found that the supplement nicotinamide riboside was converted into a molecule involved in energy metabolism in neurons.
- They also observed a small but significant decrease in the levels of amyloid beta protein in neurons, following supplementation.
Age isn’t just a number, and aging mechanisms affect us at a cellular level. The reason why some people age faster than others has been the focus of much recent research.
One condition for which age is a risk factor is dementia. About one-third of people who are over the age of 85 have some form of
As humans are living longer, the number of people with dementia in the population is also growing, and the
Despite this high prevalence, the mechanisms and risk factors underlying dementia are poorly understood.
The prevailing understanding is that Alzheimer’s disease is thought to be underpinned by the presence of clumps of certain forms of a protein called beta-amyloid between neurons, or nerve cells, in the brain. This is thought to affect their ability to signal, causing the cognitive decline seen in individuals with the condition.
However, it is important to note there is still significant debate over this mechanism, and how much of an impact it has on the development of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as its suitability as a potential target for treatment.
One theory is that the decline in cognition observed in people with Alzheimer’s disease is due to the disruption of typical energy production and…
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