Olive oil protects memory loss, helps prevent Alzheimer’s- study
More and more people in countries including Nigeria with large and increasing older populations are suffering from the debilitating dementia of Alzheimer’s disease.
In a new study, Temple University scientists found that the oil, which is a component of the popular Mediterranean diet may protect memory and learning ability.
Domenico Praticò the study author said in a statement, Autophagy is a normal bodily process that deals with the destruction of cells.
“We found olive oil reduces brain inflammation but most importantly triggers a process called autophagy”
Autophagy which helps broken down cells to flush intracellular debris and toxins. This includes amyloid plaques and tau tangles, the latter of which is associated with memory loss in Alzheimer’s
The research, published in the journal Annals of Clinical Translational Neurology, was conducted on a specific type of mouse model that’s engineered to develop characteristics of Alzheimer’s, such as memory impairment.
Alzheimer’s disease in Nigeria.
In a research work by Osuntokun and others on Alzheimers disease in Nigeria shows that the age-related dementias of the elderly (those aged 65 years or more) are of major public health importance in developed countries.
Developing countries, most of which are undergoing epidemiological transition and greying of population, currently contain more than half of the world’s population of elderly, a proportion that would reach 75% by 2020.
A recent autopsy survey of the brains of elderly Nigerians showed absence of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, the pathognomonic histologic lesions of Alzheimer’s disease and ageing found in 25% to 80% of normal undemented elderly Caucasians and Japanese.
The reported prevalence of dementia in sub-Saharan Africa varied widely (range: 2.29%–21.60%); Alzheimer’s disease was the most prevalent type of dementia.
Only two studies conducted in Nigeria reported incidence data. Major risk factors identified include older age, female gender, cardiovascular disease, and illiteracy.
According to the Temple University scientists study, the researchers took a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease known as the triple transgenic model. These mice develop three key characteristics of the disease; memory impairment, amyloid plagues, neurofibrillary tangles
The mice were divided into two groups, where one group received a chow diet rich in extra-virgin olive oil and the other group received chow diet without the oil.
The oil was started when the animals were six months old before the actual symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease begin to emerge in a usual mouse model. While there was no difference in the appearance of the mice, at age 9 months and 12 months, the mice in the olive oil group “performed significantly better on tests designed to evaluate working memory, spatial memory, and learning abilities.”
At end of the study the mice were sacrificed. The brains were significantly different say researchers. The brains of the mice on the oil showed “synaptic integrity” said Praticò. Synapses he explained are connections between the nerve cells of the brain. This integrity was lacking in those without the olive oil diet. A process called autophagy too was higher among the mice on the olive oil diet.
Praticò explained that there is a process called autophagy by which the cells break down and clean the toxins and the resultant debris including the amyloid plaques and the tau tangles that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. In their experiment when the mice were fed extra virgin olive oil rich diets, the levels of autophagy rose he explained. This reduces the levels of amyloid plaques and phosphorylated tau significantly. Phosphorylated tau leads to formation of neurofibrillary tangles and this leads to nerve cell dysfunction and memory symptoms related to Alzheimer’s disease. Reducing phosphorylated tau could thus be protective.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting millions of people worldwide. A recent report revealed the rates of the disease increased by 55 percent between 1999 and 2014, according to the Centers for disease control and prevention (CDCD). During the same time period, the number of deaths increased as well. There’s currently no cure, but there are treatments available to help improve a person’s quality of life.
A new study by IHME researchers, “Global, regional, and national age-sex specific all-cause and cause-specific mortality for 240 causes of death, 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013,” has found high-income or Western countries are not alone in facing growing burdens of Alzheimer’s – a larger proportion of the global population than previously thought has been dying from this disorder.
It’s more common in older adults; however, younger people may also develop the disease. Common signs include memory problems, trouble handling money, repeating questions, taking longer to complete daily tasks, poor judgment, and mood or personality changes.
Anthonia Obokoh