Vitamin B3 and Alzheimer's

[Guest guest]

From BBC news:

A vitamin found in meat, fish and potatoes may help protect the brain

from Alzheimer's disease - and even boost memory in healthy people.

US researchers found vitamin B3 lowered levels of a protein linked to

Alzheimer's damage in mice.

The Journal of Neuroscience study also showed the animals performed

better at memory tests.

UK Alzheimer's charities said people should not start taking the

vitamin before results from human studies.

This suggests that not only is it good for Alzheimer's disease, but if

normal people take it, some aspects of their memory might improve

said Professor LaFerla

University of California, Irvine

The vitamin, also called nicotinamide by scientists, is sold in UK

pharmacies and health food shops.

It has already been shown to help people suffering from diabetes

complications and has some anti-inflammatory qualities.

The researchers, from the University of California at Irvine, added

the vitamin to drinking water given to mice bred to develop a version

of Alzheimer's disease, then tested the levels of certain chemicals

associated with the condition.

They found that levels of one, called phosphorylated tau, were

significantly lower in the animals.

This protein is involved in abnormal 'deposits' in brain cells, called

'tangles', which contribute to the brain damage which progressively

affects people with Alzheimer's.

Using 'water mazes', the team also found some evidence that memory was

enhanced in both 'Alzheimer's' mice and unaffected mice.

Dr Kim Green, who led the study, said that human tests were

progressing: " Nicotinamide has a very robust effect on neurons. It

prevents loss of cognition in mice with Alzheimer's disease, and the

beauty of it is we already are moving forward with a clinical trial. "

His colleague Professor LaFerla, said: " This suggests that not

only is it good for Alzheimer's disease, but if normal people take it,

some aspects of their memory might improve. "

ne Sorensen, the head of research at the Alzheimer's Society,

said the research was " interesting " and pointed to new ways to treat

the condition.

" From the research, it appears that Nicotinamide has more than one

beneficial effect on nerve cells including the facilitation of the

recycling of the 'bad' phosphorylated tau.

" Nicotinamide occurs naturally in meat, fish, beans, cereals and

potatoes and is cheap and easy to take.

" However, more research is now needed to explore the possible

mechanisms involved so we can better understand if Nicotinamide could

have the same effect in people and, if it does, what level of vitamin

intake would be required. "

Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said

until the human research was completed, people should not start taking

the supplement.

" These are exciting findings, but until the results from the human

clinical trial are announced, people should be wary about changing

their diet or taking supplements. In high doses vitamin B3 can be toxic. "

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7710365.stm