CR may halt *or reverse* Alzheimer's

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Greetings All:

SUNDAY, Sept. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Cutting calories may halt or even

reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer's, according to a new animal study.

For the study, expected to be published in the November issue of the

Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, a team of researchers from the Mount

Sinai School of Medicine in New York City maintained a group of

squirrel monkeys on either calorie-restrictive or normal diets

throughout their lifespans.

Compared to those on a normal diet, the monkeys that were fed the

reduced-calorie diet were less likely to have

Alzheimer's disease-type changes in their brain.

The reduced-calorie diet was also associated with increased longevity

of a protein known as SIRT1, which influences a variety of functions,

including age-related diseases.

" The new breakthrough brings great anticipation for further human

study of caloric restriction, for Alzheimer's disease investigators

and for those physicians who treat millions of people suffering with

this disease, " study author Giulio Pasinetti, a professor of

psychiatry and neuroscience and director of the Neuroinflammation

Research Center at the school, said in a prepared statement.

" The findings offer a glimmer of hope that there may someday be a way

to prevent and stop this devastating disease in its tracks, " Pasinetti

said.

Link to article:

http://tinyurl.com/rrb6g

-Diane