quinolinic acid

[Guest guest]

Hi,

A 1992 paper in the journal Brain said, " We conclude that inflammatory

diseases are associated with accumulation of QUIN, kynurenic acid and

L-kynurenine within the central nervous system, but that the available

data do not support a role for QUIN in the aetiology of Huntington's

disease or Alzheimer's disease. "

PMID: 1422788

==============================

But this week, new findings were reported in Australia. One of the

authors of a paper that appeared in the journal Neuropathology and

Applied Neurobiology said this week, " We found that all of the brains

of dementia patients showed quinolinic acid neurotoxicity... "

Another said, " We found that all of the brains of dementia patients

showed quinolinic acid neurotoxicity, " said Professor Bruce Brew,

Director of Neurology at St 's Hospital and Professor of

Medicine at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). " This acid kills

nerve cells in the brain, leading to brain dysfunction and ultimately

death. "

" Quinolinic acid is part of a biochemical pathway called the kynurenine

pathway, " said the lead author of the research, UNSW's Dr Gilles

Guillemin, who is based at the Centre for Immunology at St 's

Hospital. " The activation of that pathway is also found in other major

brain diseases including Huntington's disease, stroke, dementia and

schizophrenia. "

http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/aging/dementia/alzheimers/

article_1994.shtml

======================

Thanks to Tony for pointing out the Australian findings.

Sue ,

Upstate New Yorark