Red wine molecule may battle Alzheimer's damage

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Red wine molecule may battle Alzheimer's damage

Last Updated: 2003-12-31 9:56:37 -0400 (Reuters Health)

By Merritt McKinney

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Studies have shown that having a drink or

two a day may be good for the heart, and now new research suggests that

a substance in red wine may protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease.

But it is not a good idea for the elderly to start drinking to stave off

the memory robbing disease, cautioned lead investigator Dr. Egemen

Savaskan of the University of Basel in Switzerland.

While the substance called resveratrol that is abundant in red wine does

seem to protect cells in laboratory experiments, Savaskan pointed out to

Reuters Health that the alcohol in wine can be toxic to brain cells.

Still, the research highlights the possibility that naturally occurring

substances may protect against neurological degeneration, according to

Savaskan.

" We need more research on those substances, " he said. Besides

resveratrol, Savaskan's team is also examining the neurological effects

of melatonin, estrogen and nerve growth factors.

Red wine contains high levels of resveratrol, a naturally occurring

substance found in grapes. Resveratrol in red wine is thought to

explain, at least in part, why the French have traditionally had a low

incidence of cardiovascular disease despite consuming a high fat diet.

Resveratrol is an antioxidant, meaning that it targets a process called

oxidation in which cell-damaging substances called free radicals

accumulate. Oxidation is suspected of increasing the risk of heart

disease, stroke and several other diseases.

One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of

abnormal bits of protein called beta-amyloid. Savaskan's team set out to

see whether resveratrol can counteract some of the oxidative stress

caused by beta-amyloid.

Resveratrol does indeed protect cells from beta-amyloid induced

oxidative damage, the researchers report in the latest issue of the

journal Gerontology. Resveratrol seemed to help cells survive by

encouraging the mopping of harmful free radicals.

Resveratrol " has distinct antioxidative properties, " Savaskan said. But

the Swiss scientist stressed that more research is needed to evaluate

the long-term effects of resveratrol.

The antioxidant action of resveratrol was limited to a particular type

of damage, according to the report. The substance did not protect cells

from oxidative stress that was not caused by beta-amyloid.

SOURCE: Gerontology, November/December 2003

[Guest guest]

I have heard that the same effect can be had by drinking grape juice.

[ ] Red wine molecule may battle Alzheimer's damage

> Red wine molecule may battle Alzheimer's damage

>

> Last Updated: 2003-12-31 9:56:37 -0400 (Reuters Health)

>

> By Merritt McKinney

>

> NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Studies have shown that having a drink or

> two a day may be good for the heart, and now new research suggests that

> a substance in red wine may protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease.

>

> But it is not a good idea for the elderly to start drinking to stave off

> the memory robbing disease, cautioned lead investigator Dr. Egemen

> Savaskan of the University of Basel in Switzerland.

>

> While the substance called resveratrol that is abundant in red wine does

> seem to protect cells in laboratory experiments, Savaskan pointed out to

> Reuters Health that the alcohol in wine can be toxic to brain cells.

>

> Still, the research highlights the possibility that naturally occurring

> substances may protect against neurological degeneration, according to

> Savaskan.

>

> " We need more research on those substances, " he said. Besides

> resveratrol, Savaskan's team is also examining the neurological effects

> of melatonin, estrogen and nerve growth factors.

>

> Red wine contains high levels of resveratrol, a naturally occurring

> substance found in grapes. Resveratrol in red wine is thought to

> explain, at least in part, why the French have traditionally had a low

> incidence of cardiovascular disease despite consuming a high fat diet.

>

> Resveratrol is an antioxidant, meaning that it targets a process called

> oxidation in which cell-damaging substances called free radicals

> accumulate. Oxidation is suspected of increasing the risk of heart

> disease, stroke and several other diseases.

>

> One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of

> abnormal bits of protein called beta-amyloid. Savaskan's team set out to

> see whether resveratrol can counteract some of the oxidative stress

> caused by beta-amyloid.

>

> Resveratrol does indeed protect cells from beta-amyloid induced

> oxidative damage, the researchers report in the latest issue of the

> journal Gerontology. Resveratrol seemed to help cells survive by

> encouraging the mopping of harmful free radicals.

>

> Resveratrol " has distinct antioxidative properties, " Savaskan said. But

> the Swiss scientist stressed that more research is needed to evaluate

> the long-term effects of resveratrol.

>

> The antioxidant action of resveratrol was limited to a particular type

> of damage, according to the report. The substance did not protect cells

> from oxidative stress that was not caused by beta-amyloid.

>

> SOURCE: Gerontology, November/December 2003

>

>