A QUANTUM OF SCIENCE
New research suggests caffeine may not only protect but can also reverse Alzheimer's Disease symptoms
Today's issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease contains two reports involving the effects of caffeine on mice bred to mimic the biochemical degeneration of cognition found in human Alzheimer's disease. Briefly, the major source of this neural degeneration is the accumulation of a protein called Amyloid-β (or Aβ). A natural protein, Aβ can sometimes mis-fold and in that state becomes impervious to the normal cellular processes that break down aging proteins for recycling. Because it cannot be broken down, mis-folded Aβ accumulates and eventually causes cell death in the tissues surrounding it. Alzheimer's disease results when this takes place in brain tissue.
Researchers are interested in the process by which Aβ mis-folds, accumulates and - just possibly - might be eradicated. In the studies published today in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, researchers found that caffeine can not only protect Alzheimer's-prone mice from the accumulation of Aβ, but can even reduce Aβ levels in the brains and blood of mice who already have advanced Alzheimer's conditions. This is not the first report of caffeine's effects, but the two studies are back-to-back illustrations of the growing body of evidence linking caffeine to treatment for Alzheimer's even after the condition is diagnosed. Additionally, the levels of caffeine used in this study are relevant - the equivalent of about five cups of coffee per day for a human. This is exciting as it suggests that caffeine treatment might be possible without resorting to levels so high as to cause dangerous side-effects to humans.
For more information:
Caffeine Reverses Cognitive Impairment and Decreases Brain Amyloid-β Levels in Aged Alzheimer’s Disease Mice (Arendash et al)
Caffeine Suppresses Amyloid-β Levels in Plasma and Brain of Alzheimer’s Disease Transgenic Mice (Chuanhai et al)
© A Quantum of Science / P. Smalley
Reproduction with attribution is appreciation!
Showing posts with label drugs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drugs. Show all posts
Monday, July 6, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Smoking AIDS
A QUANTUM OF SCIENCE
Anti-retrovirals are now drugs of abuse in South Africa; will this lead to resistant HIV?
The newest chapter in the AIDS saga in Africa is unfolding in the townships of South Africa, where the demographic of 15-21 year olds are engaging in a new practice: grinding up anti-retroviral drugs designed to suppress HIV and prevent it from becoming AIDS, mixing the powder with tobacco or marijuana, and smoking it to achieve hallucinogenic and anxiolytic effects.
A recent BBC article goes into further detail, but mainly focuses on the social aspect of the new form of drug abuse. Doctors and health care policy activists in South Africa are gravely concerned about not only the interruption of the intended use of the drugs - which has led to shortages and long lines in many areas - but also the possibility that this abuse of the drugs will cause resistant strains of HIV to arise.
This seems unlikely for several reasons. First, smoking a pharmaceutical innately changes the molecular structure of the drug. The heat involved might well be expected to break down the structure into inactive forms, or combine key parts of the molecule with oxygen and likewise eliminate its antiviral activity. Without activity, the drug cannot cause resistance to arise. The second reason this fear is ungrounded is that in order to cause resistance, those abusing this drug must also be HIV-positive. While there is likely to be some overlap in a country whose HIV-positive population is 3.2% among that age/sex demographic [LINK], it is unlikely to be enough to cause undue concern from a health policy standpoint.
Clearly there is a health policy crisis in South Africa regarding the proper administration of anti-retroviral drugs. Concerns about drug abuse aside, the phenomenon is preventing those who really need such drugs from obtaining them, and this alone is sufficient reason to take action. But fears of a super-HIV, resistant to the anti-retroviral cocktails of drugs currently capable of controlling (though not eradicating) HIV, are overblown in this case.
© AQOS / Peter Smalley (2009)
Reproduction with attribution is appreciation
Anti-retrovirals are now drugs of abuse in South Africa; will this lead to resistant HIV?
The newest chapter in the AIDS saga in Africa is unfolding in the townships of South Africa, where the demographic of 15-21 year olds are engaging in a new practice: grinding up anti-retroviral drugs designed to suppress HIV and prevent it from becoming AIDS, mixing the powder with tobacco or marijuana, and smoking it to achieve hallucinogenic and anxiolytic effects.
A recent BBC article goes into further detail, but mainly focuses on the social aspect of the new form of drug abuse. Doctors and health care policy activists in South Africa are gravely concerned about not only the interruption of the intended use of the drugs - which has led to shortages and long lines in many areas - but also the possibility that this abuse of the drugs will cause resistant strains of HIV to arise.
This seems unlikely for several reasons. First, smoking a pharmaceutical innately changes the molecular structure of the drug. The heat involved might well be expected to break down the structure into inactive forms, or combine key parts of the molecule with oxygen and likewise eliminate its antiviral activity. Without activity, the drug cannot cause resistance to arise. The second reason this fear is ungrounded is that in order to cause resistance, those abusing this drug must also be HIV-positive. While there is likely to be some overlap in a country whose HIV-positive population is 3.2% among that age/sex demographic [LINK], it is unlikely to be enough to cause undue concern from a health policy standpoint.
Clearly there is a health policy crisis in South Africa regarding the proper administration of anti-retroviral drugs. Concerns about drug abuse aside, the phenomenon is preventing those who really need such drugs from obtaining them, and this alone is sufficient reason to take action. But fears of a super-HIV, resistant to the anti-retroviral cocktails of drugs currently capable of controlling (though not eradicating) HIV, are overblown in this case.
© AQOS / Peter Smalley (2009)
Reproduction with attribution is appreciation
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