Oxidative Stress is the true cause of Alzheimer's

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On the heels of the widely publicized failure of anti-amyloid approaches to curing Alzheimer's, a lot of publicity has been given to another approach known as "Tau" (Neuro-Fibrillary Tangles or NFT) as a therapeutic target for Alzheimer's, as highlighted in last week's International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease in Chicago.

Experts at Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (AVXL.OB) have provided clarification that Tau, like Amyloid-Beta, is an effect of Alzheimer's, not the cause. Oxidative Stress is the true cause of the disease. Both Amyloid-Beta and Tau, in fact, are preceded by Oxidative Stress and it is Oxidative Stress that is the cause of neuron degeneration.

Anavex is engaged in the development of drugs that protect neurons from Oxidative Stress. Anavex points out that this theory was endorsed by Rudy J. Castellani and his team in their article, Antioxidant protection and neurodegenerative disease: The role of amyloid-ß and tau . The paper notes that Tau (Neuro-Fibrillary Tangles of NFT) is formed after the oxidative stress is accumulated and outlines the evidence for this. In summary, Castellani says: "Although both amyloid-B, and tau are essentially associated with etiology by various laboratories, the observed decrease in oxidative damage with amyloid-B and tau accumulation suggests, rather, a mechanism of survival. Moreover, as a consequence of age-related oxidative stress, there is an upregulation of phosphorylated tau and amyloid-B that result in NFT and senile plaques, respectively. Both lesions serve antioxidant functions and limit age-related neuronal dysfunction. However, in AD, this age-related oxidative stress is compounded by metabolic and metallic sources of oxidant stress that, despite greatly enhancing amyloid-B production and tau phosphorylation, lead to neurodegeneration and consequent dementia. In light of these observations, efforts aimed solely at eliminating amyloid-B appear short-sighted."

Anavex Life Sciences has developed an Alzheimer's drug candidate based on the theory that oxidative stress, not amyloid-beta plaques or Tau, is the cause of the disease. The drug protects neurons from the oxidative stress and addresses the very problem of the Alzheimer's disease. The company notes that preventing Tau predisposition without fighting the oxidative stress may lead researchers down a similar futile path that was followed with Amyloid-Beta as clinical trials demonstrated and Castellani theory states. ...http://www.medicalnewstoday.com

Why food is the new oil

“Food is a weapon – don’t waste it.” This message, which featured on a Second World War poster issued by the US Office of War Information in 1943, is a lesson from history we would do well to heed. http://www.nutraingredients.com

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