Friday, March 09, 2012

Vitamin D & Alzheimer


How vitamin D may help clear amyloid plaques found in Alzheimer’s

March 9, 2012
[+]Amyloid_plaques_alzheimer_disease_HE_stain
Amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease (Credit: Jensflorian/Wikimedia Commons)
The early findings show that vitamin D3 may activate key genes and cellular signaling networks to help stimulate the immune system to clear the amyloid-beta protein.
Previous laboratory work by the team demonstrated that specific types of immune cells in Alzheimer’s patients may respond to therapy with vitamin D3 and curcumin, a chemical found in turmeric spice, by stimulating the innate immune system to clear amyloid beta. But the researchers didn’t know how it worked.
“This new study helped clarify the key mechanisms involved, which will help us better understand the usefulness of vitamin D3 and curcumin as possible therapies for Alzheimer’s disease,” said study author Dr. Milan Fiala, a researcher at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System./.../

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