Alzheimer's disease is primarily known for its effects on memory and mental abilities, but new research indicates that some of its symptoms may appear in an unexpected place, outside the brain, according to the "Science Daily" website. Researchers at the University of Central Florida (UCF) have discovered that genetic mutations associated with Alzheimer's disease may affect the nerves responsible for controlling muscle movement, even without the involvement of the brain or spinal cord. These findings may help explain why some people with Alzheimer's experience changes in walking, balance, or motor coordination, long before obvious memory problems appear.
This discovery opens the door to the possibility that movement difficulties may be early warning signs of the disease, and also indicates that treatments that focus exclusively on the brain may miss important disorders that occur in other parts of the body. The research was conducted under the supervision of James Hickman, a professor at the University of Central Florida, and researcher Professor Xiufang “Nadine” Gu, in cooperation with scientists from Hesperos, a company specializing in health care technology. The researchers used laboratory systems developed based on human cells to study the effect of genetic mutations that cause Alzheimer's disease on movement.
“Movement disorders may be an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease,” Gu said. “If we can detect these changes and intervene at an early stage, this may help delay the onset of symptoms related to the central nervous system.” Why may Alzheimer's symptoms appear before memory loss? Alzheimer's disease is usually associated with gradual decline in memory, confusion, and decline in cognitive abilities. However, doctors note that some patients experience physical symptoms, including changes in balance, motor coordination, and gait, years before obvious cognitive difficulties develop. These observations raised an important question: Are movement problems merely a result of damage to the brain, or can Alzheimer's disease also directly affect nerves in other parts of the body?
To answer this question, a research team from the University of Central Florida focused on “familial Alzheimer's disease,” which is a rare genetic form of the disease that usually appears at a relatively young age, between 40 and 65 years, compared to the more common form of Alzheimer's. Experiments revealed that motor neurons carrying genetic mutations associated with familial Alzheimer's can cause disruption of the connections responsible for muscle control, even in the complete absence of the brain and spinal cord from the experimental system. Motor neurons are specialized nerve cells that transmit signals to muscles, directing them to contract and cause movement. The new findings suggest that mutations that cause Alzheimer's disease may disrupt this process directly, rather than just affecting movement through damage to the brain.
“This is the first time it has been shown that disorders in the peripheral nervous system can arise directly from these mutations,” Hickman said. “This means that drugs that target the brain may not treat problems in the rest of the body.” The peripheral nervous system includes nerves located outside the brain and spinal cord, which transmit signals between the central nervous system and various parts of the body, which helps regulate movement, sensation, and other vital functions. Gu also noted that maintaining mobility may provide benefits beyond physical health; Regular physical activity is linked to improved cognitive abilities, which means that protecting motor functions may in turn contribute to supporting brain health. The findings point to a potentially important new path in Alzheimer's research: moving beyond the focus on memory and other cognitive symptoms when studying the disease. If future studies confirm the possibility of monitoring changes in motor functions at an early stage in some patients, tests of walking, motor coordination, or neuromuscular activity may contribute to detecting changes associated with the disease before more obvious neurological symptoms appear.
You have undoubtedly heard of the DASH diet, which is an abbreviation for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. This diet has ranked high in the rankings of healthy diets for many years, often alongside the famous Mediterranean diet. However, unlike many well-known nutritional systems, DASH was not born from a best-selling book, nor was it made famous by a well-known figure. Rather, it was developed by scientists with the aim of improving the health of people with high blood pressure, and it has a long record of documented successes. Dr. Deirdre Tobias, assistant professor of nutrition at the TH Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University, says: The DASH diet is among the dietary patterns that are consistently linked to a lower risk of many chronic diseases. She adds that flexibility represents one of the most important secrets of the sustainability and excellence of this system. “A lot of diets fail,” she says. Because it is simply too strict and difficult to adhere to. The Dash system is very flexible and largely unrestricted. This may make it easier to continue in the long term.”
The DASH diet was created to combat high blood pressure in the early 1990s. With the aim of helping individuals lower blood pressure by eating delicious and easily available foods. One major clinical trial produced amazing results; Participants who followed the DASH diet plan recorded a significant decrease in blood pressure levels, results that in some cases are comparable to the effect of taking blood pressure-lowering medications. The report indicates that 48 percent of Americans suffer from high blood pressure, which increases the risk of strokes, heart attacks, and kidney failure. The benefits of the DASH diet go beyond controlling blood pressure, to include reducing the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, and cognitive decline.
The DASH diet is based on limiting sodium, increasing vegetables and fruits rich in potassium and magnesium, eating low-fat dairy products, and limiting alcohol. Dr. Tobias confirms that the system does not exclude any food group, but rather encourages diversity. The system also includes precise guidelines for daily servings of grains, vegetables, fruits, proteins, and healthy fats. As for cholesterol, the report recommends choosing specific types of milk, such as oat, soy, almond, flaxseed, or skim milk, while avoiding whole milk and flavored and sweetened milk.
