Plasmalogens Supplements and Their Connection to Alzheimer's Disease

 

The development of mass spectrometry-based techniques has made it possible to compare the molecules that are changed during Alzheimer's disease. A constant decrease of plasmalogens is one of the modifications shown by this research. The varieties of phospholipids present in membranes are extremely diverse, and plasmalogens constitute a component of that vast terrain. Plasmalogens account for more than 20% of all phospholipids in humans, and they are especially abundant in the nervous system. Plasmalogen levels drop by up to 40% in Alzheimer's patients. The discovery of this large decrease in plasmalogens is critical in two areas of Alzheimer's disease: early detection and therapeutic intervention.

First, these plasmalogen reductions might be effective indicators for detecting the development of Alzheimer's disease. Detecting plasmalogens levels has the benefit over other detection methods in that lower plasmalogens may be observed in blood and do not require costly and sometimes intrusive alternatives. Importantly, plasmalogen depletion starts before the beginning of symptoms, and the rate of reduction is related to the severity of the condition. This opens up the possibility of using these lipids as biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

Second, restoring plasmalogen levels might be a crucial step in improving cognitive function in Alzheimer's patients and perhaps delaying or preventing the disease's onset. Although the exact function of plasmalogens in biology is unknown, it is apparent that they are critical for cells' capacity to survive under stressful situations, especially when there are large amounts of chemically reactive chemicals that might destroy cellular components. It's unclear how plasmalogens defend cells in these situations, but it's evident that without them, cells die more frequently. Plasmalogens' protective role in cells suggests that refilling plasmalogens in patients may be advantageous.

In conclusion, a reduction in plasmalogens may be an efficient technique to detect Alzheimer's disease before symptoms appear in patients. We can detect plasmalogen depletion and intervene considerably sooner than we would otherwise be able to. Replacing the plasmalogens lost in these people is one method to intervene and prevent disease development.

Plasmalogens Supplements to Improve Cognitive Function

Unlike other macromolecules like protein and DNA, the composition of lipids may be changed by dietary changes, providing a unique opportunity for intervention. Studies in mice and other animals have shown that including plasmalogens in the diet can help prevent memory loss. Due to the convenience and safety of using dietary supplements, a clinical trial recently included plasmalogens in the diets of patients with early Alzheimer's disease and found that moderate instances of the disease improved cognitively.

In Japan, where the study was done, 328 people aged 60 to 85 with moderate Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment were assessed; these patients scored 20 to 27 points on the MiniMental State Examination. They were given either 1 mg of pure scallop plasmalogens each day or a placebo. Measures of memory (WMS-R test) increased considerably in the therapy group in mild AD patients, especially among females and those younger than 77 years old. In more advanced individuals, there was no statistically significant improvement, suggesting that early intervention is crucial.

Because of the positive benefits of plasmalogen supplementation in Alzheimer's disease, researchers have been looking for sources of plasmalogens in food. Ascidians (commonly known as sea squirts), mussels, and scallops had the greatest levels of plasmalogens in the 2016 research. Plasmalogens are also found in substantial amounts in pork and cattle. Plasmalogens are a class of lipids that differ in terms of the fatty acids and headgroups that make up the lipids. There hasn't been any research done to see if some forms of plasmalogens are more beneficial than others. Please visit the website of Dr Goodenowe and learn about the Ben Greenfield Blood Test and more pieces of information about Plasmalogens Supplements online.