This short writing sample is from VIEW, a quarterly magazine produced by Danone’s medical research center. The topic is a study being conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on a medical nutrition product that improves memory recall in persons with mild Alzheimer’s disease.
No cure, but there's hope
Danone is collaborating with MIT on this research and intends to commercialize a nutritional health supplement that can be prescribed by doctors for Alzheimer’s patients. The product has the potential to work in synergy with traditional medical treatments and reduce disease symptoms, while providing nutritional support. ljlj ;k;kk;k ;k;kk; l; kk;k lkjlj ljlj
Neuroscience, a field devoted to the scientific study of the central and peripheral nervous system, is opening the window of discovery about how nutrition impacts brain cells.
Dr. Richard J. Wurtman, MD Cecil H. Green Distinguished Professor of Neuropharmacology, at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), shares his insights on the latest discoveries in this dynamic area of research.
VIEW: What is the most intriguing finding of the last few years?
Perhaps the most interesting finding is that the synthesis of unique synaptic membranes can be affected by nutrition. These processes can be increased by consuming three nutrients: uridine, the omega-3 PUFA DHA, and choline.
As demonstrated in in-vivo models, these nutrients increase both the lipid portions of these membranes and the specific proteins that are essential for neuro-transmission. Consequently, the neurons make surface structures, dendritic spines, which can produce additional synapses. Theoretically, these nutrients could be used to restore synapses when they’ve been damaged by disease.
VIEW: What could be the most promising application for nutrition in neurological disease in the future?
One encouraging application is Souvenaid®, a formula containing uridine, DHA, and choline, as well as some supporting nutrients. It’s currently being tested for the management of Alzheimer’s disease. Virtually all neurologic scientists agree that Alzheimer’s patients suffer cognitive impairments because of synapse loss. A reduction in the number of synapses could potentially be compensated for by a synapse-producing preparation like Souvenaid®.
