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Shannon O'Brien 4204670On April the 19th the director of the neuroscience centre of the excellence Nicolas Bazan presented findings that omega three fatty acids are found accountable for protecting brain cells, which in turns prevent diseases such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s.
Diseases that are a consequence of brain cell mutations such as Parkinson’s are neurodegenerative diseases. The symptoms are results from the death of neurons which are
located within the midbrain which is normally responsible for the production of dopamine. The disruption of genes required for certain mitochondrial functions also contributes to the resulting diseases. The research findings reveal that omega three fatty acid prevents the misfolding of a protein which causes the onset of such diseases through mutation.
Doctor Bazan found that the defective Ataxin-1-gene brings about the misfolding of the protein which is produced due to the incorrect structure of the protein. The cell cannot correctly process the gene forming tangled clumps of toxins due to the unusable protein tangling. A correlation was found between the prevention of this tangling, protecting the brain’s cells and he presence of Neuroprotectin D1. Neuroprotectin D1 (NDP1) is a molecule which originates from docosahexaenoic acid (DHA. DHA is found within omega three fatty acids and proves that it can be exploited therapeutically in an attempt to reduce the folding of the protein. NDP1 endorses brain survival by preventing and rescuing dying cells which cause pathological problems, evidencing a mentally disturbed condition which is caused by the defective Ataxin-1-gene.
Such findings are remarkable and with future studies the science community may finally put an end to neurodegenerative diseases.
REFERENCE
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090419133844.htm
Other sources:
http://www.memorydisorder.org/glossaryterms.htm
