Alzheimer’s Related to Oxidative Stress
September 24th, 2008World Azheimer’s Day, held September 21, 2008, draws attention to the 26 million people in the world are living with Alzheimer’s, including more than 5 million in the United States. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, researchers predict that by 2050 the global prevalence of the disease will quadruple, affecting more than 100 million individuals. This is a staggering growth rate and there is growing interest in what can be done to stay healthy and avoid being included in these numbers.
The quote below reflects growing evidence suggesting Alzheimer’s is linked to oxidative stress. Helping people fight the damages of oxidative stress is one of Eng3′s two main goals. Our other goal is to help people avoid the damage of oxidative stress in the first place.
W.R. Markesbery states in Oxidative Stress Hypothesis in Alzheimer’s Disease, that “Supporting indirect evidence comes from a variety of in vitro studies showing that free radicals are capable of mediating neuron degeneration and death. Overall, these studies indicate that free radicals are possibly involved in the pathogenesis of neuron death in AD. Because tissue injury itself can induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, it is not known whether this is a primary or secondary event. Even if free radical generation is secondary to other initiating causes, they are deleterious and part of a cascade of events that can lead to neuron death, suggesting that therapeutic efforts aimed at removal of ROS or prevention of their formation may be beneficial in AD.” Free Radic Biol Med. 1997;23(1):134-47.