DSM Releases Paper on Insufficient Vitamins Link to Alzheimer’s Disease
DSM (Parsippany, NJ) published a new paper to further characterize the consequences of insufficient vitamin and nutrient supply on the aging brain.
The manuscript, which appears in the journal Nutrition, highlights the contributing factors to the malnourishment of the elderly, which is linked to the progression of pathological events causing Alzheimer’s type dementia, according to the company. The new research follows a landmark study, published in Neurology, which shows a strong correlation between low vitamin D levels and the risk of developing dementia, further demonstrating the critical importance of micronutrients in protecting the aging brain.
“The brain has exceptionally high metabolic activity and uses a large proportion of the body’s total nutrient and energy intake, making the brain susceptible to any shortage of nutrients,” said Dr. M. Hasan Mohajeri, R&D Human Nutrition and Health, DSM Nutritional Products.
The paper points out that a variety of vitamins and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been identified as having essential roles in the metabolism of vital components of a healthy brain and contribute to a myriad of processes, including the synthesis of cell membranes, neurotransmitters, amino acids, amines and steroids that support signal transduction and neuronal health, reported the company.
“As we age, the brain has altering requirements of essential nutrients including vitamins. Clinical research has shown that the ability to recall events in time and place declines with age, starting at 20 years of age. High nutrient food or targeted nutritional supplements are essential to maintain a healthy brain throughout our developmental and adult years,” said Dr. Mohajeri.
Professor Manfred Eggersdorfer, senior vice president, Nutrition Science & Advocacy at DSM and professor for Healthy Aging at the University of Groningen, said with “the increase in prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in our aging population, it is imperative that – in the absence of a cure – we endeavor to delay the onset of neurological degeneration.”
For more information, visit www.dsm.com.
