enhanced version of vitamin K Research has found that it may help reverse brain damage caused by Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease and many other neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the loss of brain neurons. meanwhile most drugs To treat only the symptoms, researchers at Shibaura Institute of Technology’s School of Life Science and Engineering in Japan set out to determine whether a new approach could replace lost cells.
According to the National Institutes of Health, vitamin K is an essential nutrient that helps with blood clotting, bone health, and other important functions in the body.
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Although shown to support brain protection and neuron production, natural forms of vitamin K, including menaquinone-4 (MK-4), may not be potent enough to effectively treat. neurodegenerative diseasessays the expert.
To increase its potency, researchers at Shibaura Institute of Technology’s School of Life Science and Technology in Japan have developed a new, more powerful form of the vitamin.
They achieved this by creating 12 new versions of vitamin K and combining it with retinoic acid, an active metabolite of vitamin A that helps brain cells grow and develop.
In laboratory tests, the new vitamin K made in the lab was about three times more effective than natural vitamin K at helping immature brain cells grow into neurons, said study co-lead Professor Yoshihisa Hirota.
A new vitamin K compound was also shown to pass through successfully. blood brain barrier In animal experiments.
Another important advantage, the researchers noted, was that the new molecule retained the same benefits of vitamin K and vitamin A, but showed stronger brain cell activity.
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The results of this study were published in the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience.
“Since neuronal loss is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases such as alzheimer’s diseasethese analogs may act as regenerative agents that help replenish lost neurons and restore brain function,” Hirota said in a press release.
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Looking ahead, the research team plans to test new compounds in the following areas: animal and human researchthe hope is that this could lead to new approaches to slowing or repairing brain degeneration in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
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“Vitamin K-derived drugs that slow the progression or improve symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease have the potential not only to improve the quality of life for patients and their families, but also to significantly reduce the growing societal burden of Alzheimer’s disease.” medical expenses They also need long-term care,” Hirota added.
