It's been reported that following surgery, some elderly patients develop permanent Alzheimer's-like memory loss. Research suggests that anesthesia during surgery may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease. However, the studies did not use animals or people genetically predisposed to Alzheimer's disease or with brain beta amyloid. Oxygen treatment (known as hypoxia) is commonly administered during or after surgery. Now research reports that oxygen treatment triggered memory loss in mice genetically altered to develop Alzheimer's-like memory loss as they get older.
The study, published in NeuroReport, investigated the effect of oxygen treatment on cognitively unimpaired mice genetically altered to develop memory problems as they aged. Researchers at the University of South Florida and Vanderbilt University exposed half of the Alzheimer's mice to 100 percent oxygen for three 3-hour sessions. The other half of the Alzheimer's mice were exposed to 21 percent oxygen (the concentration in room air). Normal young adult mice who were not genetically altered were exposed to 100% oxygen and 21% oxygen.
The researchers found the the Alzheimer's mice exposed to 100% oxygen demonstrated substantial memory loss. The Alzheimer's mice exposed to 21% oxygen had no measurable memory loss. The normal mice exposed to 100% oxygen and 21% oxygen also had no memory loss. Furthermore, the Alzheimer's mice exposed to 100% oxygen also had increased brain levels of isofurans (products of oxygen-induced damage).
"Thus, hyperoxia-induced synaptic dysfunction and brain oxidative stress are likely the triggering mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's mice," the study authors conclude. "These results may suggest that exposure of elderly patients to excessive amounts of oxygen perioperatively hastens the development of Alzheimer's disease."
However, the researchers caution that the study in mice may not accurately reflect the effects in human surgery patients.
Progressive 17 Nutritional Support for Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia occur in older adults and cause memory loss, confusion and eventually death. Approximately 4.5 million people have Alzheimer's disease and the number is expected to rise to about 16 million people by 2050. Research suggests that Alzheimer's patients are often nutritionally deficient.
Although there is no cure for Alzheimer's, Progressive Health's Progressive-17 can promote healthy brain function and provide essential brain-supporting nutrients. It contains clinically evaluated nutrients including phosphatidylserine, acetyl L-carnitine, gingko biloba, bacopa, vinpocetine, huperzine A, vitamin C and vitamin E. Progressive-17 works to support neurotransmitters, slow brain cell degeneration and boost immunity.
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