Ácido docosahexaenoico (DHA): Una perspectiva nutricional para la prevención de la enfermedad de Alzheimer

5Citations
Citations of this article
46Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major public health problem in many countries of the world; however the specific cause of this disease is still unknown. Currently, a bulk of evidence supports the hypothesis that β-amyloid peptide could be the cause of synaptic injuries and neuronal death observed at the initial stages of the disease. Patients with AD show lower levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22: 6; omega-3) in plasma and brain tissue, as compared with age-matched controls. In addition, epidemiological studies indicate that a high intake of DHA may have protective properties against neurodegenerative diseases. These observations are supported by in vivo studies showing that diets rich in DHA reduce synaptic injuries and cognitive defects induced by the β-amyloid peptide. Although the molecular basis of these neuroprotective effects are still unknown, a number of mechanisms have been proposed to explain this protection, such as: regulation in the expression of potentially protective genes, activation of anti-inflammatory pathways, and modulation of the functional properties of neuronal membranes along with changes in their structural characteristics and physical-chemical properties. The present work reviews and discusses the molecular basis of the hypothesis on the protective role of DHA in the prevention of AD.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Valenzuela B., R., Bascuñan G., K., & Valenzuela B., A. (2008, November). Ácido docosahexaenoico (DHA): Una perspectiva nutricional para la prevención de la enfermedad de Alzheimer. Revista Chilena de Nutricion. https://doi.org/10.4067/s0717-75182008000400001

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free