7 ms·
For those who, like me, tried to find ways to influence this imbalance positively, the article mentions one specific protein called GDF15 as having a strong ass
by submeta 3y ago
For those who, like me, tried to find ways to influence this imbalance positively, the article mentions one specific protein called GDF15 as having a strong association with dementia risk. The researchers identified 32 proteins in total that were strongly associated with an increased risk of developing dementia if their levels were unbalanced in middle age.
The article doesn't provide specific steps on how to influence the levels of these proteins. The purpose of this research seems to be more about identifying potential biomarkers for early detection and risk assessment of dementia rather than outlining therapeutic interventions.
Edit:
GDF15, or Growth Differentiation Factor 15, is a protein that is naturally produced by our bodies. It's a stress-responsive cytokine, meaning that it's part of the body's response to conditions of stress or damage. It has roles in various physiological and pathological processes, including inflammation, metabolism, and apoptosis (a form of cell death).
In terms of influencing GDF15 levels, most research so far has been in the context of pharmaceutical interventions, particularly in relation to conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.
- mfer 3y agoI think it would be really useful to understand what influences these proteins so we can potentially stop dementia from happening or reduce it. From other research, I suspect we can influence things. Certain populations (based on lifestyle choices / environment) have lower rates of dementia than other places.
- croes 3y agoThe imbalance could just be a symptom of the reason for dementia not the reason as such.
- wongarsu 3y agoWhich is a good argument against medication that just lowers GDF15 levels. But if you approach it as "what lifestyle changes lower GDF15" then there's a good chance that those changes would also attack the actual reason for dementia.
- croshan 3y agoExactly. I know if medication were to be developed, checking "are GDF15 levels significantly lowered" would be part of the trials. But how often does the medication development process check the result we care about: "does this medication then go on to reduce the chance of dementia?"
- wbl 3y agoAlways. Secondary endpoints are heavily disfavored in FDA approval.
- autokad 3y agoyeah strongly agree. it was thought that those plaques in the brain was the cause of alz; however, some research has indicated that's the body's defense against what is going on, not the cause. so you could take a medication that lowers GDF15, and its possible it actually increases the onset of dementia.
- markstos 3y agoIs GDF15 found in animal foods, plant foods, both or maybe neither because we create it?
- FollowingTheDao 3y agonot only do we create it, but it’s stimulated by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. You know like ibuprofen that everyone takes all the time. Edited to remove Tylenol and replace it with ibuprofen. For some reason I thought Tylenol wasn’t ibuprofen. Thanks!
- petemill 3y agoTylenol / Acetaminophen / Paracetamol is not an NSAID. Ibuprofen and Aspirin is.
- Spooky23 3y agoBest honestly to minimize use of this type of medication. Tylenol is rough on your liver.
- reducesuffering 3y agoNSAID's have issues with your stomach, ears, and stroke risk. Best to minimize them all, with the smallest combination dose of tylenol + 1 NSAID.
- Terr_ 3y agoIt's creepy to read about the effects of too much Acetaminophen. (Active ingredient in Tylenol, and also known as Paracetamol.) People overdosing on it is actually the primary cause of liver-failure--sometimes associated with people trying to handle the pain of withdrawal from some other drug--and liver-failure is a terrible way to go.
- TaupeRanger 3y agoWell, it's just a correlation. No causal link has been established, and anything you do to get "less" GDF15 could put you at greater risk for other types of diseases, since we have no idea what the relationships between these things are. I wouldn't lose sleep over this - like many things in health and nutrition, we must simply admit our ignorance while seeking and hoping for a breakthrough.
- steelframe 3y ago> I wouldn't lose sleep over this Good, because poor sleep habits earlier in life have been strongly correlated with development of dementia later in life.
- Tempest1981 3y agoHa! So raising kids is likely correlated. And attending college... (or maybe I was doing it wrong)
- chad_c 3y agoAnd just living! Our time is short.
- gunapologist99 3y agoThankfully, we only have so long. Also thankfully, we have so long!
- FollowingTheDao 3y agoGDF15 is a gene that is activated by NSAIDs. So avoiding them would be a good place to start. https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/Q99988/entry https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/Q99988/entry https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0163725819300282#:~:text=Growth%20Differentiation%20Factor%2015%20(GDF15)%2C%20also%20known%20as%20NSAID,as%20a%20mature%20dimer%20GDF15 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S01637.... Is also causes insulin release. But NSAIDs have been linked to dementia in the past, so… https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2690966/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2690966/ it would be pretty crazy if drug companies were causing all of the dementia and Alzheimer’s, wouldn’t it?
- Supermancho 3y ago> it would be pretty crazy if drug companies were causing all of the dementia and Alzheimer’s, wouldn’t it This makes sense from 10k feet. If you perennially treat conditions in the body to reduce symptoms, but the conditions persist, aren't you just masking the inflammation/trauma that accumulates? Perhaps this is the best we can do for the human condition, with current technology.
- FollowingTheDao 3y agoI agree that the modality of treating symptoms and not curing disease is probably causing more problems then just having the disease. I disagree that it is the best we can do. I have essentially cured my self of an "incurable" disease, one which was treated with drugs that masked the symptoms while my nervous system kept collapsing. when doctors see my labs and I tell them my story they are uninterested. That has nothing to do with technology and everything to do with curiosity and compassion. My mother was told to take a baby aspirin everyday for her heart. Then the doctor one day to her just to stop taking them. It turns out that "just stopping" casued her to have a mini stroke (TIAs) which was well known issue when stopping long term low dose aspirin. That, and the fact that psychiatrists killed my nephew with medications, has led me to truths about the medical and pharmaceutical industries that see them as an obstacle to human health.