home Bless you Consuming large amounts of salt is associated with Alzheimer’s
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World.- Researchers found in the brains of animals a high accumulation of the so-called tau protein, associated with Alzheimer’s disease and various neurodegenerative disorders.
Normally, this intracellular molecule stabilizes the cell skeleton in neurons. However, when the skeleton reorganizes, this protein congregates in neurofibrillary knots and causes the neuron to malfunction and, in some cases, its death.
The research authors studied the brain tests of the rodents and concluded that the amount of tau protein in their cerebral cortex and hippocampus doubled. However, the total concentration of these proteins did not change.
However, researchers found no neurofibrillary knots or traces of neurodegeneration or accumulations of another protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease, beta amyloid.
After three months of excessive salt intake, the mice struggled to recognize new objects and suffered orientation problems. Researchers then chose to feed rodents with the amino acid L-arginine— a precursor to nitric oxide—something that helped them prevent dementia in animals.
Scientists explained that it was the reduction of nitric oxide synthesis by excessive salt consumption that was the main reason for cognitive decline. Avoiding salt-rich diets could help prevent cognitive decline in older people, the study authors concluded.
Source: Sputnik
