CHAPTER 4 The U-Bomb in Your Brain Flashcards
What is Aduhelm (aducanumab) approved for?
Treating Alzheimer’s disease by reducing levels of beta-amyloid protein in the brain
How long had it been since a new treatment for Alzheimer’s was approved before Aduhelm?
Nearly twenty years
What was a major criticism of Aduhelm after its approval?
Lack of convincing evidence showing that it actually works
What is the annual cost of Aduhelm for each patient?
$56,000
What did the FDA clarify about Aduhelm’s prescription guidelines?
It should only be prescribed for people with mild memory or thinking problems
What is the projected number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s in the next forty years?
Projected to jump fourfold
What is currently ranked as the third leading cause of death for people age sixty-five or older?
Alzheimer’s disease
What are some conditions correlated with increased risk for cognitive decline?
- Increased blood glucose
- Insulin resistance
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Inflammation
What is the relationship between obesity and dementia risk according to a longitudinal study?
Obese individuals aged forty to forty-five had a 74% increased risk of dementia later in life
What was the finding of a 2016 Japanese study regarding uric acid levels and dementia risk?
High uric acid levels were associated with a fourfold increased risk of dementia diagnosis
What does ‘high-normal’ uric acid refer to in terms of blood levels?
Above 5.75 mg/dL in men and around 4.8 mg/dL in women
How much more likely are individuals with high-normal uric acid to have white matter changes in the brain?
2.6 times more likely
What cognitive issues are associated with high uric acid levels in older adults?
Increased likelihood of scoring in the lowest twenty-fifth percentile in measurements of thinking speed and memory
True or False: Obesity affects cognitive performance only in older adults.
False
What is the term used to describe Alzheimer’s disease in relation to diabetes?
Type 3 diabetes
What dietary component has been linked to increased risk of dementia and is associated with uric acid?
Fructose
What does insulin resistance in the brain affect?
Memory and learning tasks
What does fructose metabolism lead to in the context of uric acid production?
Increased uric acid production and depletion of energy (ATP)
What important molecule does elevated uric acid reduce the production of?
Nitric oxide (NO)
What effect does fructose have on synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus according to studies on mice?
Reduces synaptic plasticity, impacting learning and memory formation
Fill in the blank: Elevated uric acid is commonly found in people with _______.
Metabolic syndrome
What effect does fructose have on synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus?
It reduces synaptic plasticity, making it harder for brain cells to make connections necessary for learning and memory formation.
What are the two main effects of fructose on the brain that are hallmarks of dementia?
- Reduced ability to process information
- Decreased growth of new brain cells
What did researchers find could partially reverse the cognitive decline caused by fructose?
Changing the diet and removing fructose.
