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Protein Power in Fighting Dementia

Every day we consume food in three categories: fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. We refer to these as the “macro-nutrients.” One in particular – proteins – deserves more attention than it commonly receives. As science works to uncover the mystery of dementia, it is searching brain-related proteins for clues.

We have heard much about the first category of macronutrients over the last several decades, including saturated and poly-unsaturated fats. We have also heard much over the last several years about carbohydrates. We know that some of these carbohydrates can be anti-inflammatory, and some can be very inflammatory to our bodies. I have spoken about this at length in many of my seminars and in my Cleanse classes.

However, we hear little about the last category of macro-nutrients, and yet proteins play such an important role in our overall health and wellness. For example, the building blocks for every protein that we consume are called amino acids. These little protein constituents have names such a lysine, cysteine, guanine, and adenine. Some of these amino acids we can manufacture ourselves, and they are called the non-essential amino acids. Others we must consume in our foods, and they are called the essential amino acids.

The proteins I want to talk about today are "assembled" by the cells from specific amino acids. While they are not specifically consumed, we certainly need enough protein in our diets to provide the building block amino acids in order to support the production of other proteins by the cells.

The Role of mRNA

Proteins do much for us. You see, every cell in your body uses your DNA and ultimately your three forms of RNA to construct specific proteins every second of every day.

This is how the new generation of shots were developed for the coronavirus. In that instance the “m” or messenger RNA of the spike protein component of the “novel coronavirus” was encapsulated in a material that would allow it to pass into the cells. There it would take over the function of the natural m-RNA that your body would normally produce and begin replicating the spike protein in order to allow your body’s immune system to detect this and form antibodies against it.

You need to understand what the mRNA in each one of your cells does. It requires a specific set of amino acids to attract the corresponding set in order for your cells to manufacture a specific protein and send it out into your body to do its specific job. Now this particular protein could be for an antibody against a foreign invader or a specific hormone that this tissue is designed to form. It could also be a protein to transport something else like iron or a thyroid hormone.

You see each protein has a specific purpose in the body depending on the sequence of amino acids and the tissue that generates that protein.  And that brings me to a specific research study that was performed at the University of Cambridge at the UK Dementia Research Institute.

Unfolding the Cause of Dementia

In order to understand what these researchers discovered, it is important to recognize that there are two main proteins of concern in regard to Alzheimer’s. They are amyloid and tau. These proteins are actually “malformed” proteins. You see, proteins are formed and then become “folded” in the brain. This occurs in order to form a stable, three- dimensional structure that allows for normal cognitive function. However, unfortunately, these folded proteins can be “mis-folded”, which causes them to become inactive or, worse yet, toxic.

Normally, the brain has a system that can detect these mis-folded proteins and either correct or destroy them. Unfortunately, as the brain degenerates, usually as it ages, this mechanism becomes impaired, and these mis-folded proteins begin to accumulate. This is the hallmark of Alzheimer’s.

The researchers at the University of Cambridge wanted to find out if stress on the cells caused this misfolding of the proteins. They stressed the area where these proteins are formed in the cells: the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Surprisingly, they found that by doing so the accumulations of mis-folded proteins broke up and unraveled. This theoretically would then allow the proteins to refold correctly.

This research is ongoing, and it appears that the stressing of the cells is linked to temperature. There is a class of specific proteins called “heat shock proteins” (HSP) which respond to stress from higher-than-normal body temperatures, such as what would occur in a sauna bath. These HSP’s appear to be a major factor in the protein refolding mechanism.
Studies preformed in Scandinavian countries may be demonstrating that those who regularly use saunas could be at a lower risk for developing dementia. One theory for this is that the mild stress of the higher temperatures on the cells may trigger the formation of HSP’s and thereby correct the misfolded proteins in the brain.

Hope for the Future

Further research is in the works and may indicate that regular use of high temperature baths like a sauna could be a game changer relative to the onset and progression of dementia.