Whilst looking for information about uric acid, I came across an interesting piece about Alzheimer’s disease and uric acid.
In the article, Mathilda refers to some recent research about uric acid as a potential cure for Alzheimer’s, or at least a way to hold the progression of the disease.
The research in this article follows on from a piece I did last year explaining how uric acid could reduce nerve damage. The researcher, Professor Firestein, pointed out to me that maintaining an adequate level of uric acid in the body is important.
There are a few more important points about uric acid, Alzheimer’s disease and related medical conditions and treatments.
The research reported by Mathilda also advises uric acid levels from 0.5 up to 6mg/dL. 0.5 sounds very low, and I would love to see the original research to confirm this value. The upper level for gout sufferers should be 5.5, but 6 is probably much better than most gout patients achieve.
Mathilda’s article gives a link to Neurology Reviews. I read some interesting stuff there, but could not find the original article. I did find the abstract for Inhibition of Iron-Catalyzed Oxidations by Attainable Uric Acid and Ascorbic Acid Levels: Therapeutic Implications for Alzheimer’s Disease and Late Cognitive Impairment on the Gerontology site, where you can also buy access to the full report. If you get a copy, can I have a look?
The author of the earlier report, Professor Firestein, has also produced a report summarizing Altered Uric Acid Levels and Disease States. The report does warn that many links between diseases and uric acid are not fully understood. Significantly, we do not know in most cases whether uric acid levels change as a cause or effect of an associated disease.
It is encouraging to see that some real life research is taking place into the specific links between uric acid and other diseases. I believe a fuller understanding of all the roles of uric acid in the human body can only serve gout research well in future.
If you have any insights on this, please feel free to comment. If you have questions about this research, or any aspect of uric acid, please ask in the Uric Acid section of the Gout Forum.
I would really love to know if doing all the things that are bad for gout sufferers will really help banish Alzheimers.
Tags: alzheimers, alzheimers disease, _uric acid
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Personally I’d try to boost my uric acid as high as I could, having a gout attack would be the point that I’d ease off. I can’t find any medical statistics to see if gout and Alzheimers are exclusive, like gout and MS. If they are, that’s a major clue in the direction of treatment. Keep up the anti-oxidants!
As an MS sufferer I found this article very interesting.
Must now pop off and see how to get the recommended daily intake.
Will post back on this blog if I notice a difference.
Any ideas? Foods that contain the necessary etc?
Pete.
I’ve not really studied this, as I look for ways to reduce uric acid.
The drugs mentioned in the report are inosine or hypoxanthine supplemented with ascorbic acid (vitamin C).
The process ought to be similar to that for gout. Start with a uric acid test ans low dose, then increase the dose with regular uric acid tests until it reaches about 6mg/dL. Anything over that will increase the gout risk, but actual gout attacks may not happen in every individual.
The main problem I anticipate is that doctors may be reluctant to prescribe these medications for purposes that they have not been licensed for.
Pete, I have MS too. Inosine is an ‘over the counter’ nutritional supplement. You could also try eating a lot of oily fish, offal, gravy, alcohol (beer is best) and caffeine, BUT NOT COFFEE. Use fructose instead of normal sugar. Avoid dairy, milk is the worst offender. Alpha lipoic acid is also being tested, as it’s a strong antioxidant that can cross the blood brain barrier. You’ll also want to keep your vitamin intake high. I take a ‘one a day’ pill for that.