Скачать или смотреть Study: Ragweed could protect against Alzheimer's

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - There is new research on ragweed from the Journal of Natural Products. It appears to have compounds in it that could protect our nerve cells from Alzheimer's disease.

It's already been a miserable season for ragweed and other allergens. Pediatricians at TriHealth in Anderson Township say symptoms have been of of their chief complaints.

"A lot of people are complaining about eye symptoms, itchy eyes, swollen eyes as well, stuffy nose, sneezing," says Dr. Denise Warrick. "We've had a really late spring this year, and so I think a lot of the plants are blooming all at one time, and so we are seeing high pollen count in the environment and so certainly that's affecting a lot of people."

Now as this article shows, scientists have identified and characterized ragweed compounds that could help nerve cells survive even when certain markers called peptides are present for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease impacts the brain and memory. It's been linked to the accumulation of amyloid peptides which form plaques that kill nerve cells.

After testing tested 300 natural plant extracts for activity against Alzheimer's, researchers found there are about 14 in ragweed that have neuroprotective activity. These appear to protect neurons from Alzheimer's toxicity.

Seven had been identified previously, seven were new.

Two of the new ones, when used on cells that produce Alzheimer's toxins, saw 20 percent more cells survived with treatment than without.

This is a preliminary study but it's often how we find compounds for new medications that improve the odds of prevention and survival.