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Alpha Lipoic acid explored as an anti-aging compound
From Biosingularity
Researchers said today they have identified the mechanism of action of lipoic acid, a remarkable compound that in animal experiments appears to slow down the process of aging, improve blood flow, enhance immune function and perform many other functions.
The findings, discussed at the Diet and Optimum Health conference sponsored by the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, shed light on how this micronutrient might perform such a wide range of beneficial functions.
The evidence suggests that lipoic acid is actually a low-level stressor that turns on the basic cellular defenses of the body, including some of those that naturally decline with age, said Tory Hagen, an LPI researcher and associate professor of biochemistry and biophysics at OSU. In particular, it tends to restore levels of glutathione, a protective antioxidant and detoxification compound, to those of a young animal. It also acts as a strong anti-inflammatory agent, which is relevant to many degenerative diseases.
Researchers at LPI are studying vitamins, dietary approaches and micronutrients that may be implicated in the aging or degenerative disease process, and say that lipoic acid appears to be one of those with the most compelling promise. Its normally found at low levels in green leafy vegetables, but can also be taken as a supplement.
According to Hagen, research on the natural processes of aging, and steps that could slow it or improve health until near the end of life, are of growing importance.
Were coming into the middle of an aging epidemic in the country, he said. In a short time more than 70 million Americans will be over 65. This is partly because of the Baby Boom, but also people are living longer, being saved with antibiotics and other medical treatments. In any case, it will be an unprecedented number of elderly people in this nation.
The goal of LPI research, Hagen said, is to address issues of healthspan, not just lifespan
meaning the ability to live a long life with comparatively good health and vigor, free of degenerative disease, until very near death. The best mechanisms to accomplish that, scientists say, have everything to do with diet, exercise, healthy lifestyle habits and micronutrient intake.
At the moment, Hagen said, thats not the way things appear to be headed
diabetes is skyrocketing, about 50 percent of people over 65 have high blood pressure, heart disease often leads to permanent disability, and almost half of the elderly people in America have malnutrition that is easily preventable.
No single intervention can address all of these issues, Hagen said, but one that scientists keep coming back to is lipoic acid.
Our studies have shown that mice supplemented with lipoic acid have a cognitive ability, behavior, and genetic expression of almost 100 detoxification and antioxidant genes that are comparable to that of young animals, Hagen said. They arent just living longer, they are living better
and thats the goal were after.
What the OSU researchers now believe is that the role of lipoic acid is not so much a direct one to benefit cells, but rather an indirect aid that kick starts declining function in cells and helps them recover the functions that came more easily and naturally in young animals.
In various effects, lipoic acid appears to help restore a cellular signaling process that tends to break down in older blood vessels. It reduces mitochondrial decay in cells, which is closely linked to the symptoms of aging. With age, glutathione levels naturally decline, making older animals more susceptible to both free radicals and other environmental toxins
but lipoic acid can restore glutathione function to near normal. And the expression and function of other genes seems to come back to life.
We never really expected such a surprising range of benefits from one compound, Hagen said. This is really unprecedented, and were pretty excited about it.
Many other presentations have been made at this conference on the role of diet, lifestyle and micronutrients in health and degenerative disease, including cancer, heart disease, neurological diseases and aging
Dr. Perlmutter’s comment:
This is supportive of our longstanding recommendation of lipoic acid in our programs geared at preserving and enhancing brain function. NeuroActives BrainSustain
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May 29th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Hello Dr. Perlmutter,
You may remember me from the International Academy of Nutrition and Preventive Medicine and Carroll Thompson here in Asheville, NC.
Both my parents have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in the past 5 months. I started my father on Brain Sustain during the 6 weeks he was home after 1 week in hospital and 1 month in nursing home. Since then he has been in 2 geri-psych units, 1 nursing home. Now he’s finally in the state-run Black Mountain Center for Alzheimer’s because of his anger & violence.
Tomorrow I am taking the full Tier 3 to the Black Mountain Center. They have agreed to give those to Dad, as long as I provide them.
Question: Do you know of any facilities where they use your program? If so, which ones, and how can I get in touch with them?
I have put myself on Tier 2 as my “prevent dementia program”. I zip down to the Arden office and buy direct.
Question: I wrote one article about my experiences up to the 6th week. That was published in 2 local papers. I have written a second article about the first 4 months and looking for a place to publish it. Any suggestions?
Question: As a teacher and public lecturer for all of my 27 years in the field of nutrition, I am an excellent speaker. And I’m fascinated by the whole topic. I’d like to speak about dementia/Alzheimer’s. Do you know of organizations and/or meetings that I could contact for possible speaking opportunities?
Thanks for your books, supplements, and answers to my questions. Elizabeth Pavka
May 29th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Elizabeth,
Generally nursing homes do not have a problem with patients using our nutritional products. Often however, they are more comfortable if a doctor will sanction their use. Typically, most doctors are OK with ordering Brain Sustain and DHA.
You might try your local Alzheimer’s support group for leads on speaking. Also, one would think that your local paper would jump at the chance to publish your current experiences as a follow up to your first articles.