Dementia Research

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor so I cannot diagnose or offer treatments, I am sharing this information that is considered educational.

Much of the research on dementia/Alzheimer's is centered on what is referred to as Tight Junction Proteins. These are proteins that act like clamps that hold tissues together in terms of neurological, these "clamps" hold the blood vessels together. And when the tight junction proteins become damaged, the blood vessels begin to "leak". 

Science refers the tight junction proteins as barrier as in the blood brain barrier. They will also refer to as barrier integrity.

AI says this:

 Tight junction proteins are vital for various physiological processes, including the formation of barriers in the brain (blood-brain barrier), intestines, and other tissues. They also play a role in disease mechanisms when their function is disrupted.

The barrier function occurs in the blood vessels, and they think that when they leak, this is affecting cognitive function. 

AI again:

Barrier integrity plays a significant role in dementia, particularly in conditions like Alzheimer's disease. The blood-brain barrier (BBB), a protective shield that regulates the movement of substances between the bloodstream and the brain, often becomes compromised in dementia. This breakdown can allow harmful substances to enter the brain, contributing to inflammation, oxidative stress, and neuronal damage.

A good example of this is a garden hose that is meant to carry water to your plants. If the hose lacks "barrier function" or has holes, the water will not arrive at your flowers with robustness. The water will leak out of the hose and say flood your sidewalk. 

What causes this leakage? namely oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is also known as free radical damage, inflammation, toxicity (toxins) etc. Oxidative stress attacks (degrades) cells, tissues, organs etc. Oxidative stress is corrosive, it drains the cells of their vitality. 

Some examples of origins of oxidative stress would be:

1/ Normal American living - meaning job constraints, traffic jams, financial strains, social media, not enough sleep etc. 

2/ Environmental chemicals -- could be found in cleaning products, building products, lawn care, water, air, food (pesticides and herbicides). In fact my doctor brother who was also a researcher in infertility told me that they can now pinpoint the rise in infertility to genetic shifting that is caused by chemicals.

3/ Immune system activation and now the gut is now recognized as a contributor to brain health. They refer to this as the gut/brain axis.  

AI:

The gut microbiome has a profound impact on brain health and is increasingly linked to dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. The gut-brain axis facilitates communication between the gut and the brain, and imbalances in gut microbiota can contribute to neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and disruptions in brain function.

The gut issue comes down to improper families of bacteria that are predominant. Bacteria have many classifications (families), some are better than others. The bad ones produce byproducts that tend to be inflammatory, these unwanted byproducts not only affect normal cells but migrate to the brain.