| CoQ10's benefits as both an energy producer and | | | | Alzheimer's disease: a build up of beta-amyloid |
| an antioxidant could make it a dual powerhouse in | | | | protein that forms plaque between brain cells, and |
| the fight against Alzheimer's, one of the most | | | | neurofibrillary tangles, which are twisted bundles of |
| common and most devastating of all age-related | | | | abnormally-shaped protien fibers in neurons. Both |
| illnesses. | | | | plaque and neurofibrillary tangles damage the brain |
| More than 4 million people in the US have | | | | cells and can eventually lead to cell death. |
| Alzheimer's disease, a deadly and progressive | | | | Though it is believed there may be a genetic |
| brain disorder that impairs memory, cognitive | | | | predisposition to Alzheimer's, evidence definitely |
| function, and physical ability. Though symptoms | | | | links the formation of both plaque and |
| differ, Alzheimer's is characterized by a degree of | | | | neurofibrillary tangles to a cycle of inflammation |
| dementia, which is defined as intellectual | | | | and resulting oxidative stress. This oxidative |
| impairment significant enough to have an adverse | | | | stress typically creates a flood of free radicals, |
| impact on daily activities and social interactions. In | | | | which are chemically imbalanced molecules that |
| fact, Alzheimer's is the number one cause of | | | | scavenge and damage the cells around them. |
| dementia in people over 60. | | | | CoQ10 works by attacking the disease on two |
| In the past 25 years the number of people with | | | | fronts, both as an energy producer that fortifies |
| Alzheimer's has doubled and the incidence of the | | | | the cell's resistance and as an antioxidant that can |
| disease is expected to increase rapidly over the | | | | stop cellular damage before it starts. As a crucial |
| coming years as the baby boom generation ages. | | | | part of the energy-production process, it boosts |
| Though research is discovering more clues to the | | | | immune system function and prevents or lessens |
| puzzle of Alzheimer's, it remains frustratingly | | | | the damaging inflammation cycle. As a potent |
| mysterious. No cause has been identified, and | | | | antioxidant it is capable of neutralizing free radicals |
| though there are some drugs that are thought to | | | | and perhaps even repairing free radical damage. |
| slow its progression, as yet there is no cure. More | | | | Numerous animal studies have reported that the |
| and more is being learned about the mechanism | | | | coenzyme effectively counteracted deficiencies in |
| of the disease, however, and new discoveries are | | | | the cellular mitochondria, which is the part of the |
| supporting the idea that CoQ10 could play a role in | | | | cell that produces energy. It has also been shown |
| both prevention and treatment. | | | | to destabilize the beta-amyloid protein that builds |
| Numerous studies have shown that low CoQ10 | | | | up to form intracellular plaque. Researchers from |
| levels are definitely associated with Alzheimer's | | | | Johns Hopkins concluded that the coenzyme |
| and other neurodegenerative diseases. Correcting | | | | definitely improved memory and cognitive function |
| this deficiency is believed to delay both the onset | | | | in animals with Alzheimer's-like brain conditions, |
| and the progression of the disease, and perhaps | | | | both by inhibiting oxidative stress and increasing |
| even contribute to repair of damaged brain cells. | | | | the cells' ability to produce energy. |
| Two key abnormalities are characteristic of | | | | |