Anaesthesia ups risk of developing Alzheimer's-like symptoms.Byline: ANI Washington, Mar 25 (ANI): Repetitive anaesthesia anaesthesia anesthesia. with isoflurane (one of the most common anaesthetics by inhalation) increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (ăls`hī'mərz, ôls–), degenerative disease of nerve cells in the cerebral cortex that leads to atrophy of the brain and senile dementia. (AD) like symptoms in patients with genetic risk factors for the disease, according to a rodent study. Spanish researchers coordinated by Doctors Maria Angeles Mena and Justo Garcia de Yebenes, from CIBERNED (Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas), found that anaesthesia is safe for normal mice but potentially harmful for mice with mutations of the amyloid precursor protein Amyloid precursor protein (APP) is an integral membrane protein expressed in many tissues and concentrated in the synapses of neurons. Its primary function is not known, though it has been implicated as a regulator of synapse formation[2] and neural plasticity. (APP). The findings suggest a possible mechanism of developing Alzheimer. Some epidemiological studies have shown an increased prevalence of AD in patients undergoing anaesthesia and surgery. "Before surgery requiring anesthesia, it may be ideal to know the genetic background of the patients so that the drugs used and the pattern of anaesthesia may be personalized accordingly,' said de Yebenes. The linkage between the repetitive use of isoflurane anaesthesia and the development of AD changes in mice with mutations indicates the advisability of testing for genetic risk factors for AD in patients prior to surgery. The researchers concluded that anaesthesia is safe for normal mice but risky for asymptomatic carriers of mutations, which produce AD. The research has been based on the application of anaesthesia twice a week during three months in normal mice and in mice with mutations (7-10 months old) that produce AD (known as APPswe). The results show alterations produced in the brain of mice with mutations very similar to those observed in patients that have already developed Alzheimer's disease. It was found that application of repetitive anaesthesia in genetically altered mice increased their death rate. Mutant mice showed less reactivity after anaesthesia was over. Their time for recovery after anaesthesia was also increased. Repetitive anaesthesia produced persistent disorders affecting behavior of mutant mice. Neuronal death increased in brain areas critical for cognition. There was an increase in inflammatory response and deposition of beta-amyloid peptides. Isoflurane anaesthesia of mutant mice altered the levels of chaperones (proteins which regulate the processing of abnormal proteins) The work has been published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease The Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (often abbreviated JAD) is an international multidisciplinary journal published by IOS Press covering the etiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, genetics, behavior, treatment and psychology of Alzheimer's disease. . (ANI) Copyright 2009 Asian News International The Asian News International (ANI) agency provides multimedia news to China and 50 bureaus in India. It covers virtually all of South Asia since its foundation and presently claims, on its official website, to be the leading South Asia-wide news agency. (ANI) - All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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