This gross habit could reduce your risk of alzheimer’s by 37%, according to experts
Instead of stopping to smell the flowers, scientists suggest stopping to smell your farts.
Although the thought might be enough to turn your stomach, scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine say the gas behind the nasty, rotten-egg smell is Hydrogen sulfide may help protect aging brain cells from Alzheimer’s disease.
While the odorous gas is highly toxic in large amounts, smaller doses can provide serious health benefits, Johns Hopkins researchers noted in a study published in a scientific journal. matter Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences.
The chief scientist of the study, Dr. “Our new data establish a tight link between aging, neurodegeneration, and cell signaling using hydrogen sulfide and other gaseous molecules within the cell,” said Bindu Paul.
The human body naturally produces small amounts of hydrogen sulfide, which helps regulate functions in the body. Gases may facilitate cellular messaging with the brain.
Smelling the rotten egg smell that often comes with gas may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, scientists suggest (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Co-author Dr. According to Solomon Snyder, hydrogen sulfide alters target proteins through a process called chemical sulfhydration.
Scientists say that sulfhydration levels in the brain decrease with age, and pointed out that this trend is seen more in Alzheimer’s patients.
Colleague Dr. “Here, using the same method, we confirmed a decrease in sulfhydration in the Alzheimer’s brain,” said Milos Filipovic.
As part of the research, Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists examined mice that were genetically modified to mimic human Alzheimer’s disease.
Mice were injected with a hydrogen sulfide-carrying compound called NaGYY, which slowly releases passenger hydrogen sulfide molecules throughout the body. The mice were tested for changes in memory and motor functions over a 12-week period.
Behavioral tests on mice showed that hydrogen sulfide improved cognitive and motor functions by 50 percent compared to mice without the injection.
Mice that received the treatment were better able to remember the locations of platform arrangements and appeared to be more physically active than mice that simulated Alzheimer’s disease but did not receive the treatment.
“The results showed that the behavioral consequences of Alzheimer’s disease could be reversed by the addition of hydrogen sulfide, but the researchers wanted to investigate how the brain responds chemically to the gaseous molecule,” Johns Hopkins Medicine wrote. wrote a press release about the study.
Scientists say that sulfhydration levels in the brain decrease with age, and pointed out that this trend is seen more in Alzheimer’s patients (Getty/iStock)
A series of experiments revealed a change in a common enzyme called glycogen synthase β (GSK3β). When there are healthy levels of hydrogen sulfide, GSK3β acts as a signaling molecule.
The researchers found that in the absence of hydrogen sulfide, GSK3β is hyperattracted to another protein in the brain called Tau.
When GSK3β and Tau interact, Tau causes aggregates inside nerve cells. According to the researchers, as these clusters grow, the proteins that become entangled interfere with communication between nerves, ultimately causing them to die.
“This leads to the impairment and eventual loss of cognition, memory and motor functions that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease,” he said in the press release.
“Understanding the chain of events is important for designing treatments that can block this interaction, as hydrogen sulfide can,” said doctoral student Daniel Giovinazzo, first author of the study.
Until just a few years ago, researchers lacked the tools to mimic the body’s production of small amounts of hydrogen sulfide inside cells.
Researcher Dr. “The compound used in this study does just that and shows that we can successfully reverse some aspects of Alzheimer’s disease by restoring hydrogen sulfide levels in the brain,” said Matt Whiteman.
