Nutritional modifiers of aging brain function: use of uridine and other phosphatide precursors to increase formation of brain synapses

Wurtman R. J., CANSEV M., Sakamoto T., Ulus I.

NUTRITION REVIEWS, vol.68, no.12, 2010 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Review
  • Volume: 68 Issue: 12
  • Publication Date: 2010
  • Doi Number: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00344.x
  • Journal Name: NUTRITION REVIEWS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Keywords: aging brain function, nutritional modifiers, phosphatide precursors, uridine, PLUS DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID, CDP-CHOLINE LEVELS, RAT-BRAIN, ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE, FATTY-ACID, NEURITE OUTGROWTH, PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA CELLS, TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS, GLUTAMATE RECEPTORS, SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY
  • Bursa Uludag University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Brain phosphatide synthesis requires three circulating compounds: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), uridine, and choline. Oral administration of these phosphatide precursors to experimental animals increases the levels of phosphatides and synaptic proteins in the brain and per brain cell as well as the numbers of dendritic spines on hippocampal neurons. Arachidonic acid fails to reproduce these effects of DHA. If similar increases occur in human brain, administration of these compounds to patients with diseases that cause loss of brain synapses, such as Alzheimer's disease, could be beneficial.