Eating the seaweed may be able to slow down or prevent Parkinson’s disease, according to a .
Author
Marine Krzisch
Lecturer in Neuroscience, University of Leeds
Researchers found that the seaweed – which is often used in soups and salads in Asian cuisine – may protect our neurons from free radicals to prevent this debilitating disease.
Parkinson’s is a condition that affects the nervous system, causing symptoms like shaking, stiffness and difficulty moving. It happens when neurons that produce dopamine – a chemical that helps control movement – start to die off in the brain. While Parkinson’s is not itself fatal, it causes serious complications that can lead to death. Unfortunately, there is no cure yet.
But researchers have previously between dietary antioxidants and Parkinson’s prevention. For example, research has found that – which is in many plants and fruits including red grapes, berries and peanuts – protected the neurons producing dopamine in the brain from death in several mouse models of Parkinson’s disease.
Ellagic acid, α-lipoic acid and myrtenal all as well as neuromuscular coordination in mouse models of Parkinson’s. is found in many fruits and vegetables including grapes, pomegranates, berries and nuts.
is found in various plants, such as hyssop and sage. And α-lipoic acid is found in red meat, spinach and broccoli.
that can help prevent Parkinson’s disease. Although we don’t really know how it works, suggests it is due to the antioxidants that tea contains.
Fighting free radicals
Our body produces harmful in response to such as ultraviolet rays and air pollution. Free radicals are also a of normal processes in cells.
Antioxidants are like bodyguards, protecting cells from the damage caused by free radicals. Our body naturally produces antioxidants but some foods, like Ecklonia cava, are rich in antioxidants and can supplement our naturally produced antioxidants our bodies battle free radical damage.
For the most , based in Japan, researchers induced Parkinson’s disease in mice using the pesticide . Rotenone kills the neurons that produce dopamine in the brain, which causes the mice to develop a disease that looks like Parkinson’s, with similar symptoms, such as slower movement and impaired (when there are problems moving food and waste through the digestive tract).
Once the researchers induced Parkinson’s in the mice, they fed some with antioxidants from Ecklonia cava and some with a regular diet. They found that the neurons producing dopamine in the brain of the mice fed with antioxidants seemed to be protected. Also, those mice had fewer Parkinson’s symptoms than the mice fed with the regular diet.
The researchers also looked at the effect of antioxidants in cells grown in a dish and exposed to rotenone. Rotenone increases the production of free radicals, killing the cells.
The researchers found that antioxidants decreased the production of free radicals induced by rotenone in the cells, preventing cell death. This research opens up the possibility of using Ecklonia cava – plant compounds with antioxidant properties – to develop new treatments and prevention methods for Parkinson’s.
Lost in translation?
Unfortunately, results from studies on animal models and cells are not always translatable to humans. For example, despite the of another antioxidant, vitamin C, found in cells and animal models to protect against Parkinson’s, it does not seem to have the same effect .
This is because and models do not completely mimic Parkinson’s disease in humans. Animals have different brain structures and functions compared to humans, which means the way the disease develops and progresses can be different. On the other hand, cell models, even if researchers use human cells, .
Swimming, sailing, even just building a sandcastle – the ocean benefits our physical and mental wellbeing. Curious about how a strong coastal connection helps drive marine conservation, scientists are diving in to investigate the power of blue health.
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Parkinson’s disease affects the entire brain and body, involving many different types of cells and interactions. Cell models usually focus on a single type of cell, missing out on this complexity.
Parkinson’s disease develops over many years, with over time. Cell and animal models cannot easily replicate this long-term progression. For example, the maximum lifespan of most laboratory mice is two years, whereas Parkinson’s is thought to .
In conclusion, robust large-scale clinical trials are needed to validate the efficacy of Ecklonia cava in preventing or slowing down Parkinson’s. However, because Ecklonia cava is already available in food supplements, it probably does no harm to take it on a regular basis.
Will it prevent you from getting Parkinson’s? Maybe, but so does .
Marine Krzisch does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
