Alzheimer Disease: Potocnik F

Kalaria RN, Maestre GE, Arizaga R, Friedland RP, Galasko D, Hall K, Luchsinger JA, Ogunniyi A, Perry EK, Potocnik F, Prince M, Stewart R, Wimo A, Zhang ZX, Antuono P, Anonymous00415. · Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. · Lancet Neurol. · Pubmed #18667359 No free full text.

Abstract: Despite mortality due to communicable diseases, poverty, and human conflicts, dementia incidence is destined to increase in the developing world in tandem with the ageing population. Current data from developing countries suggest that age-adjusted dementia prevalence estimates in 65 year olds are high (>or=5%) in certain Asian and Latin American countries, but consistently low (1-3%) in India and sub-Saharan Africa; Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60% whereas vascular dementia accounts for approximately 30% of the prevalence. Early-onset familial forms of dementia with single-gene defects occur in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Illiteracy remains a risk factor for dementia. The APOE epsilon4 allele does not influence dementia progression in sub-Saharan Africans. Vascular factors, such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes, are likely to increase the burden of dementia. Use of traditional diets and medicinal plant extracts might aid prevention and treatment. Dementia costs in developing countries are estimated to be US$73 billion yearly, but care demands social protection, which seems scarce in these regions.

van Rensburg SJ, Berman P, Potocnik F, MacGregor P, Hon D, de Villiers N. · Department of Chemical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service, Tygerberg Hospital and Stellenbosch University, South Africa. · Metab Brain Dis. · Pubmed #15214509 No free full text.

Abstract: Transferrin is a glycosylated metal-carrying serum protein. One of the biological functions of glycosylation is to regulate the life span of proteins, less glycosylation leading to a faster clearance of a protein from the circulation. In the case of transferrin, this would indirectly also influence iron homeostasis. Higher glycosylation has been demonstrated in patients with Parkinson's disease and rheumatoid arthritis. A genetic variant of transferrin, TfC2, occurs with increased frequency in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), rheumatoid arthritis, and other diseases associated with a free radical etiology. Investigations have so far not revealed the reason for the pro-oxidative qualities of TfC2. In this study the glycosylation of Tf in AD (TfC1 homozygotes and TfC1C2 heterozygotes) was compared with alcohol-induced dementia (AID) patients and nondemented, age-matched controls, using isoelectric focusing followed by blotting with anti-Tf antibodies. In TfC1 homozygotes a shift was found toward higher sialylation, but in TfC1C2 heterozygotes the 5- and 6-sialylated bands were less concentrated. The decreased sialalytion found for TfC1C2 heterozygotes, may indicate that the pro-oxidative TfC2 molecules are removed from the circulation at a faster rate than TfC1. This may be of benefit to AD patients having TfC2, but still does not explain why this Tf variant is pro-oxidative.