UNAIR lecturer find alternative solution to prevent Alzheimer’s

Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Illustration by Feri Fenoria

UNAIR NEWS – Alzheimer’s disease often occurs in older people, but unexpectedly, it also occurs at a young age, which is often called early senility. Senile is a symptom of dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease) which is characterized by a decreased ability of the brain to remember, think and behave.

Dr. Siti Khaerunnisa, M.Si and her team conducted a study to find natural treatment solutions to prevent adverse health effects caused by Alzheimer’s. She revealed that memory plays an important role in the protection system of the human body. So it can maintain productivity and a better quality of life.

“Memory loss is the most disruptive condition of daily activities and can affect the patient’s family condition,” she said.

The cause of memory loss, she continued, is dying cells of brain storage, reduced elasticity of blood vessels in the brain, reduced synaptic plasticity, heavy metal poisoning, and chronic exposure to cigarette smoke. Memory loss due to exposure to cigarette smoke, chronically caused by the content of chemical compounds in cigarette smoke which poison the brain.

“Continual exposure to cigarette smoke can buildup calcium ions (Ca2 +) in the cytosol which results in damage or death of neurons / nerve cells,” she said.

Some government programs to reduce the adverse effects of cigarette smoke exposure conducted by commemorating World No Tobacco Day, providing a smoking-free area, providing a special area for smokers, dissemination and posters on the dangers of smoking for health, to label the dangers of cigarettes on the cigarette packaging itself. But according to Dr. Siti, the implementation effort is still not optimal because there are still many people who are less aware of the dangers of cigarette smoke exposure

“It requires self-protection efforts to avoid these dangers to health. One effective way that can be done is through the development or new study that has the potential to prevent adverse effects on health, the Dutch eggplant, “he explained.v

According to Dr. Siti, Dutch eggplant is an alternative solution to prevent Alzheimer’s. It has phytochemical properties working as antioxidants good for health. The results of this study showed that the administration of Dutch eggplant ethanol extract can prevent brain memory loss due to exposure to cigarette smoke.

“The results of the study revealed that the mechanism of Dutch eggplant ethanol extract can prevent memory loss through transcriptional activation of cAMP factor Binding Element (CREB) in the hippocampus which can increase the formation of neurotropic factors involved in maintaining synaptic plasticity in the brain, namely Brain Derived Neurothropic Factor (BDNF),” she said.

Increased BDNF correlated positively with glia activation, cells that function to support and protect from brain cell damage. The results of the study are expected, continued Dr. Siti, to be used as a reference source in recognizing, cultivating and utilizing Dutch eggplants as a deterrent to dementia that can be proven and explained scientifically.

“The research can be considered a standardized herbal medicine for further clinical research,” she stated.

Author: Khefti Al Mawalia Editor: Nuri Hermawan

Reference:

https://innovareacademics.in/journals/index.php/ijap/article/download/34861/20431

S. Khaerunnisa, K. Kusumastuti, N. . Aminah, A. Mustika, and Suhartati, “Mechanism of Solanum betaceum to Prevent Memory Impairment in Cigarette Smoke Exposed Rat,” Asian J. Pharm. Clin. Res., vol. 11, no. Special Issue 3, 2018.

Berita Terkait

UNAIR News

UNAIR News

Media komunikasi dan informasi seputar kampus Universitas Airlangga (Unair).