Cyanobacteria contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease – Interia

A chemical compound produced by blue-green cyanobacteria increases the levels of biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Blue-green algae cause Alzheimer’s disease?

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In the 50s of last century, the population of Chamorro (the indigenous people of Guam and the neighboring islands of the archipelago Marianas) there was an epidemic of dementia, associated with the advent of the brains neurofibrillary tangles, similar to those seen in patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have shown that these symptoms were caused by exposure to 3-methyl-amino-L-alanine (BMAA) contained in the seeds of plants Cycadophyta.

BMAA came not from the plant itself, and from cyanobacteria associated with the roots Cycadophyta. Blue-green algae is an ancient single-celled organisms inhabiting deserts and oceans, producing BMAA in large quantities. In the course of the study, 14 of 39 samples contained BMAA.

Studies in monkeys have shown that animals exposed to BMAA produced by cyanobacteria, suffering from dementia. BMAA increases the concentration of protein tau and of beta-amyloid in the brain. It was concluded that cyanobacteria may indirectly cause the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in humans. That’s what happened at the Chamorro people.

Blue-green algae are at the root of many food chains, raising the risk of bioaccumulation BMAA to high levels. High concentrations of BMAA was discovered in shark fins, so the researchers advise against the consumption of these fish soups.