Grapes- Great For The Brain

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Misty L. Trepke

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GRAPES ARE GREAT FOR THE BRAIN

 

http://www.missouri.edu/%7Enews/releases/grapesandstrokes.html

 

GRAPES ARE GREAT FOR THE BRAINMU Researcher Finds Grapes May Minimize

Brain Damage in Stroke Victims

 

 

COLUMBIA, Mo. ­— They can happen in a matter of seconds, but can

incapacitate people for the rest of their lives. Strokes are sudden,

quick and, in many cases, permanent. Researchers at the University of

Missouri-Columbia's School of Medicine believe that help may be as

close as the local grocery store's produce section.

 

" For years, scientists have advocated drinking a glass of red wine

once or twice a day to help with cardiovascular health, " said Grace

Sun, a professor of biochemistry and part of a husband-wife research

team at MU. " Our research has shown that a compound in red wine or

grapes can have a similar impact on brain health, and in some cases,

may help minimize the damage to the brain when a stroke occurs. "

 

When a stroke happens due to a blockage of blood flow to the brain,

no oxygen or nutrients can enter the affected region of the brain.

Soon after, neurons in the affected area of the brain begin to

release excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters that encourage

calcium to move into the neurons. This calcium influx

generates " reactive oxygen species, " or " free radicals, " that can be

very damaging. Studies with animal models indicate that the influx of

calcium and generation of free radicals can result in delayed cell

death, a process that occurs over the next few days.

 

However, Sun, and her husband, Albert Sun, a professor of

pharmacology at MU, discovered that resveratrol, a compound found in

grapes, can absorb the free radicals and stop them from doing any

further damage to the brain or individual cells. While some damage to

neurons is still sustained, the researchers found a remarkable

difference between brain cells that had been treated with resveratrol

and those that had not.

 

In the study with the animal model, the compound was helpful if taken

both before and after a stroke, " Grace Sun said. " We are continuing

to search for compounds in our everyday diet that have lasting

impacts on our health. This is just one example. "

 

Red wine contains high amounts of resveratrol, but it is also found

in enriched grape skins. The husband and wife team are part of the MU

Center for Phytonutrient and Phytochemical Studies directed by Dennis

Lubahn, an associate professor of biochemistry. The Center conducts

research on botanical compounds and their effects on human health.

 

This research on resveratrol was published in the Journal of Brain

Research and was funded by a $5.7 million grant from the National

Institutes of Health.

 

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