We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
GLOBE SCIENTIFIC, LLC

Download Mobile App




Folic Acid Deficiency Linked to Parkinson's

By Biotechdaily staff writers
Posted on 20 May 2002
Folic acid deficiency may increase the brain's susceptibility to Parkinson's disease, according to a mouse study conducted by scientists at the National Institute on Aging (NIA, Bethesda, MD, USA). More...
The findings were reported in the January 2002 issue of the Journal of Neurochemistry.

The investigators fed one group of mice a diet that included folate, while a second group was fed a diet lacking this vitamin. The mice were then given moderate amounts of MPTP, a chemical that can cause symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease. In the mice fed folate, MPTP caused only mild symptoms of disease, but mice fed the folate-deficient diet developed severe symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The scientists found that mice with low amounts of dietary folic acid had elevated levels of homocysteine in the blood and brain. They suspect that increased homocysteine levels in the brain damaged the DNA of nerve cells in the substantia nigra, which produces dopamine.

Loss of dopamine causes nerve cells to dysfunction, resulting in the inability of patients to direct or control their movements in a normal way. In the folate-fed mice, dopamine-producing nerve cells were able to repair their damaged DNA and counteract the adverse effects of homocysteine. In folate-deficient mice, however, similar nerve cells were not able to repair their extensive DNA damage, so they died. The scientists noted that people with Parkinson's disease often have low levels of folic acid in their blood, but it is not known if this is a result of the disease process or if they are simply malnourished because of their illness. Based on this study, it would appear that consuming adequate amounts of folic acid could help protect the aging brain against Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases.

"This is the first direct evidence that folic acid may have a key role in protecting adult nerve cells against age-related disease,” said Mark Mattson, Ph.D., chief of the NIA's
Laboratory of Neurosciences.



Related Links:
National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Gold Member
Troponin T QC
Troponin T Quality Control
3-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Alfa Plus Sampler
New
STI Test
REALQUALITY RQ-SevenSTI
New
Myocardial Infarction Test
Finecare cTn I/NT-proBNP Rapid Quantitative Test
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: Ear wax could be a possible screening medium for Parkinson’s disease (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Earwax Test Accurately Detects Parkinson’s by Identifying Odor Molecules

Current tests for Parkinson’s disease (PD) rely heavily on clinical scales and neuroimaging, which are often subjective, expensive, and ill-suited for routine screening. Since most treatments only slow... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: Capsule sponge opened to reveal the sponge (Photo courtesy of StillVision)

Capsule Sponge Test Could Replace Endoscopies for Monitoring Esophageal Cancer Risk

Esophageal cancer remains a challenging disease to treat, with fewer than 20% of patients surviving beyond five years of diagnosis—a statistic that has remained largely unchanged for decades.... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The new tool shines a light on elusive genomic patterns (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)

Computational Tool Exposes Hidden Cancer DNA Changes Influencing Treatment Resistance

Structural changes in tumor DNA are among the most damaging genetic alterations in cancer, yet they often go undetected, particularly when tissue samples are degraded or of low quality. These hidden genomic... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.