quinta-feira, 30 de março de 2017

Relação ambiental e Alzheimer (alga na água)?

O marisco francês e o português parece conter a toxina (BMAA em Inglês) que está a ser associada ao aparecimento de Alzheimer:
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/637550/Alzheimer-s-scientists-cause-lurking-British-waters

Citando:
"A toxin produced by the blue-green algae, also being linked to motor neurone disease (MND), has been discovered in plants and seafood and scientists fear it is contaminating the food chain and triggering the devastating brain diseases. 

The algae, found in freshwater lakes and reservoirs throughout Britain, produces a toxin called BMAA, often as a by-product of its algal bloom. 

The brains of people who have suffered from Alzheimer's and MND were found to contain high levels of BMAA and monkeys given a diet rich in the toxin developed Alzheimer's-like symptoms in less than five months. 

If the link is confirmed between the toxin and humans, it would be the first major environmental factor linked to the increasing rate of Alzheimer's."
(...)
"Although a link to the food chain has not yet been established, seafood, including French mussels and oysters and Portuguese cockles grown in estuaries, have all been found to contain BMAA."
(...)
"Professor Cox said: "We think there is a gene-environment interaction. Perhaps some people are exposed to this toxin and, instead of excreting it, they accumulate it. If the genes are the gun, the toxin is the trigger."

They agreed more research was needed."