Linked Life Data

8239306

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/8239306

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:dateCreated
1993-12-10
pubmed:abstractText
Since ALCAR and L-carnitine are "shuttles" of long chain fatty acids between the cytosol and the mitochondria to undergo beta-oxidation, they play an essential role in energy production and in clearing toxic accumulations of fatty acids in the mitochondria. ALCAR has been considered of potential use in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) because of its ability to serve as a precursor for acetylcholine. However, pharmacological studies with ALCAR in animals have demonstrated its facility to maximize energy production and promote cellular membrane stability, particularly its ability to restore membranal changes that are age-related. Since recent investigations have implicated abnormal energy processing leading to cell death, and severity-dependent membrane disruption in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease, we speculate that the beneficial effects associated with ALCAR administration in Alzheimer patients are due not only to its cholinergic properties, but also to its ability to support physiological cellular functioning at the mitochondrial level. This hypothetical mechanism of action is discussed with respect to compelling supportive animal studies and recent observations of significant decrease of carnitine acetyltransferase (the catalyst of L-carnitine acylation to acetyl-L-carnitine) in autopsied Alzheimer brains.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Sep
pubmed:issn
0077-8923
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
24
pubmed:volume
695
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
324-6
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1993
pubmed:articleTitle
Acetyl-L-carnitine and Alzheimer's disease: pharmacological considerations beyond the cholinergic sphere.
pubmed:affiliation
Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Department of Scientific Affairs, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't