Alzheimers risk linked to compound found in popular joint health supplements

Many older adults turn to glucosamine to manage aging joints, but for individuals with mild cognitive impairment, the supplement could be linked to faster progression to Alzheimer’s disease.To investigate how glucosamine affects dementia risk and mortality, University of Florida researchers analyzed medical records of patients with mild cognitive impairment, tracked laboratory mouse models and examined healthy versus Alzheimer’s-affected human brains.The study, which was published in Nature Metabolism, focused on glycosylation, a natural process where brain cells attach small chains of sugar to proteins.7 NEW DEMENTIA RISK FACTORS REVEALED — INCLUDING ONE MILLIONS STRUGGLE WITH"You can think of these sugar chains as the labels and fittings on a machine part — they help a protein fold correctly, get shipped to the right place in the cell and connect with its partners," senior author Ramon Sun, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry and molecular biology in the College of Medicine at University of Florida, told Fox News Digital."The right amount is essential."Many older adults turn to glucosamine to manage aging joints, but for individuals with mild cognitive impairment, the supplement could be linked to faster progression to Alzheimer’s disease.

(iStock)"Glucosamine is a naturally occurring compound of sugar and an amino acid group that is a fundamental structural building block in the body," Neil Levin, senior nutrition education manager of Now, a manufacturer of glucosamine supplements in Illinois, told Fox News Digital.Glucosamine is concentrated in cartilage, the connective tissue that cushions joints, and is a component of larger molecules that help give cartilage its strength, elasticity and ability to retain water, he added."Support for aging joints is the primary reason people take glucosamine as a dietary supplement," Levin said.ALZHEIMER'S BLOOD TESTS MAY PREDICT SYMPTOMS YEARS IN ADVANCE, BUT EXPERTS URGE CAUTIONThe body uses an internal "checkpoint" ...