New study links Alzheimer's disease with liver function and diet

Scientists have presented new research pointing to the liver as a potential culprit in the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference, the research suggests that a compound produced in the liver can confer neurocognitive protections, and when the liver cannot effectively produce those compounds then cognitive deficits can result in the brain.

Molecules called plasmalogens were the primary focus of the new research. These are a class of lipids generated in the liver, and certain types have been found to be critical for effective synaptic function in the brain. The study set out to measure whether reduced levels of several specific types of plasmalogens corresponded with an increased risk of Alzheimer's or mild cognitive decline.

Over 1,500 human subjects were examined, split into three categories: those clinically diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, those with clinically diagnosed mild cognitive impairment, or those healthy and cognitively normal. The results showed statistically significant differences in plasmalogen levels between all three groups with lower levels associated with higher rates of Alzheimer's or cognitive decline.

"This research shows that an age-related deficiency of plasmalogens could lead to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, because the liver cannot make enough of them," says Mitchel Kling, one of the researchers on the project.