It is believed that niacin (nicotinic acid) is useful primarily for the health of the digestive and nervous systems. A new study has found another important property of this vitamin – the ability to trigger an immune response in response to the formation of toxic plaques in the brain. And this, in turn, can slow down the decline in cognitive functions in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The results of the work were published in the journal Science Translation Medicine.
The researchers set out to find out exactly how niacin modulates the immune response. And they found that inside the brain, vitamin B3 interacted directly with the HCAR2 receptor – it is present in immune cells that are physically associated with amyloid plaques. The plaques themselves are made of toxic proteins that stick together in the brains of dementia patients, interfering with the communication between cells. This disruption of cellular communication eventually leads to memory loss and confusion, the hallmarks of dementia. And when niacin activated the HCAR2 receptor, it triggered a chain of beneficial immune cell responses.
“Once animal models of Alzheimer’s were given niacin, they had fewer plaques and improved their cognitive function. We were able to demonstrate that these changes were associated with the HCAR2 receptor.” Express of one of the leaders of the study, Ph.D. Gary Landreth.
In order for the body to receive the right amount of niacin, a balanced diet is enough. The vitamin is also found in some supplements and cholesterol-lowering medications. The medical term for niacin deficiency is pellagra, and the condition presents with three symptoms: dermatitis, dementia, and diarrhea. People with this condition may develop a scaly, pigmented skin rash when exposed to the sun.
