Popcorn can trigger Alzheimer’s disease

Popcorn diet is thought to have influence in increasing the risk of Alzheimer disease. Quoted from CBS News, popcorn contain diacetyl (DA) is the source of the problem in making the effects of brain proteins into abnormal. This then lead to Alzheimer’s.

According to a study from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, diacetyl previously associated with the occurrence of respiratory problems experienced by popcorn factory workers, especially those dealing with the microwave popcorn and flavoring food.

On the product itself popcorn, diacetyl is used to give taste and smell of butter. In addition to popcorn, diacetyl is used in margarine, candy, bread, until the pet food. While for beverage products, diacetyl was applied to fermented beverages such as beer and some wine chardonnay.

In this study, researchers wanted to find out whether the formation of diacetyl affect many amyloid plaques in the brain can make as a sign of Alzheimer’s. Diacetyl are known to have a structure similar to the substance beta-amyloid protein production.

Effect of diacetyl in the body that does not cause an increase in the clumping of beta-amyloid, but create toxic effects on nerve cells to grow. These chemicals can also penetrate the blood-brain barrier, a layer of cells that are useful in keeping harmful substances into the brain and the brain menembuskan useful materials. In addition, diacetyl to reduce the working protein that protects nerve cells.

“Given the chronic exposure of industrial workers to the DA, the study found the likelihood of long-term impairments in neuronal toxicity mediated by the DA,” said Dr. Robert Vince, director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Drug Design.