Beer protects the brain from damage
Beer contains components that help protect brain cells against damage associated with certain neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
This is according to the results of a study carried out by scientists, although this does not mean that you should drink beer all the time.
The compound xanthohumol is an active component in hops and beer. It is a member of the flavonoid family, which are metabolites found in various plants that are responsible for plant color. Interest in these compounds has grown significantly in recent years.
When consumed in the right amount, they protect the body from various diseases. For example, research shows that they help the health of the cardiovascular system and play a positive role in cancer or inflammation.
One of the reasons why they attract the attention of scientists is that they are powerful antioxidants. During normal metabolism, our cells produce various molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are highly reactive molecules containing oxygen, such as hydrogen peroxide.
Although these molecules play various important roles in the cell, such as supporting signaling pathways, excess amounts of reactive oxygen species are harmful. This can lead to overproduction of ROS or dysfunction of our built-in antioxidant systems.
Each of these can lead to oxidative damage to various important molecules in the cell, such as proteins or DNA, which is known as oxidative stress.
ROS are particularly active in the brain. The oxidative damage they can cause to neuronal cells is believed to be involved in the development of some neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.
Xanthohumol is known to have strong antioxidant properties. Many scientists wondered if xanthohumol could play a neuroprotective role in the brain, so they undertook a study to test this hypothesis.
In the study, which has been published in several journals, the researchers placed rat neurons in a dish of xanthohumol and over time it damaged them through oxidative stress.
Not only do they trap harmful reactive molecules, but they also lead to the upregulation of certain protective genes called cytoprotective genes that protect cells from this stress that leads to diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration and inflammation.
The researchers also discovered that the mechanism of action is achieved by activating a cellular protein called NF2, which is a transcription factor. Transcription factors are important molecules in the cell that bind to stretches of DNA and then change the rate of gene expression.
Although more research is warranted, especially with live organisms, the scientists believe these results indicate that xanthohumol may represent a potential candidate to fight neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease .
It is important to note that while xanthohumol has a neuroprotective role, this does not mean that consuming excessive amounts of beer is healthy for the brain.
The substance xanthohumol contained in hops also blocks the excessive activity of testosterone and estrogen. In addition, scientists believe that the substance has a connection with the release of a protein called PSA, which stimulates the development of prostate cancer.
When beer is consumed in small quantities, it can help with various types of diseases, but we recommend that you do not overdo it, because excessive consumption can lead to harm.
