The study in cell.com is very technical I can't or won't try to decipher it. However, it talks about improving hippocampal plasticity in a few places in the mouse study and I couldn't help but think of ME/CFS and all our hippocampus problems. Supposedly HMB is very safe, used by body builders - who knows?
I did see the study and sounds interesting - I've taken HMB in the past but not in many years. I also fed it through an AI to give some context since I don't have the brainpower these days to read it.
This study suggests that beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate (HMB), a common muscle-building supplement, may have potential benefits for conditions like Alzheimer's disease and cognitive impairment. Some key findings:
• HMB increases plasticity and calcium currents in mouse hippocampal neurons in vitro, which are involved in memory and learning.
• Orally administered HMB improves spatial memory and reduces plaque burden in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
• HMB interacts with the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), a nuclear receptor involved in fat metabolism. This interaction is necessary for HMB's effects on neuronal plasticity and cognition.
• HMB's effects on neuronal plasticity, cognition and plaque load require the presence of PPARα. In mice lacking PPARα, HMB was ineffective.
This suggests that HMB may exert its benefits through PPARα activation. The authors propose that HMB, which is safe and widely used as a supplement, could potentially be repurposed as an additive therapy for conditions like Alzheimer's and cognitive impairment. However, more research is needed to validate these findings and determine appropriate and safe doses for human use.
The key relevance to ME/CFS, brain fog, etc is that HMB's effects on neuronal plasticity, cognition and plaque load - which are impaired in these conditions - suggest it may potentially provide some benefit. However, further studies specifically targeting these patient populations would be needed to confirm any potential benefits.
What are PPARa and how does that translate to humans?
PPARα stands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha. It is a type of nuclear receptor that regulates the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis. Some key points about PPARα:
• PPARα is found in high levels in tissues that oxidize fatty acids, like the liver, muscle and kidney. It is involved in regulating fatty acid uptake, transport and oxidation in these tissues.
• PPARα acts as a "fat sensor" by binding to fatty acids and their derivatives. This binding activates PPARα, which then regulates the expression of genes involved in fatty acid metabolism.
• In humans, PPARα activation has been shown to lower triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and blood pressure. Drugs that activate PPARα, like fibrates, are used to treat dyslipidemia.
• PPARα is also expressed at lower levels in the brain, including in the hippocampus which is involved in memory and learning. Activation of neuronal PPARα has been linked to improvements in cognition.
• This study found that HMB activates PPARα in hippocampal neurons, which contributes to its effects on neuronal plasticity and cognition.
So in summary, PPARα is a nuclear receptor that regulates fatty acid metabolism and triglyceride levels. Drugs that activate PPARα are used to treat dyslipidemia in humans. This study suggests that activating neuronal PPARα, in addition to its metabolic effects, may also have benefits for cognition by promoting neuronal plasticity. HMB appears to exert some of its effects through activation of neuronal PPARα in mice.
However, more research is needed to determine if and how HMB may activate PPARα in humans, what doses may be appropriate, and if HMB supplementation could produce similar cognitive benefits for conditions like Alzheimer's disease and cognitive impairment.
edited now and only exists in your quote 