News briefs

Could herpes play a role in Alzheimer’s disease?

After analysing data from three brain banks, researchers from the US have reported that human herpes viruses (HHV) are more abundant in the brains of patients with Alzheimer disease than in healthy controls, and suspect that they may play a role in regulatory genetic networks that lead to the disease. Published in Neuron, the study lends support to the hypothesis that viruses are involved in Alzheimer disease, and suggests potential new paths for treatment. The researchers analysed data from three major brain banks, courtesy of the National Institutes of Health’s Accelerating Medicines Partnership – Alzheimer’s Disease (AMP-AD) consortium, which allowed them to look at raw genomic data for large numbers of patients with Alzheimer disease. They constructed, mapped and compared regulatory gene networks on multiple levels, looking at DNA, RNA and proteins in areas of the brain implicated in Alzheimer disease. They found that human herpes virus DNA and RNA were more abundant in the brains of those diagnosed post mortem with the disease and that their abundance was correlated with clinical dementia scores. The two viruses they found to be most strongly associated with Alzheimer disease, HHV-6A and HHV-7, were not as abundant in the brains of those with other neurodegenerative disorders. When they constructed networks that modelled how the viral genes and human genes interacted, they found that the viral genes were regulating and being regulated by human genes, including genes associated with increased Alzheimer risk.

https://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(18)30421-5

Six of ten Australian packaged foods are highly or ultra-processed

Researchers from the George Institute for Global Health have found that six of ten Australian packaged foods were highly or ultra-processed; more than half were discretionary or junk products, and only one-third are healthy foods. Published in Nutrients, the study examined 40 664 packaged food items, ranging from breads to sauces, confectionery, canned foods, oils, and dairy products. They determined their Health Star Rating, whether they were core or discretionary products, and the extent of their processing. They also looked at the proportion of foods meeting re-formulation targets for sodium, saturated fat, and sugar. The key findings were that 53% of the Australian packaged foods are discretionary products: energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods, such as sweetened soft drinks, cordials, flavoured waters, biscuits, chocolate, meat pies, butter and salty snacks; only 47% were considered core foods — fruit and vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, cereal grains, lean meats, fish and dairy products —that should constitute a large part of our diet according to Australian Dietary Guidelines. Of the products analysed, 38% had a Health Star Rating of 3.5 or more, which usually indicates a basic level of healthiness; 61% were ultra-processed, 18% moderately processed, and 21% less processed foods. Almost all convenience foods (98%) — including ready-to-eat meals, pre-prepared sauces or dressings, canned or processed meats, frozen meals, and desserts — were in the ultra-processed category.

http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/10/6/702