Major Cause of Dementia Discovered

Dementia is a brain disorder characterized by cognitive impairments, loss of memory, loss of nerve cells, and a loss of brain functioning. The cause of dementia has long been unknown, but scientists have now found a direct link to dementia and may be able to prevent or cure dementia in the future. Scientists have discovered that elevated levels of urea, a metabolic breakdown of protein, in the brain have been found in dementia sufferers. The buildup of this chemical to toxic levels can cause brain damage and even be the cause of dementia. While scientists do not know the root cause of this excess urea in the body, it can be assumed that impaired kidney function would contribute to the problem because urea is expelled in urine and if the kidneys are not be able to remove the urea properly, it can build up in the body. Urea levels must rise four-fold in order to be considered toxic. There are currently laxatives on the market that can remove excess ammonia from the body by trapping it in the gut, so maybe some day in the future scientists can use a similar approach to remove excess urea and prevent dementia before it occurs.