Methylamino-alanine as a Potential Trigger for Neurodegenerative Disorders
Abstract
Scientific researches predict that by 2040, neurodegenerative diseases will overtake cancer as the second most common cause of death among elders. Neurodegenerative disorders emerge when the neurons of the nervous system lose their functions and die. In turn, it may impair cognition, mobility, sensation, and the coordination of the body. Some of the most notorious neurodegenerative diseases are Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. The effects and causes of these disorders are so diverse that even though they threaten millions of lives worldwide, many are yet to be discovered and cured.
In this paper, we will be examining one potential risk factor of neurodegenerative disorders, Beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA). Although it has been years since discovery, a large part of the potential of BMAA still remains a mystery. BMAA is a nonprotein amino acid first discovered with the high incidence of Amyotrophic Lateral Schlartosis/Parkinsonism Dementia Complex (ALS/PDC) in Guam. It is essential to understand the mechanisms and dangers of BMAA because this neurotoxin can be prevalent in all levels of the trophic level due to biomagnification. As veterinarians, we should understand the consequences of BMAA as it can be incorporated into plant and animal proteins. We will discuss the discovery, effects, and neurological disorders of BMAA. Furthermore, we will conclude the paper by assessing the significance of BMAA in our studies.