Galactooligosaccharide Composition for Cognitive Dysfunction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for cognitive dysfunction and emotional disturbances in neuropsychiatric illnesses or disorders, or in aging, are inadequate in effectively preventing or treating these conditions, particularly as they relate to cognitive decline, dementia, anxiety disorders, and depressive disorders.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising a mixture of galactooligosaccharides (GOS) is orally administered to interact with neurons in the gastrointestinal tract, increasing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and reducing cortisol secretion, thereby addressing cognitive and emotional disturbances. The GOS mixture includes disaccharides, trisaccharides, tetrasaccharides, and pentasaccharides, which are fermented by specific colonic bacteria, promoting a prebiotic and anti-inflammatory effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current treatments are used for cognitive dysfunction and emotional disturbances, then some therapeutic effect is achieved, but the treatments are inadequate in effectively preventing or treating these conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter by using a specific mixture of galactooligosaccharides (GOS) with defined molecular weight distribution (average degree of polymerization of 3-7) to achieve improved therapeutic effectiveness for multiple neuropsychiatric conditions, resolving the inadequacy of current treatments
Solution Approach 2:
The GOS composition is designed to have multi-functional applicability across various neuropsychiatric disorders including cognitive decline, dementia, anxiety disorders, and depressive disorders, making a single treatment approach effective for multiple conditions
2Reliability
If GOS composition is orally administered to increase NMDAR levels and reduce cortisol secretion, then cognitive and emotional disturbances are addressed, but the mechanism involves direct interaction with neurons in the gastrointestinal tract which is an unexpected effect
Solution Approach 1:
The GOS composition acts as an intermediary substance that ferments in the colon to produce short-chain fatty acids, which then mediate the effect on neurons in the gastrointestinal tract and subsequently on NMDAR levels in the brain, providing a plausible mechanism for the observed therapeutic effects
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The GOS composition demonstrates anxiolytic properties, reduces stress hormone secretion, and improves cognitive impairment, making it beneficial for anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and cognitive decline associated with aging, dementia, and schizophrenia, while also having neuroprotective effects.
Implementation Method 1
Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are examples of prebiotics that are resistant to mammalian gastrointestinal digestive enzymes but are fermented by specific colonic bacteria.
Implementation Method 2
oral administration to a mammal, such as a human, of a composition comprising a mixture of galactooligosaccharides can result in a direct interaction with the neurons located in the gastrointestinal tract, that in turn may result in an unexpected increase in the levels of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs)
Implementation Method 3
It has also been found that oral administration of a GOS composition lowers the secretion of cortisol. Since cortisol is released in response to stress this suggests that the composition may reduce the exaggerated cortisol secretion that is symptomatic of anxiety disorders and depressive disorders.
Data Source
AI summary
A galactooligosaccharide composition comprising a mixture of disaccharides, trisaccharides, a tetrasaccharide and a pentasaccharide for use in preventing or treating cognitive dysfunction and/or emotional disturbances in neuropsychiatric illnesses or ageing.