Brain Starvation As We Age Appears To Trigger Alzheimer' Strategy

Northwestern University ^ | 24-Dec-2008 | Marla Paul

[grey_whiskers]

Please keep us posted!

[traderrob6]

“have to wonder if the accumulation of amyloid plaques is just an effect, not the cause of the underlying pathology”

Bingo. Just as plaques in coronary arteries are initially protective in function.

[MainFrame65]

High blood glucose is a serious condition that, over time, causes severe damage to almost every part of the body - but produces NO immediate symptoms even with glucose levels several times normal.

LOW blood glucose, on the other hand, produces immediate, apparent, and severe reactions, including severe confusion, hallucinations, and unconsciousness. It is not uncommon for diabetics to have this problem when they fail to keep the balance of exercise, medication, and carbohydrate intake in proper balance. My stepfather had this problem naturally, and experienced this spontaneously a few times, including at his eldest daughter’s wedding.

I have neuropathy in both feet and lower legs, and 4 years ago I had an A1c of 7.6. My Dr. handed me a “diabetic diet” on 5 or 6 sheets of paper and prescribed a glucose meter for me to develop a baseline for treatment.

The diet was less than unappealing, and included a lot of carbs that I did not want to consume. I decided to just concentrate on reducing carb intake, with particular emphasis on the carbs that affected me most - sugar, of course, but also rice and potatoes. Bread and pasta are not quite as bad, so I have small amounts of these occasionally. And I do eat fruits daily, and a bowl of bran flakes every morning.

But I do NOT take any diabetes medication, my A1c is now 5.6, and my average glucose reading (morning and night, at least 2 hours after eating) for the past 30 days is 95.

95 is well below the 110 that is considered a good level, but is is good enough to protect from Alzheimers? It has not cured my neuropathy in 4 years. Is that because it still rises to higher levels immediately after each meal or snack, and only drops back after 2 hours? What is the effect of this on Alzheimer susceptibility?

[texas booster]

I'll call a friend with diabetes that has started a regime he is convinced slows neuropathy. Will list the details later today.

[MainFrame65]

Thanks - I have tried several medications, including vitamins B1 and B6, benfotiamine (which definitely DOES increase B1 levels in blood), gabapentin, and Lyrica without effect, although each of them did cause some temporary discomfort in my feet. And of course, the lower A1c and glucose levels did not seem to change anything.

Note that my problem is numbness, not pain. Some of the drugs did cause some tingling and other discomfort.

[fightinJAG]

I have to wonder if the accumulation of amyloid plaques is just an effect, not the cause of the underlying pathology.

I was just about to say that. More than one study, IIRC, has shown no cognitive improvement even when the plaque was removed.

This would make sense if the plaques form because of the lack of glucose and it is the lack of glucose that is damaging the brain.

Alternatively, the lack of glucose could be caused by some other condition---e.g., inflammation that causes micro-swelling and inhibits circulation---and it is the lack of circulation that causes the damage and the lack of glucose.

[RightField]

psst . . . over here

[esquirette]

So could we safely conclude that by increasing blood flow to the brain - exercise - we can prevent the disease?

[GOPJ]

Vassar said it also is possible that drugs could be designed to block the elF2alpha protein that begins the formation of the protein clumps, known as amyloid plaques.

Mucking with brain chemistry is always spooky - but this might work.

[texas booster]

Where have you found bioidentical hormones that you trust?