Alzheimer's? Why?

[Michaelangelica]

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Monday 31 December 2007

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Alzheimer's, testosterone and the ageing brain

Boosting levels of testosterone in the body can reduce levels of the protein beta amyloid in the brain, one of the key players in causing Alzheimer's disease, according to a recent breakthrough in Australian research. Read Transcript

The Health Report

Some interesting long-term research projects starting in Australia.
Professor for Ageing and Alzheimer's disease at Edith Cowan University are excited about their latest study. It's showing a strong link between the male sex hormone testosterone and Alzheimer's disease.
. . .
. . .
One of the things that is quite clear is that obesity is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and obesity also results in a reduction of testosterone levels.

******************************

Now meet Joan Mann, who's a volunteer in a large study set up to help us understand what happens when we age.

Joan Mann: Well I'm a widow, I will be 80 next birthday.

[Monomer]

Reversal Of Alzheimer's Symptoms Within Minutes In Human Study

An extraordinary new scientific study, which for the first time documents marked improvement in Alzheimer’s disease within minutes of administration of a therapeutic molecule, has just been published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation.

This new study highlights the importance of certain soluble proteins, called cytokines, in Alzheimer’s disease. The study focuses on one of these cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF), a critical component of the brain’s immune system. Normally, TNF finely regulates the transmission of neural impulses in the brain. The authors hypothesized that elevated levels of TNF in Alzheimer’s disease interfere with this regulation. To reduce elevated TNF, the authors gave patients an injection of an anti-TNF therapeutic called etanercept. Excess TNF-alpha has been documented in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Alzheimer’s.

[ErlyRisa]

Originally Posted by Michaelangelica

Just listened to this
Health Report - 21 May 2007 - Alzheimer's, testosterone and the ageing brain
Big study being done in Australia.
Diet is part of it.
It only stays podcast on the site for four weeks.
If I can workout how to download and upload it I will attach it to this post (big ask)
Well worth a listen.
Alzheimer's, testosterone and the ageing brain
Boosting levels of testosterone in the body can reduce levels of the protein beta amyloid in the brain, one of the key players in causing Alzheimer's disease, according to a recent breakthrough in Australian research.

--This may actually support my theory....
Low ambient level testosterone people are more likely to "ponder" upon daily dealings of emotions. -I say ambient, because the opposite effect can occur when either + or - ive swings of Testosterone levels occur (--usually based on the persons actually brain state at the time of the swing ---> so artificially trying to swing the levels may not achieve the desired effect) ,, ie If a person has programmed themselves to ponder, than getting rid of such a childhood nuance from thier current state is near on impossible without MORE pondering.
--ie, to get alleviate the process that has cuased the databank detriment, you need to instances the process that caused. The only tweak that you have to add to the new instance is to 'not' store emotion.

Linux Talk:
--it's about Killing a Daemon process, specifically the "Data Delegation System"
and typing
>/etc/rc.3/Data Delegation System --What's Now not Past not Present --restart
or more likely what's neede in human terms, yet still in Lunix speak

>/etc/rc.1/Epiphany --reload and get intouch with
>/etc/rc.1/Logic --add data < Epiphany Fart Data (Aurora northern Lights style input)
>/etc/rc.1/Logic -- link --> Epihany, --start
>/etc/rc.2/Standard Worker Process --restart (citing previous epiphany, within each task in higher lever init's) , ie that is to say the Epiphany must be remmeber and not just shoveled into another memory bank... it must spread like a virus throughout the Standar Worker Processes of the daily living of the being.
>/etc/rc.3/Data Delegation System --rememeber epihapny, spread to other thoughts/algortihms and link to the reasoning Deamon. Let the reasoning Deamon know that you will not be stroing memory about emotion any longer and can now work on the epiphany data.


.... so how could this be done

--ECT seems to be one option... after a course of ECT the mind has a window to start Anew with it's Daemons... sadly most of the time this isn't the case. - environment would be a crucial issue after the ECT ....

however unorthodox, and probably unethical...

Grab the person... start them off by suggestive Memory maps.... you need to give them time to start typing in the commands to A. Kill the Data Delegation Daemon, B. when re-invoked, to not bother with emotion, and re-instance the Reasoning Daemeon with new Epiphany Data.

Techniques include talking about the possibility of Learning the Piano. - Do all the subconscience mumbo with the patient - ie. actually let them pass by a Piano accidentally.
Do all paper work around them in yellow.
When you feel that the subconscience has taken on the algrotithm your trying to setup... wait, then start ECT (maybe 3months after)

ECT -- do it, and keep the person in a state of stupor (via drugs, not ECT!!)
in the stupor state instantiate the paper work, and the piano... constant piano playing comes to mind, with yellow scores.

Awaken the person... take away the vectors that started the knew logical layer thought process.... make sure NO thoughts about emotional state are instantiated (of course need I remind that during ECT you are to treat the person like a number, so that they finally "get it" --if they seem emotionalduring the stupor state, than nothing you do durin awakening will help)

Note: Awakening is the process of starting from rc.0 ..1. 2. etc (Lunix Speak)

Now...you have to get them to actually start thier new hobby (the piano)... the reasoning process needs a new avenue to amuse itself. ie. before it was good at reasoning emotion, now it needs to reason why Beethoven was still able to listen deaf.

-the Logic Layer... it's not good enough to flood the system with Piano data... the Data Delegation system is already exhausted. In other words, rope learning the piano won't work (neither will tutoring --to much possibility of starting up emotion reasoning again 00 remeber that the reasoning Daemon asks the Data Delegation System for input.), so the learning has to be Autonomous, the reasoning Daemon must be called by the Data Delegation layer that is taking care of desire.

So things to take from this convoluted theory...

Thier is no emotion (just like a computer) ... thier are only a bunch of Algorithms, that can only work at certain rates (threading/mutiprocessing is limited by physics of the mind -- and the PC!)

The only emotion that we "feel" is that of the Mind getting "hot or cold" , like a CPU gets hot or cold... but in the mind's case it's the chemical resovoir that is the skull that causes these states.... eg. Alchol is like water to the CPU (if the cpu were to say made out of vacuum tubes and not sealed) - difference with the human mind is that little robots come and fix things (to an extent), Sadly the only way to fix things of the mind is to re-work the algorithms. -which maybe impossible if you haven't the source code.

--The rantings of a geek watching SBS Weather.

[ErlyRisa]

Originally Posted by Michaelangelica

Just listened to this
Health Report - 21 May 2007 - Alzheimer's, testosterone and the ageing brain
Big study being done in Australia.
Diet is part of it.
It only stays podcast on the site for four weeks.
If I can workout how to download and upload it I will attach it to this post (big ask)
Well worth a listen.
Alzheimer's, testosterone and the ageing brain
Boosting levels of testosterone in the body can reduce levels of the protein beta amyloid in the brain, one of the key players in causing Alzheimer's disease, according to a recent breakthrough in Australian research.

--This may actually support my theory....
Low ambient level testosterone people are more likely to "ponder" upon daily dealings of emotions. -I say ambient, because the opposite effect can occur when either + or - ive swings of Testosterone levels occur (--usually based on the persons actually brain state at the time of the swing ---> so artificially trying to swing the levels may not achieve the desired effect) ,, ie If a person has programmed themselves to ponder, than getting rid of such a childhood nuance from thier current state is near on impossible without MORE pondering.
--ie, to get alleviate the process that has cuased the databank detriment, you need to instances the process that caused. The only tweak that you have to add to the new instance is to 'not' store emotion.

Linux Talk:
--it's about Killing a Daemon process, specifically the "Data Delegation System"
and typing
>/etc/rc.3/Data Delegation System --What's Now not Past not Present --restart
or more likely what's neede in human terms, yet still in Lunix speak

>/etc/rc.1/Epiphany --reload and get intouch with
>/etc/rc.1/Logic --add data < Epiphany Fart Data (Aurora northern Lights style input)
>/etc/rc.1/Logic -- link --> Epihany, --start
>/etc/rc.2/Standard Worker Process --restart (citing previous epiphany, within each task in higher lever init's) , ie that is to say the Epiphany must be remmeber and not just shoveled into another memory bank... it must spread like a virus throughout the Standar Worker Processes of the daily living of the being.
>/etc/rc.3/Data Delegation System --rememeber epihapny, spread to other thoughts/algortihms and link to the reasoning Deamon. Let the reasoning Deamon know that you will not be stroing memory about emotion any longer and can now work on the epiphany data.


.... so how could this be done

--ECT seems to be one option... after a course of ECT the mind has a window to start Anew with it's Daemons... sadly most of the time this isn't the case. - environment would be a crucial issue after the ECT ....

however unorthodox, and probably unethical...

Grab the person... start them off by suggestive Memory maps.... you need to give them time to start typing in the commands to A. Kill the Data Delegation Daemon, B. when re-invoked, to not bother with emotion, and re-instance the Reasoning Daemeon with new Epiphany Data.

Techniques include talking about the possibility of Learning the Piano. - Do all the subconscience mumbo with the patient - ie. actually let them pass by a Piano accidentally.
Do all paper work around them in yellow.
When you feel that the subconscience has taken on the algrotithm your trying to setup... wait, then start ECT (maybe 3months after)

ECT -- do it, and keep the person in a state of stupor (via drugs, not ECT!!)
in the stupor state instantiate the paper work, and the piano... constant piano playing comes to mind, with yellow scores.

Awaken the person... take away the vectors that started the knew logical layer thought process.... make sure NO thoughts about emotional state are instantiated (of course need I remind that during ECT you are to treat the person like a number, so that they finally "get it" --if they seem emotionalduring the stupor state, than nothing you do durin awakening will help)

Note: Awakening is the process of starting from rc.0 ..1. 2. etc (Lunix Speak)

Now...you have to get them to actually start thier new hobby (the piano)... the reasoning process needs a new avenue to amuse itself. ie. before it was good at reasoning emotion, now it needs to reason why Beethoven was still able to listen deaf.

-the Logic Layer... it's not good enough to flood the system with Piano data... the Data Delegation system is already exhausted. In other words, rope learning the piano won't work (neither will tutoring --to much possibility of starting up emotion reasoning again 00 remeber that the reasoning Daemon asks the Data Delegation System for input.), so the learning has to be Autonomous, the reasoning Daemon must be called by the Data Delegation layer that is taking care of desire.

So things to take from this convoluted theory...

Thier is no emotion (just like a computer) ... thier are only a bunch of Algorithms, that can only work at certain rates (threading/mutiprocessing is limited by physics of the mind -- and the PC!)

The only emotion that we "feel" is that of the Mind getting "hot or cold" , like a CPU gets hot or cold... but in the mind's case it's the chemical resovoir that is the skull that causes these states.... eg. Alchol is like water to the CPU (if the cpu were to say made out of vacuum tubes and not sealed) - difference with the human mind is that little robots come and fix things (to an extent), Sadly the only way to fix things of the mind is to re-work the algorithms. -which maybe impossible if you haven't the source code.

--The rantings of a geek watching SBS Weather.

[Michaelangelica]

-The rantings of a geek watching SBS Weather

Sorry ErlyRiser but your thought processes are totally beyond me.

I know we shouldn't laugh at this evil, cruel condition.
Unfortunately it can be funny too.
Truck Bearing Kibble

[Michaelangelica]

After Terry's announcement last month about his illness and the
subsequent flood of mail, he has provided another update on Sandra
Kidby's website (Terry Pratchett / Paul Kidby Discworld Artwork by Paul Kidby). I have reproduced
Terry's response below:


Folks,

We have had many tens of thousands of e-mails from people and the
letter flood is just beginning to bite (hilariously, spam traps
here tend to pick up things like 'medication' and treat quite a
lot of the mail as spam. If we switch them off, we get all the
spam too - hurrah!). All this good will is appreciated, although
there is no way on gods earth that I will be able to reply to even
a fraction of you. I would like people to bear in mind that I
have been diagnosed quite early after an MRI scan and a whole
afternoon of tests. While nothing is certain, one does not have
to be unduly optimistic to believe that I will be around and,
hopefully, working for some time to come. My advice, therefore,
is to calm down and await events. I have not actually gone, yet.

As an aside, thanks to everyone who bought Making Money making it,
we understand, the best selling hardback fiction of 2007. At
least that's what the figures say. It will be interesting to see
if the papers say it too.

Happy Hogswatch!

from *** Discworld Monthly ***
*** Issue 130: February 2008 ***
<http://www.oook.org.uk/dwm/mail.cgi/u/dwm/>

[Michaelangelica]

East meets West in the search for Alzheimer's therapeutics - novel dimeric inhibitors from tacrine and huperzine A.

Li WM, Kan KK, Carlier PR, Pang YP, Han YF.

Department of Biochemistry, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is linked to cholinergic deficiency and the overactivation of glutamate receptors. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition treatment approach has produced the most encouraging results in clinical practice, and memantine, a moderate antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, has been approved for treating AD. However, AChE inhibitors have limited success as they only improve memory in mild dementia but cannot stop the process of neurodegeneration; while memantine possesses neuroprotective effects only with a little ability in memory enhancement.
There has been a major rush among neuroscience research institutions and pharmaceutical firms worldwide to search for safer and more effective therapeutic agents for AD.
The novel dimers, derived from tacrine and the fragment of huperzine A (HA'), have been demonstrated to be potent and selective reversible inhibitors of AChE. Bis(7)-tacrine, bis(12)-hupyridone (E12E) and HA'(10)-tacrine, are representatives of three series of novel dimers. According to the preclinical studies, these compounds have been shown to have low toxicity and high efficacy for improving cognitive deficits in several animal models.
More interestingly, bis(7)-tacrine, similar to memantine, prevents glutamate-induced neurotoxicity by moderately blocking glutamate receptor NMDA subtype. Furthermore, bis(7)-tacrine, as well as E12E, possesses multiple neuroprotective effects in vitro and in vivo. Taking together, these dimeric AChE inhibitors, especially bis(7)-tacrine, E12E and HA'(10)-tacrine, may provide beneficial effects in AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.



PMID: 17908041 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

East meets West in the search for Alzheimer's ther...[Curr Alzheimer Res. 2007] - PubMed Result

Studies also suggest that donepezil may help improve behavior and memory in patients with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s when it is given in combination with memantine (Namenda)

.
Alzheimer's Disease Medications - Alzheimer's Disease Health Information - NY Times Health
Herbs and Dietary Supplements

Manufacturers of herbal remedies and dietary supplements do not need FDA approval to sell their products. Just like a drug, herbs and supplements can affect the body's chemistry, and therefore have the potential to produce side effects that may be harmful.
There have been several reported cases of serious and even lethal side effects from herbal products. Always check with your doctor before using any herbal remedy or dietary supplement.

Ginkgo Biloba. Ginkgo biloba is a common herb that has antioxidant properties and appears to increase blood flow to the brain. A 2002 study of healthy people who took over-the-counter ginkgo for 6 weeks reported no improvements in memory or mental function.
Studies are reporting that a ginkgo biloba extract, called Egb 761, may slightly improve the memory of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. The herb poses a small increased risk for bleeding, which may be hazardous in combination with other blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin or high-doses of vitamin E.

Turmeric. Studies suggest that circumin, a compound found in the spice turmeric, has properties that may protect against the Alzheimer's disease process.

Melatonin. Melatonin, a natural hormone involved in sleep regulation, is of interest to researchers. It is an antioxidant, may break down beta amyloid, and is able to pass through the blood-brain barrier. Deficiencies have been observed in patients with Alzheimer's disease. A number of studies (but not all) report that melatonin may improve sleep habits in these patients. Some studies reported slower progression of mental impairment.

Alzheimer's Disease Medications - Alzheimer's Disease Health Information - NY Times Health

From left field:-

lots of other things potentiate opiates. antideppressants are notorious. the obvious shit like alcohol and benzo,s ( seems like most OD,s are associated with these, I know mine was.) cats claw herb, and a host of other herbs most likely......memantine, TAGAMET.

Potentiators... - Opiophile.org

Memantine is not available in the US at this time. It is in stage 3 trials for Alzheimer’s disease. US approval may come within the next 2 years. Memantine is now approved in the European Union for the treatment of Alzheimer’s.
It has been marketed in Germany since 1978 for the treatment of dementia and other cognitive disorders.
It comes in 10mg tablets. One or two tablets/day are sufficient to prevent opiate/amphetamine tolerance, overactivity of the NMDA receptor and consequent free radical stress inside the neuron. The most expensive option though.

See above link.

More info here:-
Alzheimer's disease

[Michaelangelica]

Anti-Alzheimer's Mechanism In Omega-3 Fatty Acids Found

ScienceDaily (Jan. 2, 2008) — It's good news that we are living longer, but bad news that the longer we live, the better our odds of developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Many Alzheimer's researchers have long touted fish oil, by pill or diet, as an accessible and inexpensive "weapon" that may delay or prevent this debilitating disease. Now, UCLA scientists have confirmed that fish oil is indeed a deterrent against Alzheimer's, and they have identified the reasons why.

Anti-Alzheimer's Mechanism In Omega-3 Fatty Acids Found
A pity fish is full of lead, mercury PCBs DDT etc

[Michaelangelica]

Mr Pratchett says:

"Part of me lives in a world of new age remedies and science, and
some of the science is a little like voodoo, but science was never
an exact science, and personally I'd eat the arse out of a dead mole
if it offered a fighting chance."

On the issue of raising awareness of dementia and the urgent need
for more research, the author added: "I intend to scream and
harangue while there is time."

In the unlikely event that you missed the news this month, Terry has
personally donated 1 million USD to Alzheimers Research UK. More
information about this is included in the news section.

Various fans felt it would be good to "Match it for Pratchett", so
if you wish to make a small donation why don't we see if we can
(collectively) match Terry's contribution.

All from the discworld monthly newsletter

<http://www.oook.org.uk/dwm/mail.cgi/list/dwm>
?

Donations for research in Australia can be made here
Alzheimers Australia
In the UK, here:-
Alzheimer's Research Trust - Alzheimer's Research Trust
In the USA?

[Monomer]

Exercise may be the simple, most effective treatment at the moment:

Mounting evidence suggests that physical activity may have benefits beyond a healthy heart and body weight. Through the past several years, population studies have suggested that exercise which raises your heart rate for at least 30 minutes several times a week can lower your risk of Alzheimer's. Physical activity appears to inhibit Alzheimer's-like brain changes in mice, slowing the development of a key feature of the disease.

In one observational study, investigators looked at the relationship of physical activity and mental function in about 6,000 women age 65 and older, over an 8 year period. They found that the women who were more physically active were less likely to experience a decline in their mental function than inactive women.

Another compelling study, conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago, was highlighted on ABC News last week. The study used mice bred to develop Alzheimer's type plaque in the brain. In the study, some mice were allowed to exercise and others were not. The brains in the physically active mice had 50 to 80 percent less plaque than the brains of the sedentary mice and they (exercising mice) produced significantly more of an enzyme in the brain that prevents plaque.

Preventing Alzheimer's: Exercise still best bet - MayoClinic.com