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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe gut/brain connection for Alzhemiers
"findings suggest that Alzheimers may be more more preventable than health experts previously thought. The composition of bacteria in the gut is determined by a mix of genetics and lifestyle factors. Diet, exercise, stress and toxin exposure all play a huge role in the guts bacterial makeup. "
Study with mice showed that there is a definite connection between the gut flora we all have and the brain barrier that may break down leading to Alzheimer's
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/gut-bacteria-alzheimers_us_589e0e09e4b03df370d628be?
Cracklin Charlie
(12,904 posts)Brain/gut connection is fascinating stuff.
Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)& you have to wonder about the GMO connection with Alzheimer's and many other degenerative diseases. Lots of people have raised lots of legitimate questions about that over the last 20 years as GMOs & partner poison chemicals continue to permeate the food chain and America's formerly pristine waterways.
Chemical, GMO & pharmaceutical corporations have troll troops everywhere to stomp out such questions before the general public gets any ideas that might impact their bottom line.
With the KGOP's newly appointed industrial chem chomp-ion Good Old Sonny Boy Perdue now driving the USDA tractor deeper into the toxic swamp, things are not likely to improve soon.
NutmegYankee
(16,201 posts)A single gene means nothing to the bodies enzymes that digest what we've eaten. What is bad for us is high sugar diets and chemical covered foods.
diane in sf
(3,918 posts)and many GMOs are grown with a lot of pesticides.
"Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods, book from Jeffrey Smith [a compilation of research on the effects of GMOs]
Eating genetically modified food is gambling with every bite.
The biotech industry's claim that genetically modified (GM) foods are safe is shattered in this groundbreaking book. Sixty-five health risks of the foods that Americans eat every day are presented in easy-to-read two-page spreads. The left page is designed for the quick scanning reader; it includes bullets, illustrations, and quotes. The right side offers fully referenced text, describing both research studies and theoretical risks. The second half of Genetic Roulette shows how safety assessments on GM crops are not competent to identify the health problems presented in the first half. It also exposes how industry research is rigged to avoid finding problems.
This book, prepared in with input by more than 30 scientists, is for anyone wanting to understand GM technology, to learn how to protect themselves, or to share their concerns with others. It is presented in the clear, accessible style that made Jeffrey Smith's Seeds of Deception the world's best-selling book on genetically engineered foods. As the world's most complete reference on the health risks of GM foods, Genetic Roulette is also ideal for schools and libraries."
Big Blue Marble
(5,150 posts)Read "Seeds Of Deception"; will check out "Genetic Roulette."
The GMO experiment is the biggest gamble with life on earth yet.
And one which we cannot reverse if the downside destabilizes the genetic base for that life.
Big Blue Marble
(5,150 posts)about the impact of GMO'S on the genetics of gut microbial populations.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1364539/
Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)But based on my reading, observation and experience, they do impact the gut - BIGLY.
NutmegYankee
(16,201 posts)Where do you store your MAGA hat?
Never mind that I stated that chemicals, like the fungicides and insecticides we cover our food with these days are part of the issue and those are made by the chem and pharma industries.
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)Some people are calling Alzhemiers, Type 3 diabetes.
Laurian
(2,593 posts)called Type 3 Diabetes. My husband loves sweets and carbs. While I sometimes think I should more strictly regulate what he eats, I have a difficult time holding that line. He's already lost so much that he'll never regain (executive or frontal lobe functioning, ability to drive, etc.) that I don't have the heart to deny anything that will bring him a bit of comfort and enjoyment. We are likely too far down this road for anything to change its progression.
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)There are treatments out there now supposed to slow the progression I believe.
Laurian
(2,593 posts)The hope is to slow the progression. From what I've read, these drugs have not produced very dramatic or consistent results so I'm not expecting a lot. You try all you can but concentrate on making the most out of the here and now.
As people are living longer due to medical advances, I fear more and more will encounter this condition. Care and support resources are expanding to meet the growing need and he is receiving care from a medical facility associated with a major research university.
pnwmom
(108,994 posts)I'm sorry you have to go through this, and sorry for him.
JudyM
(29,274 posts)Small scale, of course, as with the coconut oil-sugar research https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25997382 but looks promising to me and I'm working on getting some for my dad.
Here's some of it, different reports covering similar info. The basic mechanism, they think, is that the pot competes with the amyloid plaque for binding sites on the neuron, actually knocking off the plaque.
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/mp060066m?journalCode=mpohbp
http://www.alzheimers.net/6-15-15-effects-of-medical-marijuana-on-alzheimers/
http://extract.suntimes.com/information-resources/10/153/12999/cannabis-oil-thc-helps-treat-alzheimers-disease-dementia-symptoms/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26757043
http://www.salk.edu/news-release/cannabinoids-remove-plaque-forming-alzheimers-proteins-from-brain-cells/
I know what you mean about the simple carbs and sugars. I've been trying to substitute more healthy stuff, like "treat" fruits and whole grains, at least some of the time, for what it's worth that seems to not be much of a deprivation. Whole grain zucchini bread, pineapple chunks, that kind of thing. Also got him started on a probiotic and a little more exercise. Whatever we do incrementally is helpful, is the way I look at it. Don't want to make them feel deprived.
Also, have you read about the iPod anecdotal research?
https://www.pri.org/stories/2014-08-08/secret-weapon-fight-against-alzheimers-might-just-be-ipod
hunter
(38,326 posts)alfredo
(60,075 posts)TexasBushwhacker
(20,214 posts)They are hell on gut flora.