brain disorders Archives - Amazing Health Advances

NEW Research Links 3 More Pesticides to Parkinson’s Disease

The AHA! Team — Mon, 06 May 2024 18:41:51 +0000

Patrick Tims via NaturalHealth365 – The call to restrict or ban pesticide use is not mere alarmism; it’s grounded in substantial evidence and urgent necessity. Paraquat – a highly toxic herbicide – has long been linked to Parkinson’s disease. Now, a recent report has shed alarming light on the dire consequences associated with the use of three more pesticides. This latest analysis unequivocally demonstrates that these harmful chemicals, when applied to crops, are directly linked to the onset of Parkinson’s disease – a debilitating neurological disorder that robs individuals of their quality of life and independence. Pesticides used throughout the United States are now in the crosshairs The three pesticides currently under scrutiny are widely utilized in crop cultivation across the United States despite their potential to cause Parkinson’s disease. Despite being relatively unnoticed by many, there has been a concerning surge in the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease, mirroring the upward trend observed in several other neurological conditions. Research indicates that these toxic pesticides pose significant harm to brain neurons. While 14 pesticides have been associated with an elevated risk of Parkinson’s disease, the connection appears most pronounced with three specific pesticides. Parkinson’s disease manifests as the progressive loss of neurons in the brain, leading to debilitating immobility among patients. These neurons play a pivotal role in producing dopamine, a neurotransmitter crucial for transmitting signals throughout the brain. The decline or loss of such signaling capability profoundly compromises an individual’s motor control. Accumulation of the alpha-synuclein peptide within the neurons of Parkinson’s patients exacerbates neuron damage and impedes dopamine production, which is essential for signal transmission. Living in areas of high pesticide use increases risk of Parkinson’s disease Though the idea that chemicals might damage neurons in the brain was floated as early as the 1980s, it hasn’t been proven until recently. The research linked above will be formally presented this April at Denver’s American Academy of Neurology’s 76th annual meeting. Though the study has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal, it is only a matter of time until it reaches academic circles and mainstream society. The research, conducted by scholars from Washington University and Amherst College, sheds light on how the risk of Parkinson’s disease is closely tied to the extent of exposure to pesticides. These researchers delved into data concerning 21,549,400 individuals living in the USA and mapped the usage of pesticides across counties from 1992 to 2008. The findings showed that 14 pesticides were associated with a greater risk of Parkinson’s disease in the wide open spaces of America’s Great Plains and the rugged terrain of the Rocky Mountains. In particular, the pesticides atrazine, lindane, and simazine had the strongest link to heightened Parkinson’s risk. Simazine is an herbicide primarily used to control broadleaf weeds and grasses in various crops such as corn, sugarcane, citrus fruits, and ornamental plants. It can also be used to control weeds in non-crop areas such as highways, railways, and industrial sites. Lindane is an organochlorine insecticide – used to control pests in agriculture, forestry, and veterinary medicine. Lindane has also been used to treat lice and scabies infestations in humans and animals and to treat wood and seeds. Atrazine is a widely used herbicide primarily applied to control weeds in crops such as corn, sugarcane, sorghum, and other crops. It is also used in non-agricultural settings such as golf courses and residential lawns for weed control. The results of the study are deeply concerning: Those in areas with the highest atrazine use were 31% more likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s Those in areas with the highest lindane use were 25% more likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s Those in areas with the highest simazine use were 36% more likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s Though these three pesticides have been restricted in other countries, they are allowed in the United States. Strategies to reduce your exposure to toxic pesticides It’s crucial for every American to recognize that Parkinson’s disease has doubled in prevalence over the past 25 years. This condition is now the fastest-growing brain disorder worldwide, but you have the power to prevent yourself from becoming a statistic. Avoid fruits and vegetables that have been treated with pesticides. Instead of patronizing Big Box stores and corporate supermarkets that stock produce grown with pesticides, opt to shop locally at farmers’ markets, locally owned stores, and roadside stands that sell organic produce. Simply put, our food choices have the power to make this world less toxic and better for all of us. Sources for this article include: Aanfiles.bob.core.windows.net Medicalnewstoday.com Medpagetoday.com To read the original article click here.

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Scientists Discover New Way to Diagnose Neurological Conditions

AHA Publisher — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 08:00:53 +0000

Abigail Klein Leichman via Israel21c – Using algorithms to analyze electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns could rapidly diagnose brain blood vessel pathology indicating the potential for Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury and stroke. The new method from Dr. Dan Milikovsky and Prof. Alon Friedman at the Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is based on Friedman’s discovery that patients with these brain conditions display nonconvulsive epileptic seizure-like activity that can be detected by EEG recordings. The study was published in Science Translational Medicine by a team of authors including researchers from academic institutions and medical centers in Israel, the United States and Canada. “Research from our lab and others, shows that the pathological changes in the brain blood vessels, which are usually referred to as the blood-brain barrier (BBB), contribute to the formation of Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders,” said Friedman. “Since dysfunction of the BBB is also a key component in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, we hypothesized that BBB dysfunction in Alzheimer’s patients would also trigger abnormal brain activity that could be detected by EEG, an accessible and affordable tool used in the clinic, and serve as a diagnostic method for these conditions.” The technology was successfully tested on animal models and dozens of patients and is now been validated on large databases of EEG records of thousands of patients. “The technology offers a biomarker for immediate results and allows for the continuous monitoring of the progression of the neurological condition and response to treatment,” said Josh Peleg, CEO of BGN Technologies, the technology transfer company of Ben-Gurion University. “We are now seeking a potential industry partner for the further development of this promising method for a variety of applications, from monitoring of ICU patients to patients after stroke and head injuries and for the diagnosis of vascular pathology in early Alzheimer’s disease.” To read the original article click here. For more articles from Israel21c click here.

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Study Identifies Neural Connectivity Patterns Associated with Autism in Infants

AHA Publisher — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 07:00:36 +0000

Elsevier via News-Medical Net – Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is rarely diagnosed until symptoms arise, often well into childhood. Evidence however, is mounting that developmental abnormalities likely emerge in the brain long before then: early identification of babies at risk for ASD could allow for interventions that would improve their developmental outcomes. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, have found evidence of signature brain activity in infants that predicted ASD symptoms later at 18 months old. The work, led by Shafali Jeste, MD, at UCLA appears in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, published by Elsevier. “Early identification and intervention is key to getting better outcomes for children with neurodevelopmental disorders,” said Cameron Carter, MD, Editor of Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging. “This study suggests that relatively low-cost diagnostic tools such as EEG may, in the not-too-distant future, help us to do a better job by identifying atypical brain development in infancy, when interventions may be even more impactful than when offered to toddlers and young children.” The researchers used electroencephalography (EEG), a non-invasive technique to measure electrical brain activity from outside the head and tracked neural activity in the so-called alpha range. Alpha-range activity is associated with long-range connections in the brain. The group then used an approach that allowed them to integrate data from across the brain. “One crucial aspect of brain development is the change in patterns of brain activity. We wanted to know if measures of neural activity could detect atypical brain development in ASD during early infancy.” (Abigail Dickinson, PhD, Study First Author, University of California) Dr. Dickinson and the team performed EEG measurements in 65 3-month-old infants; 29 with low familial risk of ASD and 36 at high risk, with an affected older sibling. When the children were 18-months-old, they were assessed for ASD by a trained clinician. The researchers used computer modeling to predict symptom outcomes at 18 months based on the babies’ neural activity in infancy. The model’s predictions correlated with the actual symptoms measured in the toddlers. The model was not able to predict verbal or non-verbal cognitive scores in the toddlers–suggesting that the brain connectivity pattern may be a specific marker of ASD. In infants that later showed higher ASD symptoms, researchers saw decreased connectivity between frontal regions. The infants also showed increased connections across temporo-parietal areas in the right hemisphere, which are associated with social information processing. “These findings improve our understanding of the neural differences that precede autism and show which brain regions reveal the earliest signs of disruption,” Dr. Dickinson said. The findings bolster the idea that disrupted brain connectivity is a root cause of ASD, not a consequence. The authors suggest that the low cost, wide availability and low risk of EEG make it a good screening tool to identify babies at higher risk of developing ASD or those with “borderline” symptoms, so that they get early intervention. “Mapping patterns of activity associated with autism could ultimately help identify infants who show early signs of neural risk,” Dr. Dickinson added. To read the original article click here.

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The Debilitating Illness Created from Negative Thinking

AHA Publisher — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 07:00:49 +0000

Lori Clarkson via NaturalHealth365 – New research has revealed a link between negative thinking and an incurable illness affecting millions of Americans. While negative thinking has already been linked to mental illness such as depression and anxiety, new research is showing that the way we think is also affecting cognition problems. Cognitive decline is becoming increasingly common with the elderly and some younger populations. Dementia is currently affecting 5.8 million Americans, and the numbers are rising each year. With no cures on the horizon (well, none reported on – check out Dale E. Bredesen, MD’s work for more), most simply accept their dire prognosis. We already know that simple nutrition changes and slow down the decline of these life-shattering illnesses. Now, exciting new research clearly shows us that we can avoid dementia by changing repetitive negative thought patterns. New Science Reveals the Impact of Repetitive Negative Thought Patterns on Cognition Two studies of over 360 participants discovered a link between cognitive decline problems such as Alzheimer’s and repetitive negative thinking. Throughout the research, they found a clear relationship between repetitive negative thinking (RNT) and the rate at which a participant’s cognition declined. RNT, in simple terms, is mulling over the past or worrying about the future. This could present as worrying about what could happen, and self-sabotaging thoughts of what did or didn’t happen. Almost everyone does it, and no one is immune to damaging thoughts. Knowing that RNT already affected brain disorders such as depression and anxiety, the researchers were curious to discover how RNT affects those with more serious cognitive issues. They found that the proteins that prevalent in the brain in Alzheimer’s patients, built up at a much faster rate for those with persistent RNT throughout their lifetime. Dr. Gael Chételat, an author from the study stated, “[l]ooking after your mental health is important, and it should be a major public health priority, as it’s not only important for people’s health and well-being in the short term, but it could also impact your eventual risk of dementia.” With a widespread focus on eating well and exercising to stay healthy – it’s now clear that focusing on the thoughts that you’re feeding your brain are just as essential to your overall health. What Causes Negative Thinking and How to Stop It Negative thinking is often an autopilot mechanism, and it can be tough to switch off. You might not even be aware that you’re doing it. Because the mental health realm is so vast and different to the individual, research into the specific thoughts that cause dementia hasn’t been completed Most of our thoughts and beliefs are programmed into us during our first seven years of life. This is when our subconscious is developing, and when our minds are most impressionable. Although we cannot control what happened to us during those years, as adults, we can change our negative thinking for the future with some effort. Here are the best ways to take control of your damaging thoughts. Meditation. How you meditate isn’t so important. You could do a guided, chakra, Nidra, mantra, or walking meditation. The purpose is to be able to create awareness and the ability to focus your energy on the one stimulus. If you can do this in meditation practice, you’ll recognize the times you slip into self-sabotaging narratives when life gets busy Hypnotherapy will help you fall into the desired brain wave state to impress on your subconscious mind the changes in thought patterns you’d like to create. If you struggle to meditate, working with a hypnotherapist until you regain control of your mind could be helpful. Regardless of where you’re at in life, taking control of your thoughts will help you in every aspect of your life. Anyone with a family member who has had dementia will know how much hardship it can bring to a family. Let’s prevent being harmed by negative thinking before it happens by choosing to feed the mind with more positive thoughts, as often as possible. Don’t forget, repetition is the key. Sources for this article include: Medicalnewstoday.com, Alz.org, Clinicaltrials.gov To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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New Gut-Brain Link: How Gut Mucus Could Help Treat Brain Disorders

AHA Publisher — Sat, 30 May 2020 07:00:29 +0000

RMIT University via EurekAlert – Changes in gut mucus could be contributing to bacterial imbalance and exacerbating core symptoms of brain disorders like autism, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and Multiple Sclerosis. Mucus is the first line of defence against bad bacteria in our gut. But could it also be part of our defence against diseases of the brain? Bacterial imbalance in the gut is linked with Alzheimer’s disease, autism and other brain disorders, yet the exact causes are unclear. Now a new research review of 113 neurological, gut and microbiology studies led by RMIT University suggests a common thread – changes in gut mucus. Senior author Associate Professor Elisa Hill-Yardin said these changes could be contributing to bacterial imbalance and exacerbating the core symptoms of neurological diseases. “Mucus is a critical protective layer that helps balance good and bad bacteria in your gut but you need just the right amount – not too little and not too much,” Hill-Yardin said. “Researchers have previously shown that changes to intestinal mucus affect the balance of bacteria in the gut but until now, no-one has made the connection between gut mucus and the brain. “Our review reveals that people with autism, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and Multiple Sclerosis have different types of bacteria in their gut mucus compared with healthy people, and different amounts of good and bad bacteria. “It’s a new gut-brain connection that opens up fresh avenues for scientists to explore, as we search for ways to better treat disorders of the brain by targeting our ‘second brain’ – the gut.” Gut mucus is different depending on where it’s found in the gastrointestinal tract – in the small intestine it’s more porous so nutrients from food can be easily absorbed, while in the colon, the mucus is thick and should be impenetrable to bacteria. The mucus is full of peptides that kill bacteria, especially in the small intestine, but it can also act as an energy source, feeding some of the bacteria that live inside it. Gut Neurons and Brain Disorders Scientists are learning that brain disorders can affect neurons in the gut. For example, RMIT researchers have shown that neurons in both the brain and the gut nervous systems are affected in autism. The new review suggests that reduced gut mucus protection may make patients with neurological diseases more susceptible to gastrointestinal problems. Hill-Yardin said severe gut dysfunction could exacerbate the symptoms of brain disorders, significantly affecting quality of life for patients and their families. “If we can understand the role that gut mucus plays in brain disease, we can try to develop treatments that harness this precise part of the gut-brain axis,” she said. “Our work shows that microbial engineering, and tweaking the gut mucus to boost good bacteria, have potential as therapeutic options for neurological disorders.” To read the original article click here.

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