HealthBeat News

Category: Senior Health

  • Health Secrets of Living Legends: Don Laughlin Interview Part I

    Health Secrets of Living Legends: Don Laughlin Interview Part I

     

    By Dr. Myatt and Nurse Mark

     

    The average life expectancy for American men is 75.7 years, for American women 80.8.

     

    Many still alive at this age are not really “living.”  Instead, the majority are plagued with chronic illness, pain and disease. Much time is spent shuffling from one doctor to the next, swallowing handfuls of drugs (some just to ease the side effects of other drugs,) and worrying about how to pay for all this “health care” they believe they need.

    But not all American seniors live like this. Some not only “survive,” they thrive.

    There are a number of Americans who, at age 80+,  are more robust and healthy than many people half their age. We call them “Living Legends,” and they put younger Americans to shame in terms of mental and physical health and fitness.

    What are their secrets? How do these octogenarians stay healthy and fit? And what can we learn from their example?

    Over the next year or so, Dr. Myatt and Nurse Mark will attempt to meet and interview a select list of these successful, healthy seniors and bring their health secrets to you, our HealthBeat readers.

    Recently, we spoke with our first Living Legend, Mr. Donald J. Laughlin. You’ve probably heard of him even if you don’t know you have.

    How many people have a city named for them and are alive, well, and a driving force behind their own thriving business and that of the entire local economy? For that matter, how many octogenarians still fly their own airplane and more impressively, their own helicopter?

    Don Laughlin is one such Living Legend. We chatted with him last week in his Riverside hotel and casino in Laughlin, Nevada just after we enjoyed the Nutcracker ballet that he brought in from Anaheim, California to perform.

    Don Laughlin is the man for whom the city of Laughlin, Nevada is named. He is the man behind Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort Casino in Laughlin. Shucks, the entire idea and major driving force behind this town is Don Laughlin. You can learn more about his founding of Laughlin and his business acumen here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Laughlin.

    But we wanted to know about his health secrets, not his business secrets. At an age when many Americans are losing their ability to drive their car, Don Laughlin not only holds a FAA Airman Certificate (pilot’s license), he regularly flies his helicopter, his jet airplane, or his light plane, allowing him to keep a busy schedule that would overwhelm many women or men half his age.

    At the age of eighty, Don looks, talks and acts like a healthy sixty-something. He is a normal weight and moves with a lightness and grace that bespeaks fitness. His mind is razor-sharp, his voice clear and manner confident. You’d be hard-pressed to guess his real age if we hadn’t just told you.

    How does he do it? He revealed a few of his health tips in the chat we had with him.

    First, he eats “real food” whenever possible and eats sparingly. That means he only eats when he is hungry and stops eating before he is full.

    He enjoys an occasional glass of wine, but says “everything in moderation.” Everything, that is, except perhaps flying and successful business-building!

    He exercises 15 minutes every day “like a religion,” and every day means seven days a week. He is not some sort of exercise fiend; he does not do aerobics to exhaustion or run marathons – he does some simple weight and resistance exercises – things like push-ups.  Looking at him, you’d be surprised to see what those 15 daily minutes of exercise can accomplish.

    Don is a self-confessed workaholic and night-owl, but he makes a point of getting adequate sleep every night, though he admits that this can be a challenge given his busy schedule. “Sometimes it’s just hard to wind down and relax enough to get to sleep” he admits.

    Does he take supplements? You betcha! Prescription drugs? Rarely.

    His advice for long life? “Don’t do stupid things!” People who talk on the cellphone while driving, step off a curb into traffic without looking, or take dangerous drugs for thrills just make him shake his head in dismay.

    Perhaps most importantly, he keeps a sharp mind with his business dealings and a positive outlook – a healthy, active mind is a significant part of his healthy life.

    Our chat with Don Laughlin was necessarily brief. It was 10 o’clock in the evening and he was making the rounds of his hotel as he does every night.  But he invited us to talk further with him on a return visit to Laughlin. We look forward to doing just that, and we will report back to you – our readers – with more of his health secrets. We hope to grab “Part II” of the Don Laughlin interview – complete with current picture – later this month. We know it will inspire you.

    In Health,
    Dr. Myatt and Nurse Mark

  • Senile Dementia Linked to Common Nutrient Deficiency

    Senile Dementia Linked to Common Nutrient Deficiency

     

    Here’s something Big Pharma hopes you never learn: that simple nutrient deficiencies are at the root of most diseases.

     

    Did you know that a single nutrient deficiency can cause everything from miscarriage and birth defects to cancer, heart disease, depression, hearing loss, osteoporosis and senile dementia?

    In the case of the above-mentioned maladies, the missing nutrient is folic acid, a B complex vitamin. You’ve probably read in the news about a recent study that links folic acid deficiency to senile dementia, but this certainly not the first study to make this connection.

    Folic acid, a water-soluble B vitamin, gets its name from the Latin “folium,” meaning foliage, because dark green leafy vegetables are a rich source of the nutrient.

    Folic acid is needed for nucleic acid (RNA and DNA) and red blood cell production. It is also required for energy production, especially in the brain and nervous system. Pregnant women have been advised to take folic acid because it is necessary for normal development of the spinal cord and central nervous system of the human embryo.

    The importance of this nutrient is so well-known that the U.S. government has mandated that foods be “fortified” with folic acid. In spite of this fortification, studies show that as many as 61% of the population may still be folic-acid deficient.

    It’s not just pregnant women and their developing babies that need folic acid. Folic acid, along with vitamin B6 and B12, keep homocysteine levels normal.

    Homocysteine is an “intermediate” metabolic product that increases the risk of heart disease and premature brain aging when it occurs in high concentrations. Premature brain aging was the subject of this recent study, which continues to show a connection between folic acid deficiency and senile (age-related) dementia.

    Researchers in the Netherlands evaluated the speed of thinking and memory, two functions known to decline with age.

    Over 800 subjects, ages 50 to 70, took 800 micrograms of folic acid daily for three years.

    At the end of the study, re-testing showed that the subjects who took folic acid had “significantly improved domains of cognitive function that tend to decline with age.” In other words, mental function of the folic acid group didn’t just remain the same, it actually got better over the course of the three year study.

    This is not the first study to connect folic acid with preserved mental function, but it is one of the largest and longest studies.

    Folic acid deficiency is widespread in our culture due to the processing of grain and vegetables.

    Although it is found in green leafy veggies, cooking destroys folic acid. It is also present in organically-raised (grass-fed) beef liver, brewer’s yeast and asparagus. (And how much of these foods do YOU eat?)

    Many experts feel that it is almost impossible to get a recommended daily dose of folic acid from food alone, and several population studies have confirmed this. Big Government obviously agrees with this assessment since they have required fortification of our food supply with folic acid.

    Supplementation is an easy an inexpensive “insurance policy” against the dangerous effects of folic acid deficiency, but most “one per day” vitamins contain too small a dose to do any good. The recommended optimal daily dose (NOT the “RDA” – the minimal daily dose), is 400-800mcg per day. Remember that folic acid is a B complex vitamin, and when one B vitamin is low, the rest of the B complex is also usually low and should be supplemented.

    Is it any wonder that Big Drug Companies support the “push” to outlaw vitamin supplements, given how many drug-treated diseases are actually caused by nutrient deficiencies?

    You’ve been warned while vitamin supplements are still legal: Don’t let a simple nutrient deficiency like low folic acid sneak up on you in the form of failing memory or heart disease. Supplement now, or face the prospects of spending your declining years filling prescriptions for the dementia Rx du jour or cardiac Rx du jour – given to you to treat the effects of simple folic acid deficiency, brought to you by Big Pharma. Face it: there’s a real reason they hope you’ll never learn about this important nutrient…

    P.S. Dr. Myatt’s Maxi Multi Optimal Dose daily multi vitamin/mineral/trace mineral/antioxidant formula has always contained 800mcg of folic acid. The importance of optimal levels of this vitamin is not “new news” to us at The Wellness Club, in spite of more studies offering conclusive proof of it’s value.

    Learn more about Maxi Multi’s here

    Learn more about the B complex vitamins here – with a handy chart to help you know which B-Vitamins are important for different functions.

     

    References

    1.) Effect of 3-year folic acid supplementation on cognitive function in older adults in the FACIT trial: a randomized, double blind, controlled trial. Lancet. 2007 Jan 20;369(9557):208-16. Su7mmary: Folic acid supplementation for 3 years significantly improved the types of cognitive function that typically decline with age.
    2.) Effects of folic acid supplementation on hearing in older adults: a randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2007 Jan 2;146(1):1-9. Summary: Folic acid supplementation slowed the rate of hearing loss (speech frequencies) in aging population.
    3.) Low folate status is associated with impaired cognitive function and dementia in the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Dec;82(6):1346-52. Summary: Low folic acid levels are associated with cognitive decline and food fortification with this vitamin is not sufficient to correct the problem.
    4.) High homocysteine and low B vitamins predict cognitive decline in aging men: the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Sep;82(3):627-35. CONCLUSIONS: Low B vitamin and high homocysteine concentrations predict cognitive decline.
    5.) Homocysteine versus the vitamins folate, B6, and B12 as predictors of cognitive function and decline in older high-functioning adults: MacArthur Studies of Successful Aging. Am J Med. 2005 Feb;118(2):161-7. CONCLUSION: In high-functioning older adults, low folate levels appear to be a risk factor for cognitive decline. The risk of developing cognitive decline might be reduced through dietary folate intake.
    6.) Homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B-12 in mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer disease, and vascular dementia. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Jul;80(1):114-22. CONCLUSIONS: Relative folate deficiency may precede Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia onset.
    7.) Homocysteine and B vitamins in mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2005;43(10):1096-100. Summary: Subclinical folate deficiency appears to precede dementia.

  • The Importance Of Rhythm – Have You Got Rhythm?

    Dr. Myatt’s Advice for Healthy Circadian Rhythms

     

    Well, so sorry to hear that your energy isn’t up to what you think it should be. However, before we go looking for some complicated explanation, or simply chalk it up to “old age,” let’s correct one obvious and easy potential cause of this problem: Circadian Rhythm disturbance.

    Short course: get to bed by 10 p.m.! Here’s why.

    The Importance of “Early to Bed, Early to Rise”

    The 24-hour sleep/wake, light/dark cycle, also called the Circadian Rhythm Cycle, sets the pace for the entire endocrine system. This is big. HUGE, in fact.

    Humans evolved sleeping when it was dark and being active by daylight. Our circadian rhythms, including natural melatonin production, respond to this cycle.

    Melatonin, a hormone and antioxidant, is produced primarily between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. when our eyes are closed and we are not exposed to light.

    Any time that we are awake during this critical period decreases melatonin production and serves to de-stabilize our circadian rhythms.

    Many people think that if they go to bed later and simply sleep in later in the morning, everything is fine. This belief recognizes only the total number of hours that we need to sleep but ignores the importance of sleeping (or at least having eyes closed in the dark) between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. It’s not just the total number of hours we sleep, but the times and light/dark conditions under which we sleep, that determine the health of our 24-hour Circadian cycle.

    Importance of the Circadian Rhythm in Humans

    Hormones affected by Circadian Rhythm disturbances include cortisol, thyrotropin, prolactin, growth hormone, and melatonin.

    Disruption of the human “Circadian Clock” is associated with fatigue, disorientation, insomnia, impaired detoxification and liver function, blood pressure dysregulation, altered heart rate, cardiovascular disease, mood disorders (depression, anger, inattention, irritability), bipolar and unipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder and neurological diseases including dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke.

    Given the far-reaching importance of a normal circadian rhythm to overall health, I recommend that you alter your “pre-bed routine” and do whatever it takes to establish a health sleep/wake cycle.

    Here are my “get your circadian rhythms right” recommendations.

    1. Get to bed by 10 p.m. with lights out.
    2. Expose yourself to daylight (preferably sunlight) in the morning, even if this means stepping out on the porch to face East and take a few deep breaths.
    3. Low-dose melatonin (3mg) between 9 p.m. and bedtime may help sleep and boost levels of this important hormone (which declines with age).
    4. No lights in the bedroom. If you need a nightlight, keep a flashlight near the bed. Try to sleep in darkness.
    5. Daytime napping does NOT interfere with Circadian rhythms as long as bedtimes are held constant.

     

    References

    Dallaspezia S, Benedetti F. Chronobiological therapy for mood disorders. Expert Rev Neurother. 2011 Jul;11(7):961-70.

    Esposito E, Cuzzocrea S. Antiinflammatory activity of melatonin in central nervous system. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2010 Sep;8(3):228-42.

    Heiler S, Legenbauer T, Bogen T, Jensch T, Holtmann M. Severe mood dysregulation: In the “light” of circadian functioning. Med Hypotheses. 2011 Aug 9. [Epub ahead of print]

    Lemmer B. Importance of circadian rhythms for regulation of the cardiovascular system–studies in animal and man. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2006;1:168-70.

    Lewy AJ. Circadian misalignment in mood disturbances. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2009 Dec;11(6):459-65.

    Lewy AJ, Emens JS, Songer JB, Sims N, Laurie AL, Fiala SC, Buti AL. Winter Depression: Integrating mood, circadian rhythms, and the sleep/wake and light/dark cycles into a bio-psycho-social-environmental model. Sleep Med Clin. 2009 Jun 1;4(2):285-299.

    Portaluppi F, Tiseo R, Smolensky MH, Hermida RC, Ayala DE, Fabbian F. Circadian rhythms and cardiovascular health. Sleep Med Rev. 2011 Jun 3. [Epub ahead of print]

    Takeda N, Maemura K. Circadian clock and cardiovascular disease. J Cardiol. 2011 May;57(3):249-56. Epub 2011 Mar 26.

    Willis GL. Parkinson’s disease as a neuroendocrine disorder of circadian function: dopamine-melatonin imbalance and the visual system in the genesis and progression of the degenerative process. Rev Neurosci. 2008;19(4-5):245-316.

    Willis GL, Kelly AM, Kennedy GA. Compromised circadian function in Parkinson’s disease: enucleation augments disease severity in the unilateral model. Behav Brain Res. 2008 Nov 3;193(1):37-47. Epub 2008 Apr 26.

  • Strontium: The Missing Mineral for Strong Bones

    Strontium: The Missing Mineral for Strong Bones

    Strontium is a naturally occurring mineral, in the same mineral family as calcium and magnesium, and it’s been shown to promote bone growth in both animals and people.

    Before you get nervous, let’s clarify something: this is NOT the radioactive “strontium 90” that many of us were forced to hide from under our schoolroom desks in the 1950s during “A-bomb drills.” The strontium I’m talking about is an all-natural, non-radioactive mineral that is very safe.

    Strontium has been studied since the early 1900’s for its effect on bone density.

    In 1910, one German researcher reported that strontium appeared to be uniquely effective in stimulating rapid bone formation.

    A decade later, another researcher concluded that strontium and calcium were superior to calcium alone in mineralizing bone.

    In 1952, a report from Cornell University found  that calcium and strontium work better together than calcium alone for rebuilding bone.

    A Mayo Clinic study conducted in 1959 looked at 22 individuals with severe (and painful) osteoporosis. Part of the group took 1,700 milligrams of strontium daily. Another group took the same amount of strontium with estrogen and testosterone. In the “hormones plus strontium” group, 9 of 10 people experienced marked improvement of their symptoms, and the other one had moderate improvement. In the strontium-only group, 18 of 22 had marked improvement and the other four had moderate improvement. Bottom line: every person in this study had moderate to marked improvement using strontium.

    After this study, there wasn’t much scientific research concerning strontium for quite some time. Since strontium is a naturally-occurring mineral and can’t be patented “as is,” one wonders if the Big Pharmaceutical companies were uninterested until they could trademark some form of this promising substance. Research on many promising natural substances is woefully neglected until Big Pharma can figure out a way to profit.

    In 1979, another study was performed on a group of patients with metastatic bone cancer (cancer that has spread to bone). The results showed an improvement in bone density and decreased bone pain in the strontium-treated group.

    In 1985, another study followed the effects of strontium supplementation on bone formation in six humans. By performing “before and after” bone biopsies, researchers concluded that “Following strontium therapy, all [measurements] of bone formation increased, while bone resorption remained unchanged.”

    Sixteen years later, a research group reviewed the studies on strontium and concluded that  “In addition to its anti-resorptive activity, strontium was found to have anabolic (tissue-building) activity in bone.”

    These studies have used strontium carbonate, strontium lactate and strontium gluconate. All forms of strontium have produced positive effect, indicating that it is the strontium itself that is active and not what it is bound to. Why do I mention this little “factoid?” So that Big Pharma can’t fool you into buying an expensive drug form of strontium when a simple supplemental form should work as well.

    Naturally, the most recent strontium-osteoporosis research has been performed by a drug company using a patentable strontium combination. (Remember, strontium by itself isn’t patentable because it is a naturally-occurring substance). But combined with a synthetic substance called ranelic acid, strontium becomes a patentable drug.

    This “drug” is available in Europe as the trademarked Protos® but all studies before this suggest that it is the strontium itself which is responsible for bone-building effects. Strontium ranelate is not approved for use by the FDA.

    In a three-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study using 680 milligrams of strontium daily, women suffering from osteoporosis had a 41 percent reduction vertebral fractures compared with placebo. The overall vertebrae density in the strontium group increased by 11.4 percent compared to a 1.3 percent decrease in the placebo group.

    In another recent study,  353 women who had already experienced at least one osteoporosis-related vertebral fracture took varying levels of strontium ranelate or a placebo. In the group who tool 680 milligrams of strontium daily, there was a 3% increase in lumbar bone mineral density per year, significantly greater than placebo. At the end of the second year of the study, there was a significant decrease in fractures in the strontium group compared to placebo.

    In a 2002 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 160 post-menopausal females who did not have osteoporosis were asked to take placebo or varying amounts of strontium daily. Compared to the placebo group, women who took 340 milligrams strontium a day had a significant increase in bone mineral density in two years time. All groups also took 500 milligrams of calcium daily, but no hormones or vitamin D.

    It appears that not only can prevent osteoporosis, it can repair existing damage. And it doesn’t seem to matter what form it is in: strontium ranelate (a patented drug in Europe), strontium gluconate, strontium lactate, or strontium carbonate. It’s the mineral strontium itself that works the magic on bone!

    Sources of Strontium

    Bad news: there’s not enough strontium in food to have a significant effect if you already have osteoporosis.

    If you have a diagnosis of osteoporosis, you should take strontium in supplement form.

    If you don’t currently have osteoporosis, then eating plenty of food high in strontium “may” be enough to protect you.

    Foods high in strontium include spices, seafood, whole grains, root and leafy vegetables, and legumes.

    If you want to be on the safe side concerning osteoporosis prevention, consider taking one dose of strontium (200-400mg) per day.  For those without osteoporosis but with known risk factors (family history, immobility, smoking, etc.) one capsule twice daily is prudent.

    Also be sure to take the recommended calcium (1,200-1,500 milligrams for post-menopausal females) plus associated bone nutrients including magnesium, zinc, boron and vitamin D. I recommend a combination of Cal-Mag Amino and Strontium (taken at separate times of the day) for osteoporosis prevention and reversal.

    NOTE: Our multivitamin Maxi Multi does not contain strontium. If you see a “bone formula” with strontium, don’t take it! Strontium should be taken away from calcium and magnesium for best absorption.

     

    References

    1.) Strontium Ranelate Reduces the Risk of Nonvertebral Fractures in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis: Treatment of Peripheral Osteoporosis (TROPOS) Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 May; 90(5):2816-22. Epub 2005 Feb 22.
    2.) Picking a bone with contemporary osteoporosis management: Nutrient strategies to enhance skeletal integrity. Clinical Nutrition (Epub ahead of print, 2006 October 12).
    3.) The effects of strontium ranelate on the risk of vertebral fracture in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.” New England Journal of Medicine 350 (2004):459 – 68.
    4.) Strontium ranelate reduces the risk of nonvertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: Treatment of Peripheral Osteoporosis (TROPOS) study. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 90 (2005):2816 – 22.
    5.) Strontium in Finnish foods. International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research 52 (1982): 342 – 50.
    6.) Gaby AR. Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1994, 85–92 [review].
    7.) Strontium ranelate: a dual mode of action rebalancing bone turnover in favour of bone formation. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2006 Jun;18 Suppl 1:S11-5.

  • Neurological Disease: Advice You Won’t Hear From Your Conventional Doctor

    Neurological Disease: Advice You Won’t Hear From Your Conventional Doctor

     

    By Dr. Dana Myatt

     

    Treating Neurological Disease (M.S., Parkinson’s, ALS)

     

    Recently I’ve had a lot of people asking about what to do for neurological conditions. Here’s my best “general” advice. (I can give more “specific” advice when I work with someone personally. Please read on).

    You’ll NEVER hear any of this from your conventional medical doctor, for at least two reasons.

    First, there are no known cures for neurological diseases in conventional medicine. In fact, even our symptomatic treatments are fairly lame.

    Secondly, when a doctor does have information about a “non standard” (read that: “not conventional medicine”) approach, he or she could lose their medical license by telling you about it.

    So don’t be disappointed if your conventional medical doctor, no matter how good or well-respected, doesn’t have much hope to offer. That’s conventional medicine.

    What I Would Immediately Do If I Were Diagnosed With a Neurological Disease

    If I found out tomorrow that I had a neurological disease, here are the steps I would take right away:

    1. Have several non-conventional laboratory studies performed, including:
      1. Hair Mineral Analysis: to evaluate for heavy and toxic metal poisoning. This applies to ALL neuro conditions.
      2. Food allergy testing: to rule out immune responses to food allergies as a cause for symptoms. (This is especially important in MS).
      3. Neurotransmitter (NT) Testing: to look at neurotransmitter hormone levels. (This applies to all neuro conditions but is especially important in Parkinson’s, where a dopamine deficiency is often seen).
    2. Holistic dental evaluation, with removal of all dissimilar dental metals.
      NOTE: VERY FEW holistic dentist really understand this, and even fewer conventional dentists “get it.” If you have it done incorrectly (as most “holistic” dentists are likely to do), it can cause more harm than good. Please don’t have any dental work done until you have talked to me first!
      How important do I think this is? I have already had all metal removed from my mouth except for one full-gold crown. It is that important. If I hadn’t already had this done, I would get it done immediately, after I confirmed the skill and knowledge level of the attending dentist.
    3. Diet changes:
      1. Eliminate all food allergies (see above, laboratory testing).
      2. The Myatt Diet: low carbohydrate, high Omega-3 fatty acids. This is THE healthiest way to eat, proven by long-lived populations. This plus elimination of known food allergies relieves all dietary stress on the immune and nervous systems. Look for organic foods, too, since pesticide and herbicide toxicity is associated with neurological disease. Additional fish oil should be supplemented in those not regularly consuming wild Alaskan salmon and grass-fed beef. Ketogenic diets such as The Myatt Diet have proven useful for Parkinson’s, ALS and inoperable brain cancers. The diet switches the brain from using sugar for fuel to using ketones for fuel, and this “metabolic switch” is associated with fewer tremors and better movement.
      3. Discontinue ALL soy products, and milk (cow’s milk / dairy variety),
    4. Nutritional supplements: I’d make sure that I didn’t have a single nutrient deficiency known to cause or exacerbate a neurological disease. Here are the known connection.
      1. Parkinson’s: deficiencies of folic acid, B12, vitamins C, E and D are highly associated. Besides getting out in the sun, I’d be taking daily Maxi Multi’s to have achieve the recommended doses of these vitamins. CoQ10 has also shown to slow progression of the disease, but the dose needs to be higher, 1,200mg per day. Avoid iron, as iron overload can cause Parkinson’s and a number of other diseases. (You should be tested for iron overload with a serum ferritin test).
      2. M.S.: vitamin D deficiency is associated MS. Lower levels of calcium, magnesium, vitamin E and other antioxidant nutrients have been observed in MS patients and appear to slow progression of the disease. Vitamin B1 and niacin have proven to be useful. As with Parkinson’s, I’d get more sunshine and take Maxi Multis to have all of these nutrient bases covered.
      3. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): Hi B12, gamma-E tocopherol, zinc, copper, selenium, CoQ10, Alpha-lipoic acid, Acetyl-L-carnitine, creatine, curcumin, DHEA, glutathion, green tea, N-acetylcysteine, grape seed extract (pycnogenol), resveratrol (grape skin extract) and vinpocetin. These vitamins, minerals amino acids and trace minerals have all been shown to alter various aspects of the disease.
    5. Schedule a telephone consultation with ME, or someone just like me. A physician who is not limited by conventional medical techniques (but is still trained in them and can prescribe all conventional tests and drugs) will be your best bet for obtaining a full and complete evaluation of the causes of neurological disease. The sooner this is done, the better the chance for a more full and complete recovery.

    I hope this provides help and comfort to the numerous health-seekers who contacted me recently about neurological concerns!

     

    References:

    1. Journal of Neurochemistry January 2002;80:101-110
    2. Neurology March 22, 2005;64(6):1047-1051
    3. Journal Clinical Toxicology 2003;41(1):67-70
    4. American Journal Epidemiology March 1, 2003;157(5):409-14
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    6. Swank RL. Multiple sclerosis: fat-oil relationship. Nutrition 1991;7:368–76.
    7. Esparza ML, Saski S, Kesteloot H. Nutrition, latitude, and multiple sclerosis mortality: an ecologic study. Am J Epidemiol 1995;142:733–7.
    8. Dines KC, Powell HC. Mast cell interactions with the nervous system: relationship to mechanisms of disease. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 1997;56:627–40.
    9. Stern EI. The intraspinal injection of vitamin B1 for the relief of intractable pain, and for inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the central nervous system. Am J Surg 1938;34:495.
    10. Moore MT. Treatment of multiple sclerosis with nicotinic acid and vitamin B1. Arch Int Med 1940;65:18.
    11. Fahn S. A pilot trial of high-dose alpha-tocopherol and ascorbate in early Parkinson’s disease. Ann Neurol 1992;32:S128–32.
    12. Shoulson I. DATATOP: a decade of neuroprotective inquiry. Parkinson Study Group. Deprenyl And Tocopherol Antioxidative Therapy Of Parkinsonism. Ann Neurol 1998;44:S160–6.
    13. Fahn S. A pilot trial of high-dose alpha-tocopherol and ascorbate in early Parkinson’s disease. Ann Neurol 1992;32:S128–32.
    14. Dexter DT, Carayon A, Javoy-Agid F, et al. Alterations in the levels of iron, ferritin and other trace metals in Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases affecting the basal ganglia. Brain 1991;114:1953–75.
    15. Dexter DT, Carayon A, Javoy-Agid F, et al. Alterations in the levels of iron, ferritin and other trace metals in Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases affecting the basal ganglia. Brain 1991;114:1953–75.
    16. Pall HS, Williams AC, Blake DR, et al. Raised cerebrospinal fluid copper concentration in Parkinson’s disease. Lancet 1987;2(8553):238–41.
    17. Nutritional factors in the pathogenesis and therapy of respiratory insufficiency in neuromuscular diseases. Monaldi Arch Chest Dis. 1993;48(4):327–330.
    18. N-acetyl-L-cysteine improves survival and preserves motor performance in an animal model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neuroreport. 2000;11(11):2491–2493.
    19. Effects of an inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, desmethylselegiline, trientine, and lipoic acid in transgenic ALS mice. Exp Neurol. 2001b;168(2):419–424.
    20. Increases in cortical glutamate concentrations in transgenic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mice are attenuated by creatine supplementation. J Neurochem. 2001a;77(2):383–390.
    21. Glutathione peroxidase in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: the effects of selenium supplementation. J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol . 1998;17(3–4):325–329.
    22. Vitamin E intake and risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ann Neurol . 2005;57(1):104–110.
    23. Coenzyme Q10 as a possible treatment for neurodegenerative diseases. Free Radic Res . 2002;36(4):455–460.
    24. Neurodegenerative memory disorders: a potential role of environmental toxins. Neurol Clin . 2005;23(2):485–521.
    25. Nutritional issues and supplements in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurodegenerative disorders. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2002;5(6):631–643.
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