From: LEF Email List1 [mailto:nsantini@directnet1.net]
Sent: Friday, April 14, 2000 4:38 PM
To: List Member
Subject: Life Extension Update 4-14-00
LEF Email List1 - http://www.lef.org
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In This Issue 4-14-00: What's Hot---DUAL MODE OF ACTION PROVIDES NOVEL
APPROACH TO TREATING ALZHEIMER'S, ONE GENE MAY HOLD LINK TO AGING
DISEASES, STIMULATING STROKE PATIENTS' BRAIN MAY AID REHAB; Disease
Therapies Protocols---STROKE (HEMORRHAGIC) , ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE ; Product
of the week---COGNITEX.
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What's Hot
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DUAL MODE OF ACTION PROVIDES NOVEL APPROACH TO TREATING ALZHEINMER'S
People trying a new treatment for Alzheimer's Disease experienced
significant cognitive, functional and behavioral improvement during a five
month study. Like other Alzheimer's drugs on the market, galantamine (or
ReminylŪ), maintains acetylcholine levels by blocking the enzyme
acetylcholinesterase from breaking down acetylcholine.
Low levels of acetylcholine contribute to the disease's symptoms. What
makes this drug different is that laboratory studies show galantamine also
indirectly acts on nicotinic receptors to release more acetylcholine.
http://www.lef.org/whatshot/index.html#dmoa
ONE GENE MAY HOLD LINK TO AGING DISEASES
Discovering a common genetic link to a variety of age-related diseases,
researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) say their
findings suggest the possibility exists that someday drugs targeted at the
p21 gene could prevent or treat cancer, atherosclerosis, arthritis and
Alzheimer's disease.
The p21 gene stops cells from dividing when they become old and halts cell
growth allowing for repair if the cell is damaged by toxins or radiation.
http://www.lef.org/whatshot/index.html#ogmh
STIMULATING STROKE PATIENTS' BRAIN MAY AID REHAB
Stroke and brain injury creates faulty connections in the cerebral cortex
which causes patients to experience difficulty coordinating movements or
performing tasks. Patients typically regain only limited function, causing
experts to think that the brain is hard wired early in life and remains
unchanged in adulthood. But now scientists believe that connections in the
cortex, which controls voluntary movement, speech and reasoning, are
continuously modified by experience and learning.
http://www.lef.org/whatshot/index.html#sspb
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Disease Therapy Protocols
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ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE by Ben Best
Alzheimer's disease is incurable. It leads to death within an average of 8
years after diagnosis, the last 3 of which are typically spent in an
institution. Besides memory loss, Alzheimer's patients show dramatic
personality changes, disorientation, declining physical coordination, and
an inability to care for themselves. In the final stages, victims are
bedridden, lose urinary and bowel control, and suffer epileptic attacks.
Death is usually due to pneumonia or urinary tract infection.
Treatment of cultured neurons with vitamin E has been shown to protect
them from beta-amyloid toxicity. This suggests that vitamin E and other
antioxidants such as vitamin C (which regenerates vitamin E) and coenzyme
Q10 may be of value in preventing Alzheimer's disease. In fact, melatonin
has been shown to protect cell cultures from beta-amyloid toxicity.
N-acetylcysteine has protected cultured cells from oxidative stress due to
AGE-modified tau-protein.
http://www.lef.org/icontact/icontact_frameset.htm
http://www.lef.org/protocols/prtcl-006.shtml
STROKE (HEMORRHAGIC)
A stroke is defined as the sudden reduction of blood flow to a portion of
the brain. There are two main types of strokes: ischemic (also known as
thrombotic) and hemorrhagic. A hemorrhagic stroke is an extreme medical
emergency, and prompt treatment is imperative. Although hemorrhagic
strokes account for only 15% of all strokes, they have a much higher
mortality rate.
Hydergine, an antioxidant medication that helps to protect brain cells,
may be beneficial for the treatment of hemorrhagic shock. In Europe,
Hydergine is administered on an acute-care basis for the prevention of
brain damage following stroke. The recommended dosage of Hydergine in an
acute situation is 10 mg administered sublingually (under the tongue) and
10 mg given orally.
Because the FDA has not approved Hydergine for use in the treatment of
stroke, emergency room physicians may not be willing to administer this
medication. Patients or their surrogates can, however, request that this
medication be used. Hydergine has been approved in the treatment of other
diseases, so it is available through the hospital pharmacy.
Caution: Liquid Hydergine is contraindicated because of its high alcohol
content.
http://www.lef.org/protocols/prtcl-101.shtml
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Product of the Week
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COGNITEX
Cognitex was introduced by the Life Extension Foundation in 1982 as the
first nutrient formula to boost short term memory and prevent some of the
effects of aging in the brain. Since then, it has been improved regularly,
with the addition of phosphatidylserine (PS) to provide additional
protection for brain neurological structure and function. CDP Choline has
been added to fill a missing link in the conversion of choline to
phosphatidylcholine in brain cell membranes, and to increase cerebral
oxygenation.
The newest addition to the formula is vinpocetine, a periwinkle extract
that enhances circulation and oxygen utilization in the brain, increases
tolerance of the brain toward diminished blood flow, and inhibits abnormal
platelet aggregation. It also maintains brain cell electrical conductivity
and protects against damage caused by excessive intracellular release of
calcium.
http://www.lef.org/newshop/items/item00021.html
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Sincerely,
Nicki Santini
E-mail Update Editor
Nicki@lef.org
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