LIFE EXTENSION WEEKLY UPDATE, NOVEMBER 16 2001
IN THIS ISSUE: NOVEMBER 16 2001:
LIFE EXTENSION WEEKLY UPDATE EXCLUSIVE: More on ibuprofen, curcumin against
Alzheimer's disease
PROTOCOL: Age-associated mental impairment
FEATURED PRODUCTS OF THE WEEK: Super Curcumin with Bioperine, CDP choline
LIFE EXTENSION DAILY NEWS: Your source for news from around the world
NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH
LIFE EXTENSION WEEKLY UPDATE EXCLUSIVE
More on ibuprofen, curcumin against Alzheimer's disease
Readers of Life Extension Weekly Update will recall the past week's "Life
Extension Weekly Update Exclusive" article which discussed a new mechanism
of action found for ibuprofen and two other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs against Alzheimer's disease. Presentations given this week at the
thirty-first annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience which took place
in San Diego, California, shed further light on ibuprofen as a possible
therapy against this dreaded disease, as well as elucidated the role of the
herb curcumin in its prevention.
A transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease was used by researchers from
the University of Minnesota and UCLA to test the ability of ibuprofen to
prevent the decline in cognitive function that occurs with the disease. The
animals were given diets containing ibuprofen prior to the development of
plaque (a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease) at ten months of age, at fifteen
months when plaques substantially increase, and at twenty-one months when
extensive plaque occurs. Control groups of mice were fed diets lacking
ibuprofen. Memory was assessed by evalutating the animals' performance in
navigating a water maze at the beginning of the study and at two, five and
nine months. Preliminary results of the study show that the mice given
ibuprofen at fifteen months and twenty-one months of age did not show the
age-dependent decline in cognitive function compared of the mice who did not
receive the drug.
In another study presented at the meeting which was coauthored by the UCLA
researchers who also coauthored the study on ibuprofen, the herb curcumin
was tested in the same mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Curcumin is an
herb that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits,
and has been shown in some studies to be an effective tumor inhibitor.
Because nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use has been correlated with a
lower incidence of Alzheimer's disease, the intent of the researchers was to
investigate the possible efficacy against the disease of an agent which has
similar anti-inflammatory properties yet lacks the side effects of this
class of drugs. The transgenic mice were given either 160 parts per
million or 5000 parts per million curcumin, and several markers of
inflammation and neurologic damage were measured. Both the low and high
dose of curcumin lowered interleukin 1-B, an indicator of inflammation, by
57-62%. The oxidation of protein also decreased. Amyloid-beta plaque was
lowered by 43-50% with the lower dose of curcumin. The loss of PSD-95, a
marker in the brain of a substance involved with cognitive function which
declines with age, appeared to be prevented by both doses of the herb.
Other markers are currently being studied. The researchers conclude that
the efficacy and low toxicity of curcumin make it a potential preventive
against Alzheimer's disease.
PROTOCOL
Age-associated mental impairment (Cognitive enhancement)
Age-associated mental impairment can range in severity from forgetfulness to
senility to dementia. It can be caused by a wide variety of specific disease
processes, many of which are treatable, or by life events, such as the loss
of a loved one. It can also result from brain aging. Whatever its form or
cause, it need not be accepted as a consequence of growing older.
Behavioral modifications, such as increased physical and mental activity and
a healthy diet, can improve mental function both directly and indirectly by
enhancing overall health.
Summary:
1. Determine the severity and duration of the mental impairment and consult
a physician if it interferes with daily functioning or has lasted a long
time.
2. Determine whether the mental impairment is the result of a specific
disease process, which may be treatable, or life event, such as bereavement.
3. Behavioral modifications, such as increased physical and mental activity
and a healthy diet, may be helpful. Correct any hearing or vision deficits
that interfere with activity.
4. Utilize memory aids such as lists, routines, and actively making
connections to existing knowledge.
5. Choline (2,500 to 10,000 mg a day) or lecithin (10,000 to 15,000 mg a
day), and/or phosphatidylcholine (1,200 to 6,000 mg a day) should be taken
early in the day. (Five Cognitex capsules a day supply the minimum dose of
these choline-based nutrients.)
6. Take ginkgo biloba extract (120 mg a day), acetyl-L-carnitine (1,000 to
2,000 mg a day), and coenzyme Q10 (100 to 200 mg a day).
7. Take Cognitex (5 capsules a day), which supplies pregnenolone, choline,
vitamin B5, phosphatidylserine, and vinpocetine. Refer to DHEA Replacement
Therapy protocol before using pregnenolone.
8. Take DHEA (25 to 50 mg a day). Refer to DHEA Replacement Therapy protocol
before initiating DHEA or pregnenolone replacement.
9. Take melatonin (500 micrograms to 3 mg a night to maintain neurological
function; 3 to 10 mg a night for those who have an age-related degenerative
brain disease) one half hour before bedtime.
10. Take Life Extension Mix (3 tablets with breakfast, 3 tablets with
lunch, 3 tablets with dinner) to provide vital antioxidants and vitamins.
11. Take one or a combination of the following drugs: Picamilon (50 to 100
mg three times a day), Pyritinol (200 mg three times a day), piracetam
(2,400 to 4,800 mg a day), centrophenoxine (250 to 1,000 mg a day),
Hydergine (4 to 10 mg a day), deprenyl one 5 mg tablet two times per week,
and nimodipine (30 mg three times a day). Take nimodipine under the care of
a physician.
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151067437/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
FEATURED PRODUCTS OF THE WEEK
Super Curcumin with Bioperine
Curcumin has become a popular dietary supplement, but users of the product
have only obtained partial benefits. The reason for this is that curcumin is
poorly assimilated into the bloodstream. This means that while the digestive
tract and liver derive benefit, the rest of the body is mostly denied. In a
study in which humans were given 2000 mg of curcumin, very little actually
made it into the bloodstream. When a small amount of piperine was combined
with curcumin, bioavailability was increased 2000%. This study was done on
both humans and animals and showed that piperine enhances the serum
concentration, extent of absorption and bioavailability of curcumin with no
adverse effects.
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151067438/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
CDP Choline
Choline and pantothenic acid are substances needed by the brain to produce
acetylcholine, a major brain/motor neuron neurotransmitter that facilitates
the transmission of impulses between neurons.
Choline chloride and phosphatidylcholine are two forms of choline that have
been the subject of most the research, some of which has shown that high
doses of choline are an effective way of achieving optimal acetylcholine
levels. Lower levels of acetylcholine are associated with memory loss and
learning difficulties that occur in aging brains. In one experiment,
university students improved test scores after taking supplemental choline.
CDP-choline stands for cytidine-5-diphosphocholine. This unique form of
choline readily passes through the blood-brain barrier directly into the
brain tissue. Once past the BBB, CDP-choline activates the synthesis of
critical components in cell membranes, and enhances cerebral energy
metabolism.
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151067439/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
LIFE EXTENSION DAILY NEWS
Life Extension Daily News features new articles in the fields of vitamins,
nutrition, aging and disease. Visit Life Extension's front page www.lef.org
daily for the latest headlines appearing in news media around the world.
New headlines are posted daily to our front page and all items are archived
by category. From today's headlines:
Use it or lose it: Study examines the ways to combat aging of the brain
It is never too late to learn something new. In fact, keeping the brain
alert with new challenging activities can prevent mental aging. People have
great fears of losing their mental capabilities during the aging process;
however, instead of worrying about losing their brain, people should
continually use it.
"We say, 'Use it or lose it,'" said Dr. Kyle Allen, director of Summa Health
System's Center for Senior Health.
Forget the myth that scientists once thought older brain was incapable of
generating new cell growth.
Molly Wagster, program director of Neuropsychology of Aging, said "We're in
flux about what we know about brains."
The Neuropsychology of Aging for the National Institute on Aging is part of
the federal National Institutes of Health. Wagster pointed out that up until
the mid-1990s, researchers thought that people who were aging lost
considerable numbers of nerve cells in many parts of their brains.
Nevertheless, recent discoveries contradict that belief.
With more advanced techniques, researchers found that normal older brains do
not appear to experience any major loss of the nerve cells, especially in
parts of the brain that are vital for learning and memory.
Wagster responds to previous beliefs of the limitations of older brains,
"That doesn't seem to be true. In fact, the old brain as well as the young
brain is capable of generation new nerve cells, particularly in the areas of
the brain that are important for leaning and memory."
Copyright Johns Hopkins News-Letter
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151065073/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
CHAT LIVE WITH DR BAER
Andrew Baer, MD, will resume the chat sessions this Wednesday, November 21
at 7:00 pm pacific time and 7:00 pm eastern time.
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151067441/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
If you have questions or comments concerning this week's or past issues of
Life Extension Weekly Update, send them to ddye@lifeextension.com or call 1
800 841 5433 extension 7716 Monday through Friday.
For longer life,
Dayna Dye
Editor, Life Extension Weekly Update
ddye@lifeextension.com
Life Extension Foundation
www.lef.org
1-800-841-LIFE
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Sat May 11 2002 - 17:44:19 MDT