Another light that came on after reading something Tex mentioned a while back about how our gut is connected from the mouth all the way thru to the end!
Makes a person wonder when enough will be enough in the food world and the light will go on resounding the fact that we don't NEED all the different processed types of foods out there, only the fresh, real ones. Canning is a lost art in many ways, which helped to keep food available during winter months. I'm afraid there are not enough people living in a way to grow and put up their food hence we are seeing our bodies react to all the fake ways of nourishing ourselves. I feel bad for those out in the world that have never grown something in good clean dirt, or learned how to do it, it is a proud moment when you can feel good about what you are putting inside yourself.
http://sciencenordic.com/parkinsons-dis ... -239820761
Parkinson's disease may start in the Stomach
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Parkinson's disease may start in the Stomach
To Succeed you have to Believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a Reality - Anita Roddick
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
Hi Erica,
While it's certainly not only possible, but very likely, that Alzheimer's disease is associated with events that originate in the "stomach" (actually, the gut), the connection is almost surely due to a diet issue, and not caused by the vagus nerve. There is little doubt in my mind that Alzheimer's is caused by dietary issues, but unlike that research group, I would be very hesitant to destroy the vagus nerve connection to the brain. That may be asking for serious trouble, at some point down the line.
The vagus nerve is the messenger boy, not the perpetrator of the problem. You don't shoot the messenger. That's not how problems are resolved by logically-thinking people. Remember the old Alka-Seltzer commercials that asked, "Why trade a headache for an upset stomach?" Severing the vagus nerve reminds me of that line.
That type of treatment logic reminds me of the misguided thinking that prevailed in medical circles almost a hundred years ago, that resulted in the treatment of mental disorders by surgical lobotomies. And of course the inspiration for lobotomies probably came from the ancient medical treatment of bleeding, as a technique for curing all ills. These were state-of-the-art treatments, at one time.
The vagus nerve connects the enteric nervous system (which controls and coordinates the functioning of the digestive system) with the brain. Yes, the enteric nervous system can function independently (without the vagus nerve connection to the brain), but there are times when input from the brain is very important to the functioning of the digestive system, so why on earth would someone want to destroy that connection?
I suggest that the researchers need to locate the reason why severing the vagus nerve reduces the odds of developing Alzheimer's disease, rather than boasting that Alzheimer's disease may be prevented by severing the vagus nerve. IOW, they should have waited until they actually had some worthwhile evidence before publishing an article about their work. But of course such articles are designed to troll for donors to fund their research.
But to get to my main reason for responding — I have a hunch that they are looking at the problem bass-ackwards. IOW, maybe it's not the communications data from the gut that corrupts the brain, but the other way around. Maybe it's the communications data from the brain that corrupts the functioning of the gut, and that change in body chemistry and nutrition is what promotes the risk of developing Alzheimer's. Here's why that might be the case:
The article mentions the well-known fact that constipation often precedes the presentation of Alzheimer's symptoms by a couple of years. But maybe that's not the gut's fault. Maybe the brain instructs the enteric nervous system (via the vagus nerve) to make slight changes in certain digestive system processes. Note that the authors pointed out that the earlier the vagus nerve was severed, the better the chances of preventing the developing Alzheimer's). So obviously something is happening way prior to the development of constipation (IOW, way before the enteric nervous system makes any drastic changes in digestive system operation. That provides plenty of opportunity for the signals that impose those changes to originate in the brain, rather than in the enteric nervous system.
So while we're at it, here's my opinion of why constipation often presents a couple of years prior to the development of Alzheimer's symptoms:
If you examine the brains and spinal fluid of Alzheimer's patients, you will find that in virtually every case, fatty acids are deficient. IOW, the brain is deficient in cholesterol, fatty acids, and lubrication in general, allowing the myelin sheaths that normally protect nerves to dry out, allowing the nerves to die. So here is my theory for why constipation presents approximately a couple of years prior to the development of obvious Alzheimer's symptom:
The brain recognizes that it is dying because of a deficiency of fatty acids, so it tells the enteric nervous system to divert those nutrients from the gut to the brain, in an attempt to save itself. IOW when lack of lubrication allows gut mobility to slow down enough to cause constipation, you can bet that the brain is also being starved for lubrication. After a couple of years of that, enough nerves in the brain die that symptoms of Alzheimer's begin to become obvious.
And it doesn't even take a rocket scientist to figure out that the current Alzheimer's epidemic is mostly iatrogenic, caused by the heavy promotion of statins and low fat diets, along with widespread vitamin D and magnesium deficiencies. Yes, vitamin D and magnesium deficiencies are also typically found in Alzheimer's patients. And this is where magnesium threonate may be important, because the other forms of supplemental magnesium cannot cross the blood/brain barrier.
But none of this explains why the researchers found that severing the vagus nerve early on helped to reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer's disease. Here's why I believe that happens:
By removing brain input from the digestive system early on, the enteric nervous system may be set to perceive that lack of communication as a default signal that the brain needs additional lubrication. Or, it's certainly possible that the brain normally regulates fatty acid availability, and it tells the enteric system when to dump excess amounts. When that signal is absent from the enteric nervous system, then the availability is not restricted, and the brain receives more than it needs.
The most likely scenario (IMO) is the possibility that some feature of Alzheimer's causes the brain to become corrupt, so that it sends commands to the enteric nervous system ordering it to restrict the supply of fatty acids and cholesterol globally, thereby causing constipation in the intestines, and dessication of the myelin sheaths in the brain and spinal column, resulting in the widespread death of nerves and brain cells.
Obviously I'm just thinking out loud here, but you gotta admit, it's not impossible that this could be what's happening.
Tex
While it's certainly not only possible, but very likely, that Alzheimer's disease is associated with events that originate in the "stomach" (actually, the gut), the connection is almost surely due to a diet issue, and not caused by the vagus nerve. There is little doubt in my mind that Alzheimer's is caused by dietary issues, but unlike that research group, I would be very hesitant to destroy the vagus nerve connection to the brain. That may be asking for serious trouble, at some point down the line.
The vagus nerve is the messenger boy, not the perpetrator of the problem. You don't shoot the messenger. That's not how problems are resolved by logically-thinking people. Remember the old Alka-Seltzer commercials that asked, "Why trade a headache for an upset stomach?" Severing the vagus nerve reminds me of that line.
That type of treatment logic reminds me of the misguided thinking that prevailed in medical circles almost a hundred years ago, that resulted in the treatment of mental disorders by surgical lobotomies. And of course the inspiration for lobotomies probably came from the ancient medical treatment of bleeding, as a technique for curing all ills. These were state-of-the-art treatments, at one time.
The vagus nerve connects the enteric nervous system (which controls and coordinates the functioning of the digestive system) with the brain. Yes, the enteric nervous system can function independently (without the vagus nerve connection to the brain), but there are times when input from the brain is very important to the functioning of the digestive system, so why on earth would someone want to destroy that connection?
I suggest that the researchers need to locate the reason why severing the vagus nerve reduces the odds of developing Alzheimer's disease, rather than boasting that Alzheimer's disease may be prevented by severing the vagus nerve.
IOW, they should have waited until they actually had some worthwhile evidence before publishing an article about their work. But of course such articles are designed to troll for donors to fund their research. But to get to my main reason for responding — I have a hunch that they are looking at the problem bass-ackwards. IOW, maybe it's not the communications data from the gut that corrupts the brain, but the other way around. Maybe it's the communications data from the brain that corrupts the functioning of the gut, and that change in body chemistry and nutrition is what promotes the risk of developing Alzheimer's. Here's why that might be the case:
The article mentions the well-known fact that constipation often precedes the presentation of Alzheimer's symptoms by a couple of years. But maybe that's not the gut's fault. Maybe the brain instructs the enteric nervous system (via the vagus nerve) to make slight changes in certain digestive system processes. Note that the authors pointed out that the earlier the vagus nerve was severed, the better the chances of preventing the developing Alzheimer's). So obviously something is happening way prior to the development of constipation (IOW, way before the enteric nervous system makes any drastic changes in digestive system operation. That provides plenty of opportunity for the signals that impose those changes to originate in the brain, rather than in the enteric nervous system.
So while we're at it, here's my opinion of why constipation often presents a couple of years prior to the development of Alzheimer's symptoms:
If you examine the brains and spinal fluid of Alzheimer's patients, you will find that in virtually every case, fatty acids are deficient. IOW, the brain is deficient in cholesterol, fatty acids, and lubrication in general, allowing the myelin sheaths that normally protect nerves to dry out, allowing the nerves to die. So here is my theory for why constipation presents approximately a couple of years prior to the development of obvious Alzheimer's symptom:
The brain recognizes that it is dying because of a deficiency of fatty acids, so it tells the enteric nervous system to divert those nutrients from the gut to the brain, in an attempt to save itself. IOW when lack of lubrication allows gut mobility to slow down enough to cause constipation, you can bet that the brain is also being starved for lubrication. After a couple of years of that, enough nerves in the brain die that symptoms of Alzheimer's begin to become obvious.
And it doesn't even take a rocket scientist to figure out that the current Alzheimer's epidemic is mostly iatrogenic, caused by the heavy promotion of statins and low fat diets, along with widespread vitamin D and magnesium deficiencies. Yes, vitamin D and magnesium deficiencies are also typically found in Alzheimer's patients. And this is where magnesium threonate may be important, because the other forms of supplemental magnesium cannot cross the blood/brain barrier.
But none of this explains why the researchers found that severing the vagus nerve early on helped to reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer's disease. Here's why I believe that happens:
By removing brain input from the digestive system early on, the enteric nervous system may be set to perceive that lack of communication as a default signal that the brain needs additional lubrication. Or, it's certainly possible that the brain normally regulates fatty acid availability, and it tells the enteric system when to dump excess amounts. When that signal is absent from the enteric nervous system, then the availability is not restricted, and the brain receives more than it needs.
The most likely scenario (IMO) is the possibility that some feature of Alzheimer's causes the brain to become corrupt, so that it sends commands to the enteric nervous system ordering it to restrict the supply of fatty acids and cholesterol globally, thereby causing constipation in the intestines, and dessication of the myelin sheaths in the brain and spinal column, resulting in the widespread death of nerves and brain cells.
Obviously I'm just thinking out loud here, but you gotta admit, it's not impossible that this could be what's happening.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I was surprised that they would severe a nerve also, being a messenger an all. I would be wondering what is the brain trying to tell my gut, what am I not getting to correct this problem.
I thought of deficiency right away. It is amazing what a little bit of the right mineral and vitamin and unprocessed food that can set the body on a better track. Minus the Gluten, Dairy, Soy and Egg that seems to hinder us after we've been compromised
But really folks, Dis-Eases I feel are our bodies way of putting up a white flag saying "help me", that is the trick though, figuring out what it is trying to communicate is the biggest conundrum of all. Some things are easy to figure out and some no so.
I believe we were given all our parts in our bodies for a reason (although I've yet to figure out the appendix's role except as a toxin holder - lol).
The more I learn about food on this site, the less I have stocked in my cupboards at home. Sometimes less is just more. We've been hoodwinked into so many different states of minds of which foods have done this or that, even I'm shy about what to bring back into my life (after I heal more ofcourse). The only thing I feel is a basic thing to remember is if it has a very short shelf life it is probably better for you.
I hope they do more backwards testing on this subject...it obviously compounds those that fall into depression IE: Robin Williams.....really enjoyed his person.
I thought of deficiency right away. It is amazing what a little bit of the right mineral and vitamin and unprocessed food that can set the body on a better track. Minus the Gluten, Dairy, Soy and Egg that seems to hinder us after we've been compromised
But really folks, Dis-Eases I feel are our bodies way of putting up a white flag saying "help me", that is the trick though, figuring out what it is trying to communicate is the biggest conundrum of all. Some things are easy to figure out and some no so.
I believe we were given all our parts in our bodies for a reason (although I've yet to figure out the appendix's role except as a toxin holder - lol).
The more I learn about food on this site, the less I have stocked in my cupboards at home. Sometimes less is just more. We've been hoodwinked into so many different states of minds of which foods have done this or that, even I'm shy about what to bring back into my life (after I heal more ofcourse). The only thing I feel is a basic thing to remember is if it has a very short shelf life it is probably better for you.
I hope they do more backwards testing on this subject...it obviously compounds those that fall into depression IE: Robin Williams.....really enjoyed his person.
To Succeed you have to Believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a Reality - Anita Roddick
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
I was still editing my post when you responded again. For my thoughts on that, please reread approximately the last half of my post, because I added a lot of material.I would be wondering what is the brain trying to tell my gut, what am I not getting to correct this problem.
And yes, when it comes to safe and healthy diets, I agree that less (variety) is usually more.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.