[Ronhutton]

Recognition of the role of the BBB is steadily taking place. But when will research start on the best ways of protecting/repairing a dysfunctional BBB take place. Are our cells actually intact, and all we need to do is reduce the permeability of the BBB?
Ron

Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol. 2008 Dec 11. [Epub ahead of print] Links
Role of developmental inflammation and blood-brain barrier dysfunction in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.Stolp H, Dziegielewska K.
Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia.

Abstract The causes of most neurological disorders are not fully understood. Inflammation and blood-brain barrier dysfunction appear to play major roles in the pathology of these diseases. Inflammatory insults that occur during brain development may have widespread effects later in life for a spectrum of neurological disorders. In this review a new hypothesis suggesting a mechanistic link between inflammation and blood-brain barrier function (integrity), which is universally important in both neurodevelopmental and neurodegerative diseases, is proposed. The role of inflammation and the blood-brain barrier will be discussed in cerebral palsy, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis, conditions where both inflammation and blood-brain barrier dysfunction occur either during initiation and/or progression of the disease. We suggest that breakdown of normal blood-brain barrier function resulting in a short-lasting influx of blood born molecules, in particular plasma proteins, may cause local damage such as reduction of brain white matter observed in some newborn babies, but may also be the mechanism behind some neurodegenerative diseases related to underlying brain damage and long-term changes in barrier properties.

PMID: 19077110 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher

[reverett123]

"Strengthening the BBB to the extent that no further breakdowns occur would indeed help victims of Multiple Sclerosis. There are three related chemicals which have been found effective in strengthening the blood-brain barrier in animals. These are the anthocyanosides, proanthocyanidins, and procyanidolic oligomers (PCOs). All three of these are variants of a common class of chemicals called "flavonoids."" (Multiple Sclerosis, The Blood Brain Barrier, and New Treatment, by Timothy R. Stout)

from http://www.opc.cc/opc-ms.html