Folate and homocysteine metabolism in neural plasticity and neurodegenerative disorders

Mark P. Mattson, 1 and Thomas B. Shea2
1 Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging Gerontology Research Center, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
2 Center for Cellular Neurobiology and Neurodegeneration Research, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Olsen Building, 1 University Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854, USA

Available online 30 January 2003.



Abstract
Folate is a cofactor in one-carbon metabolism, during which it promotes the remethylation of homocysteine – a cytotoxic sulfur-containing amino acid that can induce DNA strand breakage, oxidative stress and apoptosis. Dietary folate is required for normal development of the nervous system, playing important roles regulating neurogenesis and programmed cell death. Recent epidemiological and experimental studies have linked folate deficiency and resultant increased homocysteine levels with several neurodegenerative conditions, including stroke, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Moreover, genetic and clinical data suggest roles for folate and homocysteine in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. A better understanding of the roles of folate and homocysteine in neuronal homeostasis throughout life is revealing novel approaches for preventing and treating neurological disorders.

hi~

I was dxd very young w/ my mothers illness -
hypoglycemia -

it can and will turn into diabetes if you are not careful,
many times as a teenager growing up - I would see white,
I also blacked out, and when I started shaking one day at work, while working for a pharmacy
I shook so badly, I was given a glucose packet and orange juice...
the pharmacist scared the crapola outta me -
he was afraid as he took blood from my finger -
my blood sugar level it was so low he did not know how I was working at all.
and he was going to call 911 - convinced that I would go into a coma.
but I told no - I will be fine...

this is how closey hypoglycemia symptoms are to PD symptoms
? What is it?
Literally speaking hypoglycemia means low blood sugar. The body tries at all times to maintain a nearly constant blood sugar level. This is especially important for the brain and the nervous system. Each cell of the nervous system/brain requires stimulation, oxygen and food to make energy so it can function optimally.

The only fuel the brain can use is glucose. If the blood sugar level for some reason is depressed below normal, or if blood sugar levels drop too rapidly, the brain is unable to function appropriately. This can lead to a wide variety of symptoms associated with abnormal nervous system function.

In response to low blood sugar the adrenal glands release adrenaline into the blood stream. Adrenaline produces symptoms of anxiety, trembling and/or panic attacks.


Here are some of the possible symptoms associated with low blood sugar:

Alcoholism (craving for alcohol, which is fermented sugar)
Allergies
Asthma
Binge eating
Blurred vision
Constant worrying, unprovoked anxieties
Convulsions
Crying spells
Depression
Digestive disturbances
Drowsiness
Exhaustion
Faintness, dizziness, tremor, cold sweats, weak spells
Food cravings
Forgetfulness
Headaches
Impotence (males)
Incoordination
Indecisiveness
Insomnia (awakening and inability to return to sleep)
Internal trembling
Irritability
Itching and crawling sensations on skin
Lack of sex drive (females)
Lack of concentration
Leg cramps
Lump in throat
Mental confusion
Muscle pains
Nervous breakdown
Nervousness
Nightmares
Numbness
Palpitation of heart, rapid pulse
Panic Attacks
Phobias
Fears
Seizures
Staggering
Suicidal intent
Twitching and jerking of muscles
Unsocial, asocial, antisocial behavior
Vertigo, dizziness
These are all symptoms of nervous system/brain malfunction. Do some of these sound familiar to you?

If you are depressed, have insomnia, panic attacks, suffer from impotence or mental confusion, how many MD's look at what you eat?
How many have or take the time to ask you about your diet? How many know what type of diet is beneficial?

Actually, according to many MD's, diet is not relevant. Your symptoms are actually due to a deficiency in a particular pharmaceutical medication. And, of course, we have plenty of those. If this one does not work, we'll simply try another one. ( sarcasm)
We'll find the right one for you, eventually. You might even find a better one during one of the countless pharmaceutical drug commercials on TV.

You probably get one of our currently so popular antidepressants, or maybe Viagra , or some sleeping pill. You may be told: You may have to live with it, it is genetic, you are old, you are getting old, it is stress, it is in your head, it is psychological.

Then, of course, if you take your new medication(s), you may find yourself with a host of new and "unexplainable" symptoms. For example, in the current Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) there are over 1000 medications listed with vertigo/dizziness as a possible side effect. But then, who could possibly be expected to remember over 3000 pages of effects and side effects. You simply need new medications to combat those new symptoms. And you wonder why you don't feel so good.

Or you might fill our on-line Self Evaluation form.

http://www.drz.org/asp/evaluation/index.asp




this is the beginning of my brain damage -so I came into this disease
very differently then some -if you now know you had hypoglycemia,
perhaps my supplements would help you,
I use mostly "garden of life" - here is the online magazine from garden of life - free
http://www.gardenoflife.com/Extraord...ViewPages.html
-as I like the blends and they use real organic foods -let your medicine be your food, and your food your medicine.
I use ahshwagandha, and triphala...

the newest addition to my supplements has to do with the the above post
it is called - Garden of Life RM-10 Ultra - if you are interested in researching it -
www.gardenoflife.com -however I am not making any money from telling you any of this -also what works for me - may not work well for you...
if you do not want to pay the big prices - go online and shop around -
I usually use vitacost.com


I try not to eat any fried foods -unless they are fried in coconut oil, or have extra virgin olive oil, I love the greek food
lotsa olives, salads, Spanakopita, lamb etc...they are fairly light
and the desserts are excellent...
I drink fiji water, and reverse osmosis water to boil with or make coffee
I try to eat healthy and never big meals...

anyway I hope my info helps someone here...

Thank you dear Tena ..
The following article is my follow up :
http://www.parkinson.org/NETCOMMUNIT...=458&srcid=377
"In the past decade, there has been increasing interest amongresearchers about the effects of three B vitamins - B6, B12, and folate. We now know that deficiencies occur with greater frequency than ever suspected previously, particularly in older adults. We also now know that deficiencies, if not corrected, can result in irreversible damage in some people. Some health professionals are beginning to suspect that these three vitamins may be significant factors in Parkinson's disease."