(Rick and Ron--think these researchers are reading your posts!)

Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol. 2008 Dec 11. [Epub ahead of print]
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]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...ubmed_RVDocSum

But they still are missing three-quarters. If it was just this aspect there'd be a lot more PD etc. I just don't see how "they" can see PD as just a neurological problem and be blind to endocrine aspects and gastro too. At least these guys are picking up on some of the more interesting stuff.

No Rick, there is only a limited number ie those with neurological disease who have a dysfunctional BBB. It could be a genetic failing. Then anything that worsens the permeability, eg stress, promotes further deterioration, and anything that closes the permeability slows progrssion, eg curcumin.. I have given long lists of substances which have these effects in my many BBB threads.
I still don't see why research is not done to characterise the level of BBB permeability of PWP and compare them with healthy people. The technology exists to measure it on living people. The permeability increases with age of everyone, it could be used as a diagnostic test for impending PD. There must be a threshold above which the symptons of PD occur.
Ron

I AM BUMPING THIS THREAD UP (POSTED ABOUT A YEAR AG0).

WHAT HAVE WE DISCOVERED ON THIS PROMISING THEORY?

PEG

Hi Peg,
A few research groups have picked up on it, but very little work is being done compared to the millions being spent on stem cells and the rest.
Maybe my post on "The Role of the BBB in PD" was a bit too long and boring.
If anyone wants to be bored again, it is at
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...rier+Ronhutton
and a follow up at,
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...rier+Ronhutton
I can't understand why the topic is not investigated more. When I worked in research, the theory that answered the most questions was the front runner. The BBB theory answers the following.

1. Why is PD predominently an old persons disease?
A. Because the BBB ages and becomes more porous with age.
The threshold is passed beyond a certain permeability and you have PD

2 Why does stress accentuate symptoms?
A Because stress has been shown to widen the BBB and a temporary surge of toxins can enter the brain. There is also the possibility that dopamine itself could leak out through the opened BBB into the bloodstream,
robbing you of what little L-Dopa you have, and causing a freeze.

3. Why do the following chemicals cause an exacerbation of PD symptoms?
Nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, organo phosphates (eg sheep dip), etc
A Because they all widen the BBB permeability.

4 Why is curcumin, citicoline, alpha lipoic acid, GDNF, bilberry extract etc
credited with improving symptoms
A They all reduce the BBB permeability

There are other examples, but above are the main ones. If the answer is not the BBB idea, then how else do you explain these facts.
I am continuing to meet and correspond with academics, and I will keep pushing the idea.
Ron

Ron-
You might consider pointing out that theories of a role for inflammation/neuroinflammation automatically have to incorporate the BBB since these both increase permeability, i.e. no one can reasonably claim that it isn't the BBB, it's inflammation because they go hand-in-hand. A similar argument can be made for stress. Also, a leaky BBB is often accompanied by a "leaky gut" which allows more toxins to pass from the gut into the blood and then into the brain.

You guys are smart! But I have a very dumb question. When everett mentioned the "gut" it reminded me of an age-old qestion I have had - constipation. After PD and all the meds I take, it has of course been worse.

My question is if your colon was holding toxins from food, environment, or meds due to constipation; would that have a toxic effect on the brain (especially one with a BBB defect)?

Peg

I think you are exactly right. And long ago we all were talking about if we remembered constipation as an issue as children and roughly half of us did. One would think that figure rather high in a bunch of physically active kids. So we grow up stewing in our own juices. Our gut is, literally, a big sewer in that it is loaded with all those toxins that get blamed for PD. The bacterial endotoxins that I keep on about are plentiful in our food and air. The pesticides on that apple are there. Herbicides, too. The chemicals in our drnking water. Etc.

Our inflammatory state and BBB fluctuate hand-in-hand and anything that increases the former affects the latter as well. Stress, for example. Or the flu. Or h. pylori. All these familiar names.

As if the assault upon the BBB wasn't enough, there is a backdoor that bypasses it entirely which Braak described and a team from St. Judes recently observed an influenza strain actually using - the vagal nerves that connect the GI tract to the brain. The failure of the gut barrier would increase the odds of toxins and pathogens accessing this route. And they can even catch a ride on what is known as "ultrafine particulates" - soot. Diesel exhaust. Coal smoke. Like in London in 1817.

It is all coming together.

Thanks, guys.

Here's another to add to my list of unanswered questions: (and I don't have time to research right now). Has anything been attempted or studied for vagus nerve stimulation for Parkinson's? You know, they have had quite a bit of success with this for epilepsy

Peg

The evidence has been there for some time.
In http://www.buergerwelle.de/body_emf-..._16-02-04.html
it states,

"The uncensored documents reveal that Soviet military scientists has successfully used microwaves of the type used by mobile phones to weaken the blood brain barrier. This is meant to protect the brain from harmful substances in the blood."

Combine this with
http://www.rfsafe.com/articles/daily_express_111099.htm
"Yet when it was announced earlier this week that Swedish scientists have conducted similar experiments showing mobile phone use could lead to an increased risk of multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases their finding were again dismissed"

This gives the inescapable conclusion that damage to the BBB causes neurological diseases like PD. I have previously suggested that a means of repairing the increased permeability of the BBB could benefit other diseases besides PD, like MS and AZ. At least 3 diseases could be attacked by a single piece of research. There is a Nobel prize awaiting the first researcher who can read.
Ron