What Causes Neurodegenerative Changes

July 27, 2015

What Causes Neurodegenerative Changes

Neurodegeneration is a medical condition of the nerve system that generally refers to a gradual loss of neurons. It is a condition of damage to the nerve cells both in structure and functionality. Neurodegeneration changes also used to refer to the death of nerve cells. It is an age related condition of the brain. Neurodegeneration is however a blanket terminology. It involves several disorders. Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD), HIV-related cognitive impairment, and Huntington Disease (HD) are just but a few.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)

This is degenerative brain condition that gradually erodes memory. Alzheimer’s disease AD distorts one’s ability to think clearly. It is characterized by progressive failure to solve simple numerical problems and inability to perform simple tasks. AD is reportedly the root cause of dementia. Based on several research findings, AD accounts to close to 70 percent of all cases of the brain disease. AD is one of the neurodegenerative changes that increase exponentially with age. It is even reported the number of Americans with the AD condition stands at well over 5.1 million. For an in-depth explanation of the disease please click on www.awaremednetwork.com.

AD is a genetically inherited condition. Chances of inheriting the disease are however minimal, at a low of 5% or less. Signs of the disease often begin to show at an age, 65. However there are forms of AD that can indicate early signs at as low as age 30. Early-onset Familial Alzheimer’s Disease (EOFAD) is one such. There are genetic materials that can increase or reduce proneness of a person to the disease but do not necessarily cause it. You may call up Dr. Dalal Akoury of integrative Addiction Institute and International Organization of Integrative Cancer Physicians for incisive information on genetic composition of AD and its transmission through generations.

nerve degeneration

Naturally the first sign of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is loss of memory especially about recent events. Memory lapses may also occur however not profound. An example of a person suffering early signs of these neurodegenerative changes is one asking the same thing over and over, even when that same question has been properly answered in recent prior conversations. While at home they struggle to find such small items like handkerchiefs or wallets. Ever wondered why some people constantly leave foods on the cooker? AD victims are actually worse in the kitchen. Their foods always burn. The disease often progresses from mild AD, Moderate AD to advanced stages of the Neurodenerative changes of Severe Alzheimer’s Disease. Eee…very crazy, I guess many of us are victims. This is why you must sign up for this year’s August integrative addiction medicine conferences. Click on http://www.integrativeaddiction2015.com for more information.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

This is a degenerative brain condition that often affects the motor neurons in adults. It is one of the most common forms of neurodegenerative changes in the U.S. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) often causes a discerned loss of neurons that normally connects the brain to the muscles. It affects both the dorsal superior motor neurons and the lower inferior neurons of the spinal cord in the rest of the body. This condition is well very popular in the U.S. according to population studies, the figures stand at an astonishing 5600 patients each calendar year, with well over 15 new victims every single day. Men are reportedly 20% more prone to this type of degenerative change compared to women. You may click on www.awaremednetwork.com to further research on ALS and the other neurodegenerative changes. Dr. Akoury will be of great assistance too in understanding genetic composition and transmission of the ALS.

Basic symptom of ALS involves a feeling of weakness in the arms. Other symptoms include clumsiness, stiffness, and slowness. Muscles in the said organs often become smaller as the disease progresses. Other symptoms; cramping and twitching even though are common in much healthier people, tend to be profound when one is nursing ALS. It is for the same reasons the degenerative change is normally ignored in its primary stages. ALS does not uniformly progress from one stage to the other in every victim. The disease is however worse at an advanced stage, paralysis. There are not specific laboratory tests to ALS however low co-ordination between the fine motor neurons always serves a good one. Again, there are various professionals attending this year’s August integrative addiction medicine conference, catch some of them via the above link. The speakers are carefully selected to handle a number of subjects across a wider array of medical problems you might be interested in knowing treatment of such neurodegenerative changes.

Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD)

CBD is sometimes called Corticobasal ganglionic degeneration (CBGD). Clinically, It is similar FrontoTemporal Dementia (FTD). Just like the AD above, CBD is also characterized by loss of neurons and contraction of certain parts of the brain among them; the basal ganglia and the cerebral cortex. The disease is more often diagnosed in patients within the age brackets of 45 and 70. CBD is hardly genetically transmitted down the generations. The symptoms vary from locomotive difficulties to cognitive discrepancies. They are usually very unique. It is therefore advisable to refer suspected patients to a practitioner with good experience with the disorder. Consistent advances in scientific studies and research have led to a better understanding of CBD among other neurodegenerative changes hence improved medical care and therapeutic interventions.

NEURODEGENERATIVE changes

Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)

This is a cluster of related neurodegenerative changes resulting from progressive deterioration of the temporary and font lobes of the human brain. In a case similar to that of AD, FTD greatly affects decision making, emotional control, speech and general behavior of the patient.

Frontotemporal dementia is a cluster of related conditions resulting from the progressive degeneration of the temporal and frontal lobes of the brain. These areas of the brain play a significant role in decision-making, behavioral control, emotion and language.

HIV-related Cognitive Impairment

Thanks to antiretroviral interventions, effects of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) on the nervous system have declined. Few cases however still exist. HIV- related impairments can be broadly categorized into Asymptomatic neurocognitive impairments, mild neurocognitive disorder, and HIV-associated dementia (HAD). The first two categories barely have any visible symptoms. However the third category, HAD has from time to time indicated severe effect on the victims both clinically and on their daily life activities. As earlier mentioned, cases of HAD are however rare. The other form of neurodegenerative change is the Huntington Disease (HD), which affects the underlying neurons of the brain. You may visit any of the above links for more information on HD and the other neurodegenerative changes. Once again click http://www.integrativeaddiction2015.com for your chance to participate in the integrative addiction medicine conference mentioned earlier.

Neurodegenerative Changes

Vitamin D for Fibromyalgia

March 26, 2015

The Use of Vitamin D for Fibromyalgia

Vitamin D As mentioned in an earlier written article, Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread muscle pain, joint stiffness, and fatigue. The condition is chronic but pain comes and goes and moves about the body. The cause of this disorder is unknown and therefore it is often misdiagnosed or unrecognized and is most of the times complicated by anxiety and mood disorders. this is a common disorder that according to the American College of Rheumatology diagnosis criteria affects about 3-5% of women, most of whom are between ages 20 and 50, but only 0.5- 1.6% of men. This disease is more common in adults than in children but it affects women more than men. This disease is debilitating and is not easily cured. The patients also suffer a lot of pain and use of drugs to manage this pain can result in problems of addiction and dependence on the pain management drugs. The quest to find effective treatment for this disease has led to many researchers doing lots of research on possible treatments or therapies that can be utilized to help mitigate on the adverse symptoms of fibromyalgia. One of these possible alternatives that have been unearthed by past researchers is the use of vitamin D.

Vitamin D being associated with fibromyalgia should not be a surprising discovery as vitamin D has been known to be a strengthening factor to bones especially during early life in a person’s life. Practice such as basking in the sun is common in most parts of the world with biggest benefits being that the sun helps in activating vitamin D that hence works to strengthen bones. Deficiency of vitamin D in children is often characterized by bone deformities such as bowed legs.

Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) in Boston studied patients with fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis, they found that the patients who had levels of vitamin D fared much better than those with lower levels. The result of this study was published in JAMA Neurology.

During this study the vitamin D levels of 465 participants were examined. The patients were then followed over a five year period as part of a study to monitor patients given Betaseron which is an FDA-approved multiple sclerosis drug. They discovered that increasing vitamin D levels within the first 12 months of drug therapy resulted in a 57 percent lower risk of relapse. According to the study, patients with low vitamin D levels early on in the course of the disease had a higher risk factor for long-term multiple sclerosis progression. However this study did not show whether multiple sclerosis causes a fall in the level of vitamin D in the body or whether low vitamin D plays a role in aggravating the disease. however the lead author of the study expressed a belief that the disease is most likely worsened by a fall in the levels of vitamin D. the lead author Alberto Ascherio, D.P.H., M.D., a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at HSPH said, “Most likely, disease activity is exacerbated by low vitamin D levels,” based on what they found in the study when interviewed by Healthline.

Vitamin D supplementation for fibromyalgia

The research on the effects of vitamin D on patients suffering from fibromyalgia was done in Vienna, Austria by Dr. Florian Wepner, of Orthopedic Hospital Vienna Speising. This research showed that higher vitamin D levels are associated to lower levels of pain and fatigue in fibromyalgia patients. In this study there were thirty participants who were all suffering from fibromyalgia. The thirty participants were divided into two groups. One group received vitamin D supplements while the other group was put on a placebo treatment. The researchers noticed that the patients who were put on vitamin D supplements had shown significant reduction in both pain and fatigue symptoms.

According to the findings of this study it can be shown that supplementing vitamin D can help alleviate the suffering of pain that patients suffering from fibromyalgia have to put up with. However the study lead investigator Wepner, M.D advised that fibromyalgia is a very complex condition that cannot only be explained by vitamin D deficiency alone.

“[Vitamin D] may be regarded as a relatively safe and economical treatment and an extremely cost-effective alternative or adjunct to expensive pharmacological treatment,” Wepner said in a journal news release.

Apparently, Dr. Wepner is not the only person that has promoted Vitamin D supplementation as a viable therapy for those suffering from fibromyalgia. Another doctor Dr. Kiran Patel has endorsed the same thought. Dr. Kiran is a pain medicine specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and often deals with fibromyalgia, he said, “Fibromyalgia patients and those with chronic pain should certainly have their vitamin D blood levels checked and, if low, consider supplementation under the guidance of a physician,”

It’s good to bask in the sun

Despite the failure of this research to show the link between vitamin D and fibromyalgia or better yet the mechanism by which vitamin D helps mitigate on the symptoms of the disease, the benefits of vitamin D supplements have been seen and therefore it is good to maintain healthy levels of vitamin D for overall health purposes. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for people ages nine and up, the safe, maximum intake level is 4,000 IU of vitamin D per day. This level of vitamin D can be enough to keep you on the safety levels of vitamin D.

Finally, fibromyalgia is a serious threat that has no known treatment. There is need to come up with safer yet effective alternatives of treating it. This is why here at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center we are committed to availing the best integrative approaches to treatment of diseases. Visit as at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) will be of help.

The Use of Vitamin D for Fibromyalgia

Understanding Alzheimer’s disease and The Healthy Brain

February 5, 2015

Understanding Alzheimer’s disease and The Healthy Brain

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia that affects the older generation. Dementia is simply the loss or decline of thinking ability. People with dementia have problems thinking, internalizing information and remembering. The behavior of a person changes with dementia in such away the quality of their life is affected. A person may suffer from either mild or severe dementia. In mild dementia, the disease is in its starting stage and only affects a few aspects of their life. In severe dementia, the person’s functioning is completely affected to an extent that they rely on other people to complete even the basic tasks. Studies have it that Alzheimer’s disease affects over 70% of people who suffer from dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by a significant decline of brain cells also known as neurons and deposits of beta-amyloid in the blood vessels located in the brain. In the case of Alzheimer’s disease, plaques and neurofibrillary tangles develop in the brain area. These changes take place in three areas of the brain from the hippocampus, cerebral cortex as well as the mid and temporal lobes. These are accompanied by declined acetylcholine concentration which is a neurotransmitter in the brain. Studies reveal that antioxidant deficiency promotes to the acceleration of the Alzheimer’s disease. Change of diet and taking plenty of supplements reduces a person’s risk to Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease

The Healthy Brain

Naturally the brain receives oxygen from veins, arteries and capillaries that network their way through it. The vascular system is controlled and it separates the brain form the rest of the circulatory system. This barrier keeps the brain from infections that may come along. If the brain however happens to be infected treatment is difficult since the antibiotics administered are too big to penetrate through this barrier. This is similar in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease since the medication must be able to pass through the barrier.

One area that Alzheimer’s disease affects is the middle and temporal lobes. These lobes are located behind the ears and the temples. This region is responsible for speech and memory as well as emotions like empathy and molarity. The hippocampus is also an area that is affected by the disease. This area of the brain is responsible for creation of new memories.

The cerebellum is located in the brain and is responsible for the storage of memories of the muscles which makes it easier for us to do things without thinking. The mid brain together with the brain stem is the most sensitive part. This is because body functions such as digestion and the heart rate are controlled by these parts. They also act as a border between the spinal cord and the other parts of the brain.

The brain contains over 100 million cells which are interconnected to form one complex system. Each day a healthy brain makes new connections which keep the brain in function. These connections change every day and this makes it possible for storage of memories, shaping personalities, changing f habits and reinforcements of different brain activity patterns as others are lost. The cells receiving the neurotransmitters send them to other cells to complete communication and an impulse is achieved.

Communication in the brain is made possible through synapses. Signals are sent from one synapse to another. The signals are inform chemicals known as neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters are received by receptors located in the synapses

Alzheimer ’s disease And the Brain

One characteristic of the Alzheimer’s disease is the death of brain cells. Patients with Alzheimer’s disease usually have plaque and neurofibrillary tangles are deposited in the brain. The plaque deposits cause the impairment of synapses so that signals do not effectively pass through the brain cells. On the other hand the neurofibrillary tangles kill the cells in the brain making it difficult for energy and food to be normally transported through the cells in the brain.

The area that is initially affected by Alzheimer’s disease is the outer brain part. This is the part that is responsible for storage of short term memory. Therefore, the first symptom in a patient suffering from the disease is the loss of short term memory. As the disease continues to eat its way through the brain, eventually even the long term memory is lost. Behavioral aspects of a person also change because other parts of the brain get affected and their functioning impaired. This also affects the neurotransmitter concentration.

Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease treatment

Lifestyle: a change in lifestyle will do you good by reducing the risk of getting the disease. Changing diet and taking regular exercises ensures that your brain and body remain healthy and strong.

Supplements: there are supplements available in the market known to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease or cure it for example ginkgo biloba . Visit your physician for advice about such supplements.

Medication: currently there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, drugs like cholinergic provide temporary improvements in cognitive abilities of the brain. This improves memory and ability to retain things.

At AwareMed we believe that a healthy you is equal to a healthy society. We not only give you information about diseases but we help cure them. Dr. Akoury helps patients dealing with Alzheimer’s disease improve their life as well as lessen the symptoms.

Understanding Alzheimer’s disease and The Healthy Brain

Did You Know Sex Has Its Health Benefits?

August 29, 2014

The amazing Health benefits of sex

health benefits of sex Engaging in sex gives much more benefits that just getting you closer to your partner and fulfilling your romantic fantasies. Sexual intercourse according many researchers has been found to give more physical health benefits to a person who does it regularly. Some of the health benefits that have been discovered include the following;

Reduces the risk of High blood pressure

Researchers have linked sex to lower blood pressures. Dr. Joseph Pinzone MD who is the CEO and medical director at Amai wellness agrees that sex has an effect in lowering the blood pressure levels. He says that sexual intercourse reduces the systolic blood pressure. Hence engaging in sexual intercourse can help you in reducing the risk of high blood pressure

Reduces pain

A researcherBarry R. Komisaruk, PhD who is a celebrated service professor at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey says that orgasm can block pain. He opines that during sex several hormones are released that work in way to combat pain. This therefore means that sex may offer help in case of mild headache. He goes on to explain that even stimulation without orgasm can help in pain reduction. “We’ve found that vaginal stimulation can block chronic back and leg pain, and many women have told us that genital self-stimulation can reduce menstrual cramps, arthritic pain, and in some cases even headache,” says Komisaruk.

Better sleep (click here)

It is not a surprise to realize that you always go to sleep faster after sex and you tend to have a very deep sleep which is good for whole body rest. This is not a miracle but scientists have discovered that during sex particularly after orgasm a hormone known as prolactin is released. This hormone is responsible for feelings of relaxation and sleepiness. Sheenie Ambardar, MD. She is a psychiatrist in West Hollywood, Calif is the mind behind this discovery.

Exercises the body

Sex involves body movements especially in the waist and butt area hence stretching the muscles in these areas offering a great exercise. The honest truth is that however thorough or long the sex is it cannot replace the treadmill but it contributes as a form of less strenuous exercise. As you are involved in sexual intercourse you will be using about five calories per minute, so the longer the activity the more calories you will break. Sex also improves the heat rate. Pinzone advises that you should be consistent in sex to reap the benefits. Just create time for it and enjoy the huge benefits.

Reduces prostate cancer risk

health benefits of sex Prostate cancer has terrorized most men and is one of the diseases that men fear most. Already there very many proposed alternative to prostate cancer treatment. Sex according to study which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association can reduce a person’s risk of getting prostate cancer. The study found that men who ejaculate frequently reduce their risk of prostate cancer. This study explains that this can be achieved even through nocturnal emissions and masturbation. Therefore you can reap this benefit without a partner.

Reduces Colds

Sex has also been linked to reduced occurrences of running nose, sneezing and even wheezing. These symptoms can ruin your day however if new research findings are to be believed then you can reduce these occurrences by engaging in sex. Researchers at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania found out that people who have sex frequently have higher levels of an antibody known as immunoglobulin A (IgA). These antibodies are very effective in fighting colds and flu keeping you healthy. This is a good reason to spare some time and enjoy sex in your marriage.

Reduces Cramps in Women

Some of the problems that women go through during their monthly periods are the cramps that make that ordeal rather unpleasant. Experts say that engaging in sex can reduce the cases of cramps. Experts explain that when a woman achieves an orgasm her uterus contracts thereby removing the compounds that may cause cramps out of the body. Orgasm also helps in that as the uterus contracts it expels the blood faster hence ending the periods faster that well the uterus has not contracted.

According to researchers at Yale University School of Medicine when a woman goes horizontally when menstruating helps to decrease the chances of endometriosis, a common condition in which uterine tissue grows outside of the uterus, causing pelvic pain and lots of pain during sexual intercourse. It is not easy accept sex during menstruation and the common guilt is that you may mess everything. Use a towel on top of bed sheet and stick to lying on your back. As known when you lie on your back the flow is always lighter. Michelle Callahan, Ph.D. endorses the benefits of sex during menstruation.

Makes you look younger

Engaging in sex makes a woman seem younger than her age. In a study that was done at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Scotland, a panel of judges viewed participants through a one-way mirror and guessed their ages. The research revealed that women who frequently had sex seemed to be 7 to 12 years younger than they actually were. This is because during intercourse the body releases hormones such as the estrogen and testosterone which makes the body seem young and active. Hormone estrogen softens the skin and makes hair shiny.

Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is an experienced doctor that has helped many cancer patients in their fight against the disease. She has also helped many people regain their sex appetite and add more fun into their sexual life. She founded AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center which is home to many people seeking health breakthrough. Call on her now and learn more on how to enhance your sexual health.

The amazing Health benefits of sex

SEX, a replacement for MEDICINE
10 Health Benefits Of Sex That Will Surprise You
Healthwatch : 10 Usefulness of Healthy Sex
10 Surprising Health Benefits of Sex
Masturbation Makes You Live Longer
Sexual problems in women

Tag Archives: JAMA (journal)