Topic: LD- Alzheimer's link...additional notes added by the doctor here today.
Melanie Reber
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This was just sent to me- Thanks!
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05/05/2006 A truly revolutionary notion:'Medical researcher with ties to Manchester studies possibility of Lyme disease-Alzheimer's link By:Alex Wood , Journal Inquirer
A medical researcher who grew up in Manchester is trying to get other researchers interested in what he calls a "truly revolutionary notion," that the bacterium that causes Lyme disease may also be at the root of many cases of Alzheimer's disease.
A scientific journal called "Medical Hypotheses" this week published on the Internet the second in a series of papers in which the researcher, Dr. Alan B. MacDonald, sets forth his ideas on the subject.
"Medical Hypotheses" says in a description of its aims and scope that it will publish "radical ideas, so long as they are coherent and clearly expressed."
MacDonald, who works as a pathologist at a Long Island hospital, makes clear that the title of the journal aptly describes his idea: It is a hypothesis, meaning an unproven theory used to design further experiments to confirm or refute it.
But if MacDonald's idea should prove out, it would open new possibilities for prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease, in that bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics.
Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete, a corkscrew-shaped bacterium, known as Borrelia burgdorferi. It was first identified in the United States as a result of an outbreak of arthritis-like symptoms in 1975 in Lyme, Old Lyme, and East Haddam, Conn.
Lyme disease is also known to have neurological effects in some cases. Alzheimer's is a common neurological disease in which the mental abilities of patients steadily deteriorate, leading ultimately to their deaths. It primarily afflicts the elderly but can strike younger people as well.
MacDonald has been interested in the possibility of a connection between the Lyme spirochete and major neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's, for more than two decades. But, while working as a pathologist, a doctor who specializes in diagnosing diseases in tissues removed from the body or studied during autopsies, he hasn't always been in a position to do research on the subject.
MacDonald's new paper is based on research showing that the spirochete that causes Lyme disease can take on the rounded form of a cyst under adverse conditions, such as starvation, an acidic environment, or attack by antibiotics.
"Anything that needs to survive adversity will round up and form a cyst," he said in a telephone interview from Long Island, where he works at St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown, N.Y.
He suggests the possibility that these rounded forms of the spirochete might be the "root cause" of the rounded structures called plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. He says there are structural and other similarities between Lyme cysts and Alzheimer's plaques.
Moreover, MacDonald says, he has found evidence in seven of 10 known Alzheimer's brains of "transfection" with DNA from the Lyme spirochete. Transfection is the incorporation of a piece of DNA from an alien species into human DNA.
He has used this information to design a DNA probe, which he then used on the brain of a deceased Alzheimer's patient who was known to have had Lyme disease. The DNA probes showed a pattern similar to the distribution, size, and shape of Alzheimer's plaques, according to his article.
MacDonald says in the article that some have suggested that the overlap between evidence of Lyme infection and evidence of Alzheimer's may be a coincidence, in that both diseases are relatively common.
But he suggests that that argument may be refuted if it can be shown that Lyme DNA regularly appears at the site of the tissue injuries that define Alzheimer's disease.
"DNA of the alleged perpetrator at the scene of the crime constitutes 'molecular proof'" that the Lyme spirochete causes Alzheimer's disease, he writes.
Dr. Christopher H. van Dyck, the director of the Alzheimer's disease research unit at the Yale University School of Medicine, said Friday that MacDonald's hypothesis "sounds speculative but interesting. It probably is worthy of additional research."
He said there is known to be more than one cause of Alzheimer's disease.
Van Dyck, who is chairman of the medical scientific advisory committee of the Alzheimer's Association's Connecticut chapter, suggested that one focus of additional research might whether Alzheimer's disease is more common in areas where Lyme disease is found.
"There's no way it can be the cause of all Alzheimer's disease," van Dyck said. "There are genetic mutations that are known to cause Alzheimer's disease."
[ 09. May 2006, 09:33 AM: Message edited by: Melanie Reber ]
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so i guess that, one day i'll be somewhere saddling up the ponies against al-qaeda...heh? Posts: 2708 | Registered: Feb 2005
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GiGi
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Pretty certain that Alzheimers has many causes. Neurotoxins abound - not just neurotoxins from Lyme.
Mercury levels have been found increased in blood in patients with Alzheimner's. (Journal of Neural Transmission, 1998). (Where there are metals, there are microorganisms.) Cadaver studies: indicationgs of high mercury levels in the brain (four-fold); aluminum was only two-fold.
We know that mercury is the only toxin known that creates in the nervous system those changes typical for AD.
What people don't know is that Alzheimer's is the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S. There's heart disease and a few other things. It is estimated that at any given time, 4 million. people in the U.S. have Alzheimer's disease, and the shocking number for me was that 25% of all Alzheimer's cases in the world, we have in this country.
In terms of population, the world has about 4 billion population, 300 million in the US. We are only 1/15th of the world population, but we have 1/4 of the problem.
I live in a short street with just about five houses on either side. In the last few month, two of the homeowners, longtime residents, don't remember the names of their children!
We are thinking of moving!!!!! I have already changed the sign that says "Dead End" by adding the word "No" to it.
Take care.
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Marnie
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Alzheimers has been linked also to aluminum.
Al will be used by us to try to substitute for missing Mg. The body will start to store it. Malic acid chelates it. That makes Mg malate in LARGE doses important.
Al and Mg both burn with a "white" light...extremely "hot"...to "ignite" the other minerals...providing the other colors in fireworks. We know that very large doses of Mg will knock off Zn.
Alzheimers is also linked to a problem with the glutamate (NMDA) receptors. Mg and Zn block these receptors. If Mg (and Zn) are deficient -> glutamate goes in = "rapid firing". Not good...so in steps the "brakes"...GABA...which is also used to make another neurotransmitter...which gets depleted too.
Bb wants the nutrients we need to make acetylcholine.
Bb takes our Zn...along with a number of other nutrients including selenium and manganese.
We have a major problem on our hands. Too many nutrients being depleted too fast.
Alzheimers has recently been called another form of diabetes.
Well...guess what...Bb follows the glycolysis pathway. It wants our fructose. Bb is PFK (an enzyme) dependent. This enzyme is "rate limiting" for glycolysis.
Bb follows the glycolysis AND cholesterol pathways.
I have 8 MS word files about Alzheimers. Want them?
(Gi Gi) "silver" fillings and other dental substances contain, in addition to toxic mercury, Hg, ...zinc!!! SHOOT! Double whammy.
Posts: 9481 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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Many thanks for posting this little article. I have taken 20 years to " allow" the thought to enter my mind that the Cyst forms might actually be agents of injury, ... as opposed to dormant cysts and resting INACTIVE "cystic" life formsderived from corkscrew borrelia. The idea of intracellular cysts of borrelia as a potential explanation for the Pick body was an idea which I proposed in 1989 in the ANNALS of the NEW YORK ACAD Sciences article. The evolution of that "thread" to the idea that Cystic forms of borrelia ( Always round, but often of Variable caliber ie ... small cysts, medium cysts and Large caliber cysts ) came to me from observations in my lab from tissue culture studies of Frozen AlZ brain tissues. I added tissue culture medium, modified to support borrelia and introduced human cells and a puree of frozen Alzheimer brain material. After several months, I expected that the tissue cultures coincubated with Alzheimer frozen purees might yield up motile corkscrew forms. In fact the tissue cultures yielded an array of Cystic borrelia. And to my Horror and amazement, the tissue cultures showed me that the cysts were "eating" the human cells, which were internalized within the substance of the Cyst forms. Cysts assumed a larger diameter, after they had taken a "meal" from the tissue cultured cells. So there it was, ... a mechanism for cysts of borrelia to be yet another "Attack model" but also a perfect vehicle to explain the Round Alzheimer Plaques ( as originating from Cysts of Borrelia which had destroyed the nerve cells in their act of "feeding") The "model" explains : 1. Roundness as a motif of Alzheimer plaques. 2. The structural basis for "plaque free zones " in Alzheimer tissue sections. 3. the Small, medium and large Alzheimer plaque diversity ( based on the size increments of Cysts, as they increase in diameter with each successive indigenous nerve cell destroyed in the infected brain. What do you think of this radical new "attack model"??? It now has a time and Date stamp, thanks to Medical Hypothesis and to Dr Bruce Charlton's editoral kindness in publishing the idea .. Best to you all, Alan PS: Please vote on this idea. 05/05/2006 A truly revolutionary notion:'Medical researcher with ties to Manchester studies possibility of Lyme disease-Alzheimer's link By:Alex Wood , Journal Inquirer
Melanie Reber
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I will do my best to try and put this into terms that I and others may be able to understand. Please let me know if I have mistaken what was written, or have missed anything.
Dr. M introduced pureed frozen brain matter from deceased ALZ patients that contained Borrelia cysts to a medium that also contained human cells.
After several months, he expected to find the motile corkscrew form of Borrelia emerging. But instead found even more cysts and also found that the cysts were actually ingesting the human cells and growing larger with each ``meal''.
Therefore, he surmises that the cystic form of Borrelia is actually an active agent of injury rather than a dormant inactive form only.
This may be one way that the nerve cells become destroyed in ALS and LD...they are "consumed" by the cystic form of Bb.
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question: if the nerve cells are destroyed by consumption, then how does antibiotic therapy restore neurological functioning to Lyme patients?
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treepatrol
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Maybe these cysts are actually the mother in a pregnant state and inside they are full of baby spirochetes???? and the medium that they are in isnt pro for spirochete forms? Dr M if this helps talk to Dr Phd Lida Mattman to see what her formula is that is condusive to spirochete forms that makes them happy and see if the same thing happens or see if they remain cyst form.Just a thought?
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
lymemomtooo
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Keep at this guys..I think I may someday soon need some help in the arena..But would prefer a live study!!!!!!!!!
I was at Walmart last week and came out and could not find my car..Heaven help anyone that would have had a twin..I probably would have broken in.
15 minutes later, it dawned on me, while the probable, watchers gathered, that I had my car in the shop and was in my husband's fire engine red Jeep..I had passed it a few times. Ugh!!!lymemomtooo
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treepatrol
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-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
trueblue
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-------------------- more light, more love more truth and more innovation Posts: 3783 | From somewhere other than here | Registered: May 2005
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Melanie Reber
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.
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Carol B
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okay I have been in treatment now for three months- LLMD about to start treatment with Flagyl, which from what I understand is to bust into the cysts to get to the lyme bacteria in hiding.
Since i was feeling better and I have heard harsh things about flagyl I was thinking of declining-but now well, I say CHARGE-you can run but you can't hide.(well you can try)
I truly felt like I was deteriorating into Alzheimers at age 50, but since starting treatment for Lyme I am improving in mental acuity-and I didn't want to mess with a good thing.
I guess I still have lots to learn about lyme treatment. Let the treatment continue.
Carol One reason I think I write so much is so to leave a trail behind so someone can find me when I get lost in LaLa Land. I don't want people to forget who I was-after I have become someone I don't even know.
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I believe I'm anecdotal evidence of this being true. I'd been treated w/Ketek and Bicillin LA for about 7-8 months and had been improving slowly. But when my LLNP switched the Ketek to tinidazole (Tindamax, a cyst buster related to Flagyl), I began feeling better the first week, and have continued improving.
Tinidazole has a very small chemical structure, which allows it to cross the blood brain barrier better than a lot of other abx (I thinkFlagyl does also), and my neurologic and fatigue symptoms began responding very quickly with it.
It makes perfect sense to me that the little cysts would play a significant role in our illness and that as they multiply "colonies" of cysts would form those white lesions found on the MRIs of some patients. What I hadn't figured on and what's even scarier is the idea that the cysts could actually be devouring the tissue surrounding them.
Carol B, I was also hesitant to start tinidazole because of all the stories I'd heard or read about...depression, unbearable herx's, etc. so I actually put off starting it for a whole month. But I'm so glad I started taking it. It's helped me immensely. I've read that Flagyl is harder to take, so if you have problems with it, I'd recommend trying tinidazole, although I believe it's a lot more expensive.
I think it's important not to start the cyst buster too soon. One should spend some time reducing the spirochete load before starting the cyst buster. Otherwise, I'm told that the resulting herx alone could practically kill you. But once you've reduced the spirochete load, go for it.
Get thee on a cyst buster!
Patti
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lymemomtooo
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Mel, I am personally in awe of Dr. MacDonald and hope he stops by from time to time..
I will be giving a standing ovation from afar the day he receives the Nobel Prize..This is extremely important research.
My daughter's llmd, Dr A. C. is also in awe of him and has had the priviledge of seeing and sharing some of his research. She is convinced that most chronic diseases may have as a major cause, some of this bacteria. She implied that Bb is sorta like the cess pool that gets things going.
I also saw some of the stained slides from her or Pat Smith's newest presentation.I am definitely a believer. A picture can not lie.
ANd not to disagree with Gigi and Marnie, I also believe the metals and other neurotoxins are also players.
But just think of the possibilities down the road..If Dr. MacD and others can figure out what is happening, then they or someone may be able to prevent it..There may be hope for Carol and some of the rest of us.
Doc keep digging..I am not ready to volunteer for the study yet, however.. But hopefully, history will give you credit for some remarkable discoveries. Just be strong for the ride will be bumpy no doubt.
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Carol B
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Thanks for the positive encouragement, PSANO.
There may be hope for me, LMT-but what about you??
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This is a very enlightening, if a bit frightening post. Thank you so much for posting this information and I fervently hope that Dr. MacDonald will continue his research and will keep us aprised of his progress.
LymesBlue - Could you elaborate on the environmental issues of the mouth? That sounds intriquing. BTW, I am your neighbor and would love to see a support group in our area. Do you have any interest or know of others here who might? PM me if you would like to dicuss further.
Thanks, Suzy
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LMT - We'll be seeing Dr. C on Monday. Did you see the slides at a presentation? Do you think she might have them available to view at her office? Would love to have time to discuss this research with her.
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lymemomtooo
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SuZ-Q..I am thinking it might have been Pat that had the slides..I know Gail was interested in getting copies of them I think..
And Ann would probably love to tell you all about the studies..She is very encouraged by this research and wondering where are the other researchers.
Basically that any Dr or researcher in their right mind should be clamoring to get their hands on some of this material..She is very fired up..
Hope you have a good visit. Give her a hug for me and a pat for Jack.
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Thanks, LMT!!! Leaving in about 5 minutes for PA. Will give messages and a treat for Jack.
Suzy
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Foggy
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Has anyone heard about the the Alzheimer's drug Namenda being used for Lyme symptoms?
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