A study published in the British Medical Journal (2005;330(7490):503) demonstrates that an extract of St. John's Wort is just as effective as a commonly prescribed medication, paroxetine (an SSRI).Read More
Conditions of the Brain
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More than 25 million Americans visit their doctor every year for treatment of depression. Antidepressant medications are prescribed for most cases of depression. However, less than half of people taking antidepressants get relief. The current dogma is that stress is a major cause of depression. Now research reports that antidepressant drugs have been targeted at the wrong cause. The study, presented at the 2009 Neuroscience Conference in Chicago, investigated the molecular changes associated with chronic...Read More
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative neurological disorder that has no cure. The symptoms include tremors, a shuffling walk, muscle stiffness, stooped posture, and a mask-like, expressionless face. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a naturally occurring antioxidant that boosts cellular energy production in the mitochondria, the cell's energy powerhouse. CoQ10 levels decrease with age and chronic diseases such as Parkinson's disease. Now a large clinical study will determine if CoQ10 can slow the progression of Parkinson's Disease....Read More
Researchers in London investigated the effects of supplementation with Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and Vitamin E on heart function and functional decline in patients with Friedreich ataxia.Read More
It's been reported that following surgery, some elderly patients develop permanent Alzheimer's-like memory loss. Research suggests that anesthesia during surgery may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease. However, the studies did not use animals or people genetically predisposed to Alzheimer's disease or with brain beta amyloid. Oxygen treatment (known as hypoxia) is commonly administered during or after surgery. Now research reports that oxygen treatment triggered memory loss in mice genetically altered to develop Alzheimer's-like memory loss...Read More
The study, published in the journal Stroke (2004, vol. 35, no. 7), identified the nutrients found in fruits and vegetables associated with a lower incidence of stroke.Read More
The April issue of Archives of Neurology published a prospective study that examined the relationship between folic acid and Vitamin B12 and age related cognitive decline in elderly adults.Read More
DNA damage has been shown to play an important role in aging. Current research reports that L-carnitine supplementation may protect brain DNA from the damage that occurs with aging.Read More
The study, published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2005, vol. 59, no. 2), investigated whether low levels of vitamin E in patients suffering major clinical depression were due to inadequate dietary intake or a result of the depression itself. Read More
A preliminary study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (March 2, 2005 293(5):1082-1088) showed that supplementation with folate and Vitamin B12 can be beneficial in patients with stroke.Read More
Parkinson Disease is a debilitating neurological disorder for which there is not yet a cure. Researchers are hoping to find substances that significantly reduce the progression of the disease symptoms. Right now the main treatment is L-dopa supplementation, which can manage symptoms for day to day function, but does not prevent deterioration. However, a pilot study published in the medical journal, Neurology, in March of 2006 indicates that two substances, a synthetic antibiotic and a...Read More
A study from Italy published in the May issue of Tumori investigated the effects of acetyl-l-carnitine on peripheral neuropathy in patients undergoing chemotherapy.Read More
A study comparing the effects of an extract of St. John's Wort to Paroxetine, a commonly prescribed antidepressant was carried out in Germany.Read More
The February issue of Phytotherapy Research discusses a study that measures the efficacy of saffron for the treatment of mild to moderate depression.Read More
A study published in the online Nutrition Journal of BioMed Central in February looked at the effect of Omega 3 Fatty acid supplementation in individuals with Bipolar disorder.Read More
A recent study published in the online journal BMC Psychiatry looked at SAM-E (S-Adenosylmethionine) as a possible treatment option for persons living with HIV. Read More
The yellow curry, curcumin (Curcuma longa), has been found to reduce inflammation and boost antioxidant activity. Now research reports that curcumin may also reduce the risk of brain lesions associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD).
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Cognitive decline may be affected by both the elevation of homocysteine in the blood and by decreased dietary intake and blood concentrations of folate, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12.Read More
