Magnolia Bark, CB Receptors & Relaxation

In recent years, anxiety disorders are estimated to affect between 10% and 30% of the general population. Pharmaceutical treatments are ubiquitous, their many unwanted side effects well known. Nutritional, nutraceutical and botanical support is also available to help promote natural stress reduction and healthy mood maintenance. One remedy used since ancient times to help nurture …

A Metabolic Point of View on Parkinson’s Disease

In my newsletter series on inflammation, insulin resistance, and neurologic illness that I concluded in August of last year, while many neurodegenerative ailments were addressed, certainly the primary focus was Alzheimer’s disease. Others, such as Parkinson’s disease, were addressed, but not in nearly as much detail. In particular, given the incidence of Parkinson’s disease in the US, I feel it warrants more attention. Therefore, I was pleased to find a paper that addresses this ailment from a metabolic, allostatic load point of view, the recently published paper (February 2018) “Aging and Parkinson’s disease: Inflammaging, neuroinflammation and biological remodeling as key factors in pathogenesis” by Calabrese et al (1). The first quote I would like to feature from this paper discusses the significant frequency of Parkinson’s disease (PD):

The Gut Microflora-Brain Connection and Neurologic Disorders – A Review of the Evidence – Part II

MORE ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GUT MICROFLORA AND NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS Part I of this series ended with a discussion on the relationship between gut microflora and neurological disorders as outlined in the paper "Microbiota-gut-brain axis and the central nervous system" by Zhu et al (1). Now in part II I would like to continue this …

The Gut Microflora-Brain Connection and Neurologic Disorders – A Review of the Evidence – Part I

There is certainly little question that, over the last 10-20 years, one of the most popular topics of interest among nutritional and functional medicine practitioners has been the role of gut microflora and human health.  Furthermore, there is also little question that the vast majority of conversations, seminars and published papers on the subject have …

Are Chronic Inflammation and its Metabolic Counterpart, Insulin Resistance, the Common Denominators for All Chronic Behavioral and Neurodegenerative Disorders? – A Review of the Evidence – Part X

More on insulin metabolism plus some final "big picture" thoughts on what is creating this epidemic of cns inflammation and insulin resistance In concluding this review of the impact of suboptimal insulin and glucose metabolism on the brain and its tendency to lead to the development of amyloid beta (Aβ) and other adverse changes consistent …

Are Chronic Inflammation and its Metabolic Counterpart, Insulin Resistance, the Common Denominators for All Chronic Behavioral and Neurodegenerative Disorders? – A Review of the Evidence – Part IX

More research on Senile Dementia/Alzheimer's disease and its connection with dysinsulinism In part VIII of this series I began my discussion on how disturbances in insulin metabolism can alter brain chemistry, leading to formation of the generally recognized cause of Alzheimer's disease/senile dementia, amyloid beta (Aβ), commonly known as "amyloid plaques."  Furthermore, I pointed out …

Are Chronic Inflammation and its Metabolic Counterpart, Insulin Resistance, the Common Denominators for All Chronic Behavioral and Neurodegenerative Disorders? – A Review of the Evidence – Part VIII

Senile Dementia/Alzheimer's Disease and its Connection with Dysinsulinism By now I hope I have convinced those of you who have been reading this entire series that chronic inflammation plays a major role in the development and continuing loss of neurologic function in all neurodegenerative diseases, including senile dementia/Alzheimer's disease.  However, given the vicious circle relationship …

Are Chronic Inflammation and its Metabolic Counterpart, Insulin Resistance, the Common Denominators for All Chronic Behavioral and Neurodegenerative Disorders? – A Review of the Evidence – Part VII

Depression - Its Connection with Chronic Inflammation, Vitamin B6 Depletion, Disturbances in Kynurenine Metabolism and Diabetes In part VI of this series I ended with a discussion of the hypothesis by Oxenkrug (1, 2) that, when chronic inflammation combines with vitamin B6 deficiency, disturbances in kynurenine metabolism can ensue which can not only contribute to depression …

Are Chronic Inflammation and its Metabolic Counterpart, Insulin Resistance, the Common Denominators for All Chronic Behavioral and Neurodegenerative Disorders? – A Review of the Evidence – Part VI

DEPRESSION - DOES RESEARCH THAT DOWNPLAYS THE KYNURENINE PATHWAY CONNECTION IN FACT REFLECT SUBOPTIMAL NUTRIENT STATUS? Much of part V of this series focused on research which provided strong support for the hypothesis that chronic inflammation creates depression via alterations in tryptophan metabolism that redirect tryptophan away from serotonin and melatonin production and towards the …

Are Chronic Inflammation and its Metabolic Counterpart, Insulin Resistance, the Common Denominators for All Chronic Behavioral and Neurodegenerative Disorders? – A Review of the Evidence – Part V

DEPRESSION - MORE INFORMATION TO SUPPORT THE IDEA THAT IT IS TRULY AN INFLAMMATORY ILLNESS As you might imagine, despite the large volume of research supporting the idea that depression is an inflammatory illness, many in both the clinical and academic communities will point to various manifestations and subtleties of the average case of depression …