Fantastic!!!! A study from Stanford University was released this week showing that when certain chemicals were increased to a more normal level in the brains of the Down Syndrome mouse, the mouse learned better. The idea that medicine can improve function is the entire theory behind the Changing Minds protocol.
They increased a chemical called norepinephrine which is a neurotransmittor. A neurotransmittor is a chemical that literally jumps across from the end of one nerve to the beginning of another nerve.
The study gave the Down syndrome mouse a drug called droxidopa which is an orally active norepinephrine precursor used for the treatment of orthostatic hypotension. Hypotension is abnormally low blood pressure.
Increasing norepinephrine is a known treatment for other situations. It is used in Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, depression and hypotension. Norepinephrine cannot cross into the brain directly so medicines are used to increase it indirectly.
Increasing norepinephrine in the hippocampus (area of memory and learning in the brain) enhanced cognition in the Down syndrome mouse. So why not use a medicine that increases norepinephrine AND has been used in children for 50 years???? That medicine would be ADHD meds, such as Focalin, Concerta, etc. Why use a medicine that you would have to start from scratch with clinical trials?
We at Changing Minds Foundation have seen real improvement adding ADHD medication for our children with Down syndrome. What this study does, is back up with laboratory findings what we already have seen with the children on the Changing Minds protocol.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Myth: Down syndrome can never be cured.
Truth: Research on Down syndrome is making great strides in identifying the genes on chromosome 21 that cause the characteristics of Down syndrome. Scientists now feel strongly that it will be possible to improve, correct or prevent many of the problems associated with Down syndrome in the future.
Who said this?
A few years ago, I named a website 'Cure Down syndrome' and was chastised for it. I literally got hate emails. How dare you say cure in connection with Down syndrome. There is nothing to cure, is what the emails argued.
I named it that on purpose, to see what would happen. Now, five years later, the big boys have it on their website. Granted it is all the way down at the bottom of the page, but it is written in black and white.
Have you guessed yet?
The truth is I'm very happy they are saying the word cure. The definition of cure is: Cure: 1. To heal, to make well, to restore to good health.
Who doesn't want good health?
There are definable problems with Down syndrome and to restore these problems to a more normal, healthy function is a good thing. For example, increasing the ability to learn is a good thing. The Changing Minds Foundation is dedicated to improving learning and memory through modern medicine. It is as simple as restoring functions in the brain to a more normal level. So, is it a cure?
The only problem with the word cure is that people seem to think it means to eliminate the problem in its entirety. So, a person with Down syndrome is only cured if the chromosome is completely removed from every cell. But this is not the true meaning at all. Cured means to restore to good health.
Someone is cured of cancer when the symptoms of cancer are gone, not when the cause of the cancer is eliminated. Many cancers, for example, are due to genetic causes. Hence, the question by the doctor about your family history. They don't ask because they are interested in genealogy. Your family history is important to your future health because of the genes you may carry.
So, who was it that made this statement?
Myth: Down syndrome can never be cured.
Truth: Research on Down syndrome is making great strides in identifying the genes on chromosome 21 that cause the characteristics of Down syndrome. Scientists now feel strongly that it will be possible to improve, correct or prevent many of the problems associated with Down syndrome in the future.
It was on the NDSS, the National Down Syndrome Society's website.
http://www.ndss.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59&Itemid=76
The only difference between NDSS and CMF is we think the future is now. Thank you to all the dedicated research scientists for making the future NOW.
Truth: Research on Down syndrome is making great strides in identifying the genes on chromosome 21 that cause the characteristics of Down syndrome. Scientists now feel strongly that it will be possible to improve, correct or prevent many of the problems associated with Down syndrome in the future.
Who said this?
A few years ago, I named a website 'Cure Down syndrome' and was chastised for it. I literally got hate emails. How dare you say cure in connection with Down syndrome. There is nothing to cure, is what the emails argued.
I named it that on purpose, to see what would happen. Now, five years later, the big boys have it on their website. Granted it is all the way down at the bottom of the page, but it is written in black and white.
Have you guessed yet?
The truth is I'm very happy they are saying the word cure. The definition of cure is: Cure: 1. To heal, to make well, to restore to good health.
Who doesn't want good health?
There are definable problems with Down syndrome and to restore these problems to a more normal, healthy function is a good thing. For example, increasing the ability to learn is a good thing. The Changing Minds Foundation is dedicated to improving learning and memory through modern medicine. It is as simple as restoring functions in the brain to a more normal level. So, is it a cure?
The only problem with the word cure is that people seem to think it means to eliminate the problem in its entirety. So, a person with Down syndrome is only cured if the chromosome is completely removed from every cell. But this is not the true meaning at all. Cured means to restore to good health.
Someone is cured of cancer when the symptoms of cancer are gone, not when the cause of the cancer is eliminated. Many cancers, for example, are due to genetic causes. Hence, the question by the doctor about your family history. They don't ask because they are interested in genealogy. Your family history is important to your future health because of the genes you may carry.
So, who was it that made this statement?
Myth: Down syndrome can never be cured.
Truth: Research on Down syndrome is making great strides in identifying the genes on chromosome 21 that cause the characteristics of Down syndrome. Scientists now feel strongly that it will be possible to improve, correct or prevent many of the problems associated with Down syndrome in the future.
It was on the NDSS, the National Down Syndrome Society's website.
http://www.ndss.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59&Itemid=76
The only difference between NDSS and CMF is we think the future is now. Thank you to all the dedicated research scientists for making the future NOW.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Benefits of Curcumin for Down syndrome
I finally had a chance to research curcumin and I am delightfully surprised. It has some properties similar to prozac but it has even more. One research study I found looked at curcumin using what is called an 'unpedictable stress model'. It is when the researchers stess the mice in randam, unpredictable ways. They have found this to be the most stressful. If stress is consistent and/or predictable, it is not as hard on the body or brain.
Curcumin did increase neurogenesis by increasing serotonin and BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor). But it did something more that I think may be the biggest help to Down syndrome.
Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory as well as an antioxidant, but that is not the most intriguing part of the research. Lots of herbs and vitamins are anti-inflammatory or have antioxidant properties.
The most intriguing part is the idea that curcumin is structurally capable of binding to amyloid plaques and breaking up the aggregation of them. Curcumin literally sticks itself to the junk (amyloid plaque) and breaks up the group of them stuck together.
This group of junk clogs up the brain and stops it from working.
Down syndrome has a triplicate copy of the APP gene. Amyloid precursor protein gene. This is the gene associated with Alzheimer's disease. In Alzheimer's disease, brain researchers find the brains full of plaques and tangles. The plaques are called amyloid plaques.
Now, the big drawback I see to curcumin is getting it into the brain. It doesn't cross the BBB (blood brain barrier) easily. But, one brand, Longvida Curcumin, came up with an intriguing solution. They combined curcumin with lecithin. What does that do, you ask? Well, lecithin is phosphatidyl choline, a fat that will cross the BBB. Brilliant!!!
I think curcumin is a fantastic addition for the health of the Down syndrome brain (and probably everyone would benefit).
Curcumin did increase neurogenesis by increasing serotonin and BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor). But it did something more that I think may be the biggest help to Down syndrome.
Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory as well as an antioxidant, but that is not the most intriguing part of the research. Lots of herbs and vitamins are anti-inflammatory or have antioxidant properties.
The most intriguing part is the idea that curcumin is structurally capable of binding to amyloid plaques and breaking up the aggregation of them. Curcumin literally sticks itself to the junk (amyloid plaque) and breaks up the group of them stuck together.
This group of junk clogs up the brain and stops it from working.
Down syndrome has a triplicate copy of the APP gene. Amyloid precursor protein gene. This is the gene associated with Alzheimer's disease. In Alzheimer's disease, brain researchers find the brains full of plaques and tangles. The plaques are called amyloid plaques.
Now, the big drawback I see to curcumin is getting it into the brain. It doesn't cross the BBB (blood brain barrier) easily. But, one brand, Longvida Curcumin, came up with an intriguing solution. They combined curcumin with lecithin. What does that do, you ask? Well, lecithin is phosphatidyl choline, a fat that will cross the BBB. Brilliant!!!
I think curcumin is a fantastic addition for the health of the Down syndrome brain (and probably everyone would benefit).
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Nicole's success
'The Comforter' 20"x 30" Acrylic on PaperIn the documentary, 'Changing A Mind', it follows a young lady with Down syndrome from the depths of unresponsiveness and total internalization to healing and recovery. Nicole is a hero. I am so proud of her progress.
On June 28th, she will have her first showing at an Art Gallery in Houston, Texas. Please join us.
Way to go, Nicole!!!
DARKE gallery presents NICOLE TAYLOR WORKS ON PAPER ARTIST
Sunday June 28 3-6 PM DARKE gallery 5321 Feagan @ DeteringHouston, TX 77007
DARKE gallery is pleased to present works on paper by Houston artist Nicole Taylor.Nicole is a 27 year old African American painter with Down Syndrome who discovered her love of painting while she attended Darla's School for Adults with Disabilities. She is an active member of the ARC of Fort Bend, the Down Syndrome Association, the Changing Mind Foundation and the Wheeler Baptist Church.Refreshments will be served!
DARKE gallery5321 Feagan @ DeteringHouston, TX 77007713-542-3802email: darkegallery@aol.comhttp://www.darkegallery.com/
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Brain Rules - The Numbers Shall Set You Free
I was reading a book called Brain Rules by John Medina and came across some very interesting information. (BTW, I would recommend the book). It seems that babies are born with the same number of neurons and connections as adults have. And then, by the time they are 3 years old, the connections (and therefore number of neurons) have doubled or even tripled. But that doesn't last long. The brain as he puts it 'takes thousands of tiny pruning shears and trims back a lot of this hard work.'
What is remarkable is that at puberty the whole process starts over again. So, the brain explodes with neuron growth and then with vigorously trims it back again. So there is a lot of brain growth and pruning during the terrible twos and then again the the terrible teens.
"Though that might seem like cellular soldiers obeying growth commands in lockstep formation, nothing approaching military precision is observed in the messy world of brain development. ...Even a cursory inspection of the data reveals remarkable variation in growth patterns from one person to the next."
As I was reading this, I was thinking about all the stories of DS kids that decline after puberty. What if DS never get (or get much less) of that explosive neuron growth but have close to normal pruning? This would cause the neuron count to dip below that critical number that keeps coming up.
Elizabeth Goulds work showed that below a certain neuron count, the study subjects get anxiety, and depression. And the brain goes into a 'safe mode' and doesn't initiate the normal neurogenesis that should be happening. The brain some how panics and just tries to hold onto what it has.
Numbers.....could it be a numbers game?
What is remarkable is that at puberty the whole process starts over again. So, the brain explodes with neuron growth and then with vigorously trims it back again. So there is a lot of brain growth and pruning during the terrible twos and then again the the terrible teens.
"Though that might seem like cellular soldiers obeying growth commands in lockstep formation, nothing approaching military precision is observed in the messy world of brain development. ...Even a cursory inspection of the data reveals remarkable variation in growth patterns from one person to the next."
As I was reading this, I was thinking about all the stories of DS kids that decline after puberty. What if DS never get (or get much less) of that explosive neuron growth but have close to normal pruning? This would cause the neuron count to dip below that critical number that keeps coming up.
Elizabeth Goulds work showed that below a certain neuron count, the study subjects get anxiety, and depression. And the brain goes into a 'safe mode' and doesn't initiate the normal neurogenesis that should be happening. The brain some how panics and just tries to hold onto what it has.
Numbers.....could it be a numbers game?
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Inspiration
I have been scouring the bloggers lately and love the sites I have been reading. It has inspired me to write a bit everyday.
My husband and I have 2 children, Erin 15 and Neal 11. Neal has Down syndrome which I took on as my cause. I had this crazy idea since the day he was born that through the proper medicine (chemistry) we could treat the symptoms and free him from the limitations of Down syndrome. It is now coming true. He is getting better and better. He has more and more function and abilities.
My goal is to see both my children walk out as well-educated, highly motivated adults. What do you want to see walking out of the house at 18?
My husband and I have 2 children, Erin 15 and Neal 11. Neal has Down syndrome which I took on as my cause. I had this crazy idea since the day he was born that through the proper medicine (chemistry) we could treat the symptoms and free him from the limitations of Down syndrome. It is now coming true. He is getting better and better. He has more and more function and abilities.
My goal is to see both my children walk out as well-educated, highly motivated adults. What do you want to see walking out of the house at 18?
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