Excess iron in brain correlated with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer's disease

Here's a very interesting article and study that finds excess iron in the brains of rats correlated with PD and Alzeimer's:  

Researchers have found a drug that removes excess iron from the brain can prevent Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease in mice, raising the prospect of a new treatment.

http://www.lifescientist.com.au/article/413732/pumping_iron_raises_prospect_parkinson_alzheimer_treatment/

GcMAF for Treating Lyme

Mt. Sinai ME/CFS conference - De Meirleir lecture

My LLMD recently prescribed GcMAF for treating my Lyme/Parkinson's. GcMAF (Gc protein macrophage activation factor) is an immune-regulating compound developed in Europe that may have benefit for those of us struggling with immune system-related issues, such as Lyme disease, CFS, etc. Below is a description and link to a web site about CFS, with a video about GcMAF.

Six presentations were given at the Mt. Sinai ME/CFS Research and Treatment Center conference on Sunday November 20, 2011. Here is a lecture delivered by Dr. Kenny De Meirleir, who practices medicine in Brussels. Dr. De Meirleir has worked with ME/CFS patients for many years and is seen as one of the foremost ME/CFS Clinician/Researchers. Dr. De Meirleir spoke for a half-hour on the compassionate use of GcMAF in this patient population. Dr. De Meirleir will be associated with this new ME/CFS Center at Mt. Sinai- as a clinical consultant.

see video here:
.
http://cfspatientadvocate.blogspot.com/2011/11/mt-sinai-mecfs-conference-de-meirleir.html

Congressmen Call For Removal of Outdated IDSA Guidelines from National Guideline Clearinghouse

LYMEPOLICYWONK update from Lymedisease.org

On January 17, 2012, Congressmen Smith, Wolf, and Gibson called on the National Guidelines Clearinghouse (NGC) to remove the IDSA's outdated Lyme guidelines. We applaud them! But, this, of course, is the middle of the story not the beginning, so let's go back.

In early September, LymeDisease.org asked the IDSA whether it was in the process of reviewing its outdated guidelines. The IDSA merely referred us to their website, which said its guidelines were current and refused to provide any further information. We then contacted the NGC who told us they planned to continue listing the 2006 IDSA guidelines until 2015. We have been working behind the scenes with Lyme disease groups, including Time for Lyme, the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, the national Lyme Disease Association, and other patient groups and individuals, including David Roth...

See rest of article here:

http://www.lymedisease.org/news/lymepolicywonk/898.html

New Study about Acupuncture for PD

Acupuncture Today profiles Kluger's MJFF-funded study in the upcoming February edition, already available online. There is still much to be learned about how alternative medicine might provide viable options for those living with PD. But Kluger says that already he has seen some dramatic improvements in some of the study's participants. "People have gone back to doing activities that they haven't done in years," he told the magazine. 

I've been doing acupuncture for my PD, too, here in Berkeley. It's too early to report back as to whether it has done anything for me. 

US FDA Fails to Outlaw Amalgams

After enormous public pressure from scientists, dentists, health professionals, and consumers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) promised to make an announcement about dental amalgam by the end of 2011.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/01/17/fda-action-on-dental-amalgam.aspx?e_cid=20120117_DNL_art_1

Personal video update 1-11-2012

Here's the latest video update on my condition:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDQT2hxutD0

Exercise & Parkinson's Disease

This article from the Washington Post says extreme exercise is good for PD. The issue I have is that my Lyme docs warn against aerobic exercise for Lyme. What could help with one disease can exacerbate the other. This is a conundrum for me. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/bicycling-and-other-exercise-may-help-people-with-parkinsons-curb-their-symptoms/2011/12/10/gIQAnWT1lP_story.html

Lyme docs recommend exercise that is non-aerobic, such as weight lifting. Some suggest jumping on a small trampoline in order to stimulate the lymph system and therefore aid in detoxification. When I exercise hard (aerobically), I feel pretty lousy for the next day or two. This is a typical Lyme reaction. I guess I'll just have to keep experimenting.

Curing Lyme Disease with Samento (Cat's Claw)

An older article but it contains some interesting claims and references about the connection between Lyme and other neurological disorders such as PD and ALS. It also claims Samento may be more effective than antibiotics in Lyme treatment.

By Dr. James Howenstine, MD.
April 17, 2005

NewsWithViews.com
Lyme Disease was initially regarded as an uncommon illness caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). The disease transmission was thought to be solely by the bite from a tick infected with this spirochete. The Bb spirochete is able to burrow into tendons, muscle cells, ligaments, and directly into organs. A classic bulls-eye rash is often visible in the early stage of the illness. Later in the illness the disease can afflict the heart, nervous system, joints and other organs. It is now realized that the disease can mimic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, Bell's Palsy, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, neuritis, psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia, chronic fatigue, heart failure, angina, irregular heart rhythms, fibromyalgia, dermatitis, autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma and lupus, eye inflammatory reactions, sudden deafness, SIDS, ADD and hyperactivity, chronic pain and many other conditions.

Dr. Paul Fink, past president of the American Psychiatric Association, has acknowledged that Lyme Disease can mimic every psychiatric disorder in the Diagnostic Symptoms Manual IV. This includes attention deficit disorder (ADD), antisocial personality, panic attacks, anorexia nervosa, autism and Ausperger's syndrome etc. It might be prudent in any person suddenly found to have psychiatric symptoms to obtain a Q-RIBb blood test to exclude Lyme Disease.

Read entire article here:
http://www.newswithviews.com/Howenstine/james26.htm