A recent well supported study shows that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is down-regulated in Huntington's disease (HD). Scientists are seeking a pill that will restore BDNF to the brain for treatment of HD . (1)
On the downside, drugs such as haloperidol (Haldol) and risperidone are widely and incorrectly prescribed for HD patients. Such drugs mimic and probably accelerate HD by significantly decreasing BDNF. (2) The high calorie, high in saturated fats diet sometimes recommended for HD are not supported by science. The most current reference for doctors treating HD is the HDSA's A Physician's Guide to the Management of Huntington's Disease.(3) Haldol, risperidone and a high saturated fat diet all all incorrectly recommended for the treatment of HD.
The HDL diet, exercise and a stimulating environment are elements of the HDL Triad. All up-regulate BDNF. All are neuro-protective. All are available now. --Jerry 25-Jun-2001
Journal of Neurochemistry 76 (2), 619-626;Wenzhen Duan, et al.
Dietary restriction (DR; reduced calorie intake) increases the lifespan of rodents and increases their resistance to cancer, diabetes and other age-related diseases.
DR also exerts beneficial effects on the brain including enhanced learning and memory and increased resistance of neurons to excitotoxic, oxidative and metabolic insults.
The mechanisms underlying the effects of DR on neuronal plasticity and survival are unknown.
In the present study we show that levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are significantly increased in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex and striatum of mice maintained on an alternate day feeding DR regimen compared to animals fed ad libitum. Damage to hippocampal neurons induced by the excitotoxin kainic acid was significantly reduced in mice maintained on DR, and this neuroprotective effect was attenuated by intraventricular administration of a BDNF-blocking antibody.
Our findings show that simply reducing food intake results in increased levels of BDNF in brain cells, and suggest that the resulting activation of BDNF signaling pathways plays a key role in the neuroprotective effect of DR.
These results bolster accumulating evidence that DR
may be an effective approach for increasing the resistance of the
brain to damage and enhancing brain neuronal plasticity.
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