Proof By Brain Scan

In the sea of HD gloom, Scott is a bright light shining back to the Huntington's Disease Lighthouse. Through the gloom others see Scott's light. Study how Scott reversed HD. Be proactive. Be another bright light. -- Jerry

Posted to HDLighthouse: 31Jul02 HDL Update: Scott Reverses HD

Scott Reverses HD "BDNF can create new brain cells, and that we have to ability to constantly remold our brain to adapt to anything HD might throw at us really sums up why exercise is so important to all of us, especially those of us with HD."

The article that Jerry posted on June 24th, 2002 Exercise and BDNF really sums up why exercise is so important to all of us, especially those of us with HD. It's a long, technical article, but it's filled with key pieces of vital knowledge. I would recommend printing out a copy and carefully reading in several times. I did just that and even high lighted the most important parts.

Here's a few of the things I high lighted:

"It is now clear voluntary exercise can increase the levels of BDNF and other growth factors, stimulate neurogenesis, increase resistance to brain insult, and improve learning and mental performance"

"Such intervention is particularly crucial from middle age onwards, when the brain faces a series of challenges that can include the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases"

"Exercise participation has consistently emerged as a key indicator of improved cognitive function" ..... "Exercise and/or behavioral enrichment can increase neuronal survival and resistance to brain insult, promote brain vascularization, stimulate neurogenesis, enhance learning, and contribute to maintenance of cognitive function during aging"

"We predicted that neurotropic-mediated response to exercise would probably be restricted to motor-sensory systems of the brain, such as the cerebellum, primary cortical areas or basal ganglia. The findings were surprising: several days of running increased the levels of BDNF and mRNA in the hippocampus, an area of the brain normally associated with cognitive function"

"Monoamine-mediated signaling also contributes to BDNF gene regulation. Several antidepressants that increase transmission of momoaminergic synapses also increase BDNF expression in the hippocampus. Interestingly, antidepressant treatment in combination with exercise enhances exercise-dependant BDNF upregulation in the hippocampus"

"A robust literature documents that experience and behavior activates brain plasticity mechanisms and remodel neuronal circuitry in the brain"

This article shows us that BDNF can create new brain cells, and that we have the ability to constantly remold our brain to adapt to anything HD might throw at us. In order to do that, we need to stimulate the brain and let it know what we want it to do. If you find yourself having trouble with your balance, and having lots of falls, you can't just say that's a skill I've lost forever. You need to tackle the problem head on and possibly even train a different part of the brain, to take over that skill.

Here's my current daily routine. I get up early. I take 0.5 mg of Klonopin and my vitamins and anti-oxidants. I do some outside yard work. Then after I've limbered up a little I do my running and other exercises (situps, and some weights) I then take one heaping teaspoon of Creatine dissolved in two glasses of water. During the day I almost always have on music. I like to sing along with it. I tease my daughter and tell her I know every song in the world! I have an electric piano keyboard that I play about an hour each day (that helps maintain my hand eye coordination) I bought some foreign language CD's. I play those about an hour each day, and repeat the phrases with the CD. I check to HD lighthouse site several times a day, and E-mail friends and family. I like to go to movies with my family. I also spend a lot of time with my horses. I do all the yard work myself. I normally eat two small low fat meals a day. It takes your body a while to adjust to that diet, but once you get used to it, it's easy to do. I don't eat anything within 3 hours of bedtime. I used to get stomach reflux at night, but this diet, and eating schedule has totally eliminated all my stomach trouble. Before bed I take 20 mg of Paxil (my antidepressant) 0.5 mg of Klonopin (my chorea medication) and 10 mg of Valium (another muscle relaxer that also knocks me out for the night)

Learn all you can about HD, and be your own Dr. We can't just sit and wait for a cure to come. We learned that lesson with Neotrofin. A brand new drug would require at least 10 years undergoing the FDA approval process. That's no exaggeration. Neotrofin failed after 12 years. So act now. Be proactive!

Source: By Scott Midyett --31Jul02

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