Beta Amyloid and MSG
According to the following study, beta amyloid protein deposits in the brain
seen in Alzheimer's disease actually increase the neurotoxicity of glutamate
in the brain:
http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/content/abstract/12/2/376
This makes the
current practice of feeding MSG to elderly patients who are suffering from
Alzheimer's disease, tantamount to poisoning them.
Glutamate Blocking Drugs
New research is underway using glutamate blocking drugs for treating Alzheimer's
Disease. The reasoning is that neuron (nerve cell) death is due to the neurotoxic
effects of excess glutamate in the brain. These drugs target the NMDA receptor which
is activated by glutamate as well as aspartic acid (found in aspartame). For more
information on glutamate blocker use for Alzheimer's see the following link:
http://www.lundbeck.com/investor/releases/ReleaseDetails/Release_73_EN.asp
The latest glutamate-blocking drug to treat
Alzheimer's is making headlines. Memantine is showing real promise. See the
following link:
http://www.memantine.com/en/mode_of_action/
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993586
Inflammation
According to researchers Patrick and Edith McGreer in Vancouver, in the June 2000 issue
of Scientific American, anti-inflammatory agents may hold the key to treating Alzheimer's
disease. They believe Alzheimer's disease is "the body's own immune system
turning on it".
Based on this information, it would seem that food ingredients that overstimulate
the immune system may spell a problem. MSG is a nervous system stimulant and
according to research
by Johns Hopkins announced in May 2000 nervous
system hypersensitivity affects the immune system in dramatic ways:
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/press/2000/MAY/000518.HTM
Glutamate also increases histamine response as well:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1381677&dopt=Abstract
Alzheimer's,
Obesity, and Stroke
In many recent studies, Alzheimer's disease and obesity, as well as stroke,
are turning up in the same patients. This has led some in the media to
jump to the conclusion that obesity, and stroke lead to Alzheimer's.
However, would it not also be valid to conclude that MSG may be responsible
for Alzheimer's in those patients that are also obese and have had strokes?
MSG is already implicated in Alzheimer's, obesity, and stroke. It would
make sense that MSG was the cause if someone has all three MSG-induced
diseases, would it not?
Insulin
According to this link, researchers have discovered
that insulin is related to Alzheimer's disease. Insulin is produced in
the brain as well as in the pancreas.
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=8212
It may not be coincidence that both Alzheimer's and
diabetes are both impacted by glutamate. See our page on
MSG and Diabetes.