The ketogenic diet (KD) is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet, in which fat is used as the primary energy sourcethrough the production of ketone bodies (KBs) in place of glucose. The KD was formally introduced in 1921 tomimic the biochemical changes associated with fasting and gained recognition as a potent treatment for pediatricepilepsy in the mid-1990s. […]
Recent aspects of ketogenic diet in neurological disorders Read More »
This chapter contrasts the prion-like behavior of alphasynuclein in Parkinson’s disease with other prion diseases.In prion diseases, the infectious, amyloid form of theprotein induces the corresponding normally folded proteinto assume the toxic fold, spreading the disease and slowlydestroying the brains of infected patients. Lewy pathologyin Parkinson’s disease appears to spread in a mannersimilar to that
The importance of diet and the gut-brain axis for brain health and cognitive function isincreasingly acknowledged. Dietary interventions are tested for their potential to prevent and/ortreat brain disorders. Intermittent fasting (IF), the abstinence or strong limitation of calories for 12to 48 hours, alternated with periods of regular food intake, has shown promising results on neurobiological
The Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Brain and Cognitive Function Read More »
The gastrointestinal tract may be a site of origin for α-synuclein pathology in idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD). Disruption of the autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP) may contribute to α-synuclein aggregation. Here we examined epigenetic alterations in the ALP in the appendix by deep sequencing DNA methylation at 521 ALP genes. We identified aberrant methylation at 928 cytosines
Sauna use, sometimes referred to as “sauna bathing,” is characterized by short-term passive exposure to high temperatures, typically ranging from 45 °C to 100 °C (113 °F to 212 °F), depending on modality. This exposure elicits mild hyperthermia, inducing a thermoregulatory response involving neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, and cytoprotective mechanisms that work in a synergistic fashion in an attempt to maintain homeostasis.
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Retinal neurodegeneration and visual dysfunctions have been reported in a majority of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients, and, in light of the quest for novel biomarkers for these neurodegenerative proteinopathies, the retina has been receiving increasing attention as an organ for diagnosing, monitoring, and understanding disease. Thinning of retinal layers, abnormalities in vasculature, and protein deposition can be imaged at unprecedented resolution,
Multimodal retinal imaging to detect and understand Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease Read More »
To date, no reliable clinically applicable biomarker has been established for Parkinson’s disease (PD). Our results indicate that a long hoped blood test for Parkinson’s disease may be realized. We here assess the potential of pathological α-synuclein originating from neuron-derived exosomes from blood plasma as a possible biomarker. Following the isolation of neuron-derived exosomes from
A blood marker for Parkinson’s Disease: Neuronal exosome-derived α-synuclein Read More »
Short-chain fatty acid production was analyzed by headspace solid-phase micro-extraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Clostridium coccoides and C. leptum were quantified through 16S-rRNA gene-targeted group-specific qPCR. Factors influencing short-chain fatty acid production were investigated using linear mixed models. After fiber fermentation, butyrate concentration varied between 25.6 ± 16.5 µmol/g and 203.8 ± 91.9 µmol/g for Parkinson’s patients and between 52.7 ± 13.0 µmol/g and 229.5 ± 42.8 µmol/g for controls. Inulin had
The gut microbiota provides potential therapeutic targets that can be regulated as new interventions for neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we discuss genetic and environmental risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases, summarize the communication among the components of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, and discuss the treatment strategy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). FMT is a promising treatment
The gut-brain axis is a two-way communication system, which explains how through the vagus nerve, the gut microbiota can affect the central nervous system (CNS), including brain functions related to the ENS, as well as how CNS can alter various gut secretions and immune responses. As a result, this dysbiosis or alteration in gut microbiota
Gut brain axis: an insight into microbiota role in Parkinson’s disease Read More »