2016 Ancestral Health Meetup - Stavia's blog

[KatieS]

Welcome ckosh. To my knowledge, no recommendations as to a specific statin for E4s has ever been proposed. Years ago, the famous geneticist Craig Venter started on SV upon discovering his 3/4 status, but his interviews don't reveal why this choice. Most of the statin cognitive benefit studies are in rats or the human trails, focus on the decreasing the vascular contribution to AD. Here is a recent general review of therapeutics that included statins:
"Cholesterol lowering drugs/statins: Because of the well-proven link between cholesterol and AD, statins are believed to be therapeutic for the disease. Simvastatin, via increased PI3K/AKT activity and endothelial NO synthase pathway, contributes towards inhibiting the learning and memory impairment in the Tg2576 mice [229]. However, simvastatin has no effect on the Aβ level in brain. Rather, administration of simvastatin to Aβ-immunized mice exacerbated the amyloid angiopathy [230]. The suppression of cholesterol metabolism with the help of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor lovastatin, or its active metabolite lovastatin acid at 10-60 mg once-daily dose, caused dose-dependent Aβ reduction in human subjects [231]. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that hypercholesterolemia was a risk factor for AD, and lovastatin caused a delayed AD onset and attenuated AD development [231,232]. Atorvastatin was reported to prevent the neuronal degeneration following Aβ induction. The effects of both atorvastatin and pitavastatin were mediated by attenuation of inflammation and oxidative stress and increase in the glutamatergic transporters [229,233]. Statins were also found to suppress inflammation and microglial iNOS synthesis and NO generation in AD via pleiotropic actions involving isoprenyl intermediates [234]. The neuroprotective pleiotropic effects of statin included an increase in SOD activity, activation of PKC, augmentation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and reduction of CoQ10 levels [235,236]. The effects observed in clinical trials were analyzed for atorvastatin, cerivastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin and simvastatin and were found to be independent of apoE genotype [237]. There were several controversies in regards to the statins’ beneficial role, however. It was later deduced that, despite lower reported AD incidence among the statin-treated users, there is no direct link between statins and the AD risk and development. Moreover, contradicting the phase II study, phase III randomized clinical trials showed a less beneficial role of statins [237]. Thus, it is suggested that clinical trials with a large patient population, different duration and different stages of disease are needed to find out the exact role of the cholesterol-reducing agents in AD. An up-regulation of the heme oxygenase/biliverdin reductase system, probably via inhibition of BACE1, is a likelypossible pathway for inhibiting the AD progression. It is hypothesized that the effects of simvastatin, lovastatin, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin are based on this mechanism [238]. Although still debatable, the use of statins may provide a useful strategy for suppressing the AD progression."

[ckosh]

Thank you for the follow up information on the statins. Definitely gave me something to think about. I appreciate all of the information I've learned on this forum since so much of the medical research on apoE4 seems in the early stages without definitive answers.

[SusanJ]

ckosh, thanks for the site feedback! We founded the site because there was so little information for E4 carriers, and its good to hear that we are providing useful information for newcomers and old-timers alike.

[circular]

I just had a lovely conversation with Shelley, the journalist who filmed us for a VOA feature. As some may recall, her Mom was in the midst of a neuropsych work-up during our visit to Boulder. Sadly, she's been determined to be in the middle stages of dementia. Her Mom was understandably sad and frightened by the formal Dx. Shelley showed her some of our footage... and her Mom feels hopeful once again. She's ready to make some lifestyle changes. It may be too late for her, but hopefully she'll be able to glean some benefit. I just wanted everyone to know how your generous sharing can (and already has!) positively impact others.

Bittersweet news about her mother and the story helping . Any word on when and how we might see the VOM story?

[SusanJ]

Sorry to hear the news about Shelly's mom. It must be difficult for both of them, but glad to hear our footage helped her feel better.

[Tincup]

Any word on when and how we might see the VOM story?

I'm guessing it will be a bit. I'm sure Shelley will let us (or me) know when it is published.

This was likely not a shock to Shelley, we talked about it last February. I recall she said she has many challenges trying to implement lifestyle changes with her mom, including family that don't understand the positive changes that can be had through lifestyle (and don't understand why bringing sweets when they visit aren't helping the cause). Many people are in this situation.

Off topic, opthmologist Chris Knobbe gave a presentation at AHS16 on macular degeneration and modern diets. In April 2016, this was a post on the Gundry Matrix FB site:
"Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) runs in my family, so my optometrist has been photographing my retinas for about eight years to track the drusen that I have in both eyes. Drusen are made up of lipids and are a risk factor for AMD. Today was my first visit back to the optometrist since June, 2014. I’ve been on the Matrix Protocol since February, 2015. Guess what? NO DRUSEN! They have completely vanished. My doctor was speechless. Dr. Gundry, if you want to write this up for your next-next book, I give you my enthusiastic permission!"

With this response from Dr. Gundry, "Great to hear! We have definitely seen healing of MD with the Matrix and DE (Diet Evolution - his first book). Congrats!
Dr G"

Dr. Knobbe now has a site with a book describing his research at the bottom of the page.

[circular]

Any word on when and how we might see the VOM story?

I'm guessing it will be a bit. I'm sure Shelley will let us (or me) know when it is published.

This was likely not a shock to Shelley, we talked about it last February. I recall she said she has many challenges trying to implement lifestyle changes with her mom, including family that don't understand the positive changes that can be had through lifestyle (and don't understand why bringing sweets when they visit aren't helping the cause). Many people are in this situation.

Include me. I feel like I'm living a double life with trying to do what we do for myself, but having to defer to conservative specialists whom my mother and family feels are well enough informed. It's devastating but I haven't had time to feel devastated.

[Nancy]

Just watched Chris Knobbe's presentation, very good. Thank you.

[Stavia]

Just watched Chris Knobbe's presentation, very good. Thank you.

Welcome honey.
He very kindly emailed me an advance copy of his book. It's very good. The biochemistry of eye function points to the fat soluble vitamins ADEK as crucial.

I am inspired to serve hubby chicken livers (of course organic pastured) once a week as he has some early macular degeneration. (which I now think is related to his rock bottom D3 for years cos of sunscreen as he is freckly and has had a BCC....I only found out his D3 was 7!!!! a few months ago and would have been that for decades)

I also had forgotten that plant-derived VitA needs to be converted by the body to the active form, which it does very inefficiently. Good reminder again to eat organ meats

I just don't agree with one bit where he says VitD3 supplements are dangerous. He cites the NZ study of calcium in post menopausal women but uses it as evidence against D3 as well as calcium which is not what Ian Reid's conclusion states.
Otherwise it's very solid science.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4125316/

[Nancy]

Well, I asked my son's pediatrician if he thought it was a good that I was giving my son vitamin d supplements. He said not necessary. I asked for blood test. Just got labs back, low d level at 25. This with a multivitamin. And several other sources, plus the 400 extra d I was giving him. Well, I might try some kind of organ meat.

Circular, I am going through the same with my mom. I am constantly trying to get the doctors, nurses informed about the new research. Even bought my mom everything on the protocol. It's like pulling teeth. No success yet after trying all summer. It is frustrating.