Einsteins brain, calcium and more
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| Tue, 02-07-2006 - 1:32pm |
For littleroses especially, but if other have interest in smart brains getting into some types of "trouble..." I hope you can bear with my kind of twisted thinking here...
I was looking into brain signal processing. I wasn't really aware it was a well-populated field, but I do signal processing at work and some of the stuff I've read sounded very similar. So, I decided to look up the parathyroid because I have a neck problem and I think the parthyroid is affected. Then I saw that this causes a calcium problem and osteoporosis (which I developed in my early 30s or perhaps before) and then I followed links to 2 great Wikipedia sites (I might be a bit of a wikipedia junkie).
Recently there were articles about Einstein's brain (well-known genius with supposed Aspergers diagnosis). They said it was a little small based upon typical but its distinguishing feature was that it had lots more glial concentration than typical brains (the parts that supply "food").
So, I couldn't help notice the ties to calcium and nerve stimulation (wondering why my whole family is so over stimulated) - and we have too much calcium. Hmmmm....and weak bones. Hmmmm..... and poor glucose regulation. And funny potassium and adrenaline levels that cause strange heart arythmias. Hmmm.... and very high IQs and major sensory issues - for at least the 3 generations I know of. It can't be a coincidence. I think this constellation must be "something."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemodynamic_response
So I followed a link to another section:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrocytes
I'm thinking I need to change career fields. I wonder how you do that? They won't just listen to a engineer/physicist/mom who might be obsessed, would they?
Does this make the slightest sense to any of you? Next I think I'll go look how over/under methylation plays into all this....
Jackie

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Hi Jackie,
I'm not sure I can understand the science, but I think it is very interesting. Thanks to LR, I am just beginning to learn about the methylization stuff. I am now totally convinced that is part of the key with my son, somehow. Just need to figure out how.
I am about as far as you can get from being an engineer/physicist. I am the "artsy" type, writer/art historian, worked for a long time in arts administration for a ballet company, so the biochemistry is difficult for me to understand, but I've learned a lot by necessity. If it weren't for all my son has had to go through, I do find the science fascinating, in a way. Plus I am also an obsessive research hound, got that from being an art historian!
How is your son doing, BTW, with the supplements? Did you stop them? I'm finding that Eric has the hyper/euphoria thing for a few days when I increase the dosage (we are working our way up to the amount recommended for his weight) and then it goes away, so I think it's a side effect. But has remained, interestingly, is the clearer speech, so I do think the DMAE, TMG has something to it.
Anyway, very interesting stuff you are turning up!
Katherine
Edited 4/1/2006 10:45 am ET by littleroses
Well, at least you guys didn't think I was bonkers! Thanks.
I took Colin off the vitamins. We're back to only the non-alerting version of his TLP discs and that does seem to help him settle quite a bit. Makes him very happy but in a "content" sort of way!
I was reading a good site yesterday on the functions in different parts of the brain, and funny you should mention the hippocampus Littleroses - that does seem to be where a lot of our "issues" are. Another connection.
As for whether or not any of us actually practices in the fields of science - I figure that true medical understanding is more of an art supported by science. So, you 2 are right in there creating this art.
I hated biology in school and avoided it best I could. Now I wish I hadn't. Oh well. The more we learn the more we keep our brains young, right?
I read that article about Tumeric and India as well. Interesting. I use Grape Seed Extract as an anti-oxidant to help slow the effects of aging such as dementia and macular degeneration. I sure hope it works. It does help with my arthritis. Any Dr. who looks at my xrays is always surprised that I'm not in constant pain. I got this idea from treating my dogs and horses. When they have joint problems or when they are too high strung, you know what they feed them? High dose antioxidants! In fact, I've switched my horses over to a very low carb, high vegetable fibre and high Omega 3 fat diet. The changes in them are remarkable! Wish I could just manage to feed this food to the family. :-)
Wouldn't it be a hoot if in our obsessive searching for answers we actually found something out? Frankly, I think there is nothing more qualified in the world than a determined mom.
Jackie
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Edited 2/19/2008 7:27 pm ET by littleroses
Thanks - I'll try it! My left hip has been breaking through NSAIDs and homeopathic stuff, lately so I'll get some ASAP (and maybe get some sleep).
Jackie
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Edited 2/19/2008 7:26 pm ET by littleroses
If there were an emoticon for "wierd" I would use it.
My hip pain started in my early 30s (I'm 47) and it's been not too painful lately - mostly stiff. You know, hard to get going in the morning or up from chair, sometimes waking me up at night. Recently it's gotten awful and nothing helps. Also recently, I started taking Emergen-C (large dose C supplement) for immune support because....I hurt my back and went to the chiropractor ( who said "You mean your back "just" started hurting? What about these breaks and this arthritis?") and she started some work in my neck that made my KIDNEYS hurt like heck. So rather than flusing with only water, I'm also flushing sometimes with the C supplemenet because I thought it was lymph-node gunk getting released into my system.
Yesterday I was reading about the Vargus nerve because the DC heard stomach rumblings after zapping my neck with her "thumper" and she was so happy - she said finally! Apparently when you stimulate the vargus nerve it's supposed to cause action in your organs and this wasn't happening for me before. But, I saw this nerve is related to all internal organz (kidneys included) and also is the nerve for which that they implant a stimulator for stopping depression and seizures!
So, seems maybe this kidney stimulation and then large dose C might have set off my hip? I'll modify things and see if it can improve.
In the meantime, I still find it odd that such common issues are clustered in myself, my kids, and other people in both sides of our fmily with SID, epilepsy and ASD.
The parathyroid (the one that regulates calcium and the balance for glial nutrition) is right next to the Vargus nerve. What if we all have enlarged parathyroids? Anyway, I'll be finding a new DR. soon to look into this.
Jackie
For anyone intersted....here are some very interesting links on the brain, neurology and possible "causes" for autism. The symptoms for amygdala troubles run very strong in DH and my families.
Jackie
http://members.aol.com/nonverbal2/amygdala.htm
http://www.sfn.org/content/Publications/BrainBriefings/fear.html
http://www.biopsychiatry.com/amygdala.htm
http://www.psycheducation.org/emotion/amygdala.htm
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-amygdala.htm
If you have any mercury "silver" fillings in your mouth you shouldn't take emergen-c because it has ALA in it. ALA is a heavy metal chelator. It can pull the mercury out of fillings and possible re-distribute it in other parts of your body, such as organs or your brain.
I also have hip pain and arthritis in my right hand and shoulder. I find releif from digestive enzymes on an empty stomach.
Samantha
Thanks for all the links, Jackie. I'll have to check them out.
Katherine
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