Thursday, March 31, 2016

Low Brain Levels of Vitamin B12 in Schizophrenia, Autism Patients

That is the title of this blog I am writing about today. "While brain levels of Vitamin B12 decrease naturally with age, individuals with schizophrenia and autism tend to experience a premature decrease, showing far lower brain levels of B12 than healthy people of similar age, according to a new study.  For example, compared to non-autistic children under age 10, kids with autism were found to have three times lower brain levels of Vitamin B12; a level more comparable to healthy adults in their 50s.  'These are particularly significant findings because the differences we found in brain B12 with aging, autism, and schizophrenia are not seen in the blood, which is where B12 levels are usually measured,' said lead researcher Richard Deth, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology at Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) College of Pharmacy." I took B12 before and I took to much and could not sleep.  I have not taken it since. They are saying though measuring in the blood is not the same as measuring in the brain where they say people with schizophrenia and Autism don't have as much.
The article goes on to say: "The large deficits of brain B12 from individuals with autism and schizophrenia could help explain why patients suffering from these disorders experience neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms.'  For the study, an international research team analyzed and compared brain tissue from otherwise healthy deceased donors and donors with autism or schizophrenia. They found that healthy elderly people in the age range of 61-80 have about three times lower levels of total brain B12 than younger age groups, which is a result of normal aging. This decrease may help adjust brain metabolism to sustain its function across the lifespan.  An active form of B12 called methylcobalamin, or methyl B12, supports normal brain development by managing a process known as epigenetic regulation of gene expression."  Why do people with Schizophrenia and Autism have lower levels in the brain?  You do not want people taking extra B12 without knowing why.
The article ends: "Significantly, the brain level of methyl B12 was found to be more than 10 times lower in healthy elderly people than in healthy younger people. A lower than normal level of methyl B12 in the brain could negatively alter neurodevelopment in younger years and could disrupt learning and memory later in life. Both autism and schizophrenia are linked to oxidative stress, also found to be a significant contributor in the aging process. The researchers believe that oxidative stress may underlie the lowered brain B12 levels observed in this study. The findings suggest the need for further research to determine if the use of supplemental methyl B12 and antioxidants like glutathione could help prevent oxidative stress and potentially be used as a treatment for these conditions." Well they are on the way to finding treatment with further research. It seems it does not matter in later life but in younger adults with or with Schizophrenia and Autism it could be problem for all.

Monday, March 21, 2016

Back from the dead to the living

That is the title of this blog.  Well I know I have been gone since I wrote my last post on January 28th.  Since August I have been battling what is wrong with my lungs. It started with pneumonia then the doctor sent me to a lung doctor when the pneumonia didn't disappear.  After two biopsy's they found out I had lung cancer.  All this period when I was trying to find what was wrong with me there were mistakes made about my case. Then I had to find a cancer doctor which I did and he told my my cancer was slow growing. He was going to make  a referral to  a surgeon to take the cancer out.
One week passed nothing I called and nothing so I was trying to find another doctor.  Finally they called and said they could get me a appointment next week so I took it.  They set up surgery for the 29th of  January. I went in and had the surgery which consisted of the doctor cutting part of the cancer which is in my left lung. He dropped a piece of the cancer in my right lung and had to take it out which consisted of a four hour surgery and nothing was done about my cancer.  So I had to wait in the hospital until the 4th of February until I had my second surgery and instead of just taking out the cancer they removed my left lung which I still am not that happy about.
They said I could return to work on the 14th of March.  Although the Friday before  all the fluid in my left lung made a hole in the incision and started coming out.  I had to go back to the hospital and they found bacteria in my body which has been there since the 29th of January and they went back in to clean the bacteria out and I have been on antibiotics since that time I get of the IV antibiotics this Thursday. I am not happy with done of what happen to me and am having someone look in to my case to see what I can do about it.  That is where I have been and why I have not posted since the 28th of January.  The hospital is not a fun place to be in.  All I wanted was out so I can take care of myself.
All that happened to me I still have hope for a brighter future with my grand kids. They knocked me down but not out. I am sorry that I let the blog go for so long without informing you's of what was going on although I was just interested in trying to recover from all they done to me.  They say in a years time my right lung will be able to do everything two lungs did. As long as there are no other setbacks I will be posting once a week from now on.