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Nutritional Medicine Research The Neurogenic Diet 80% of the brain’s dopaminergic neurons are found in the basal ganglia, one of the main areas of the brain affected in Parkinson’s disease, MSA-P and Shy Drager Syndrome. There is on average a 13% decrease per decade in the number of neurons with dopaminergic activity after the age of 45. The appearance of Parkinson’s disease symptoms occurs when there is more than 75% loss of dopaminergic neurons in the above mentioned area of the brain. However, when the loss of dopaminergic neurons has reached 65%, Parkinson’s disease symptoms will as yet not be present; the brain will still be able to accommodate this deficiency and appear to function normally. At this stage, motor functions might be slightly impaired, but appear just as the normal progression of the aging process. It is therefore necessary to repair only 5 to 10 percent of dopaminergic neurons, to restore a Parkinsonian condition to that of normal ageing. This small percentage represents a very large number of neurons. However, any small progress in repairing damaged neurons or reactivating glial cells’ functionality, will translate in diminished severity of the disease. The discovery that new neurons can actively emerge in the human brain provides for the first time, a neuroscience rationale to advocate the study of practical approaches to restore functionality in human neurodegenerative disorders. Neuroscientists have already demonstrated that there are two effective methods to activate neurogenesis: a) enhancement of learning and b) enrichment of environmental living conditions, including exercise and social interaction. To allow any likelihood of success from a neuro regenerative programme, we have found that the first 5 stages of our Neurogenic Diet programme must all be followed. As an example, non-compliance with stage 4 of the Neurogenic Diet programme can be illustrated with the following case. A farmer, exposed to a particular herbicide known to be related to the aetiology of Parkinson’s disease, will not achieve any neurogenic response, as long as he continues to cause neuronal damage by being in contact with that particular herbicide. Unsuccessful implementation of stage 1 of the neurogenic diet can be illustrated by a patient with Parkinson’s disease who is using the drug reserpine or antidepressants. Reserpine and tricyclic antidepressants are known to induce Parkinsonism in both humans and animals because of their direct damage to dopaminergic neurons. A neurogenic programme, cannot produce any improvement in a patient still suffering this drug induced damage. Only when stages 1 to 5 of the Neurogenic Diet have been accomplished successfully, a final induction of neurogenesis can be planned for in stage 6. A neurogenic intervention programme, must be carefully designed for each individual patient, taking into consideration his/her physical capabilities, age, and general clinical condition. Please e-mail us your questions or suggestions to: Go to:
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