Discovery could lead memory-enhancing pill out of realm of science fiction

Discovery could lead memory-enhancing pill out of realm of science fiction

www.vancouversun.com

You're over the hill and — along with everything else — your memory is slipping. Your doctor gives you a pill and, suddenly, you can remember your high school locker combination.

Science fiction? Maybe not. New research out of the U.S. holds out the hope of a superhuman assist for failing memories — and a badly-needed new therapy for Alzheimer's patients.



Read more: www.canada.com...

(visit the link for the full news article)

Anytime I see an advance or a treatment that can offer hope for the afflicted with Alzheimers and their caregivers and loved ones I feel it is important to post. Because I have witnessed up close and personal the ravages of this devastating illness.

My prayers for these researchers I hope they have got it!

www.vancouversun.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

reply to post by Leo Strauss

I've witnessed it happen too.

Once sharp and quick minds lost to the disease.

Hope further testing is positive and leads to new treatments.

Casinos will be raped by card counters and men will have more success with one night stands!!

Excellent!!

i forgot what this topic was about... oh yeah now i remember

in all seriousness it is good that their is something like this being made, but what about them people who have had a bad life and intentionally suppressed memory's? and what if someone who uses it who's memory is decent uses it opens up their memory's once and somehow makes you lose them forever, causing a normal person to actually develop Alzheimer type symptoms.

Ashwagandha extract may be beneficial in cases of Alzheimer's and recent brain damage from injuries if taken consistently for several months. It has shown the unique ability to promote actual reconstruction of damaged neural networks in animals where natural healing is often minimal.

=====

Br J Pharmacol. 2005 Apr;144(7):961-71.

Neuritic regeneration and synaptic reconstruction induced by withanolide A.

Kuboyama T, Tohda C, Komatsu K.

Research Center for Ethnomedicines, Institute of Natural Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
Abstract

We investigated whether withanolide A (WL-A), isolated from the Indian herbal drug Ashwagandha (root of Withania somnifera), could regenerate neurites and reconstruct synapses in severely damaged neurons. We also investigated the effect of WL-A on memory-deficient mice showing neuronal atrophy and synaptic loss in the brain. Axons, dendrites, presynapses, and postsynapses were visualized by immunostaining for phosphorylated neurofilament-H (NF-H), microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2), synaptophysin, and postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95), respectively. Treatment with A beta(25-35) (10 microM) induced axonal and dendritic atrophy, and pre- and postsynaptic loss in cultured rat cortical neurons. Subsequent treatment with WL-A (1 microM) induced significant regeneration of both axons and dendrites, in addition to the reconstruction of pre- and postsynapses in the neurons. WL-A (10 micromol kg(-1) day(-1), for 13 days, p.o.) recovered A beta(25-35)-induced memory deficit in mice. At that time, the decline of axons, dendrites, and synapses in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus was almost recovered. WL-A is therefore an important candidate for the therapeutic treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, as it is able to reconstruct neuronal networks.

PMID: 15711595 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Source

The problem is it doesnt fit in with the agenda of creating a non thinking workforce.

Saddly it'll be restricted for use only by the elite.

I think this could be great, amnesia and alzhimers could become less common than now, and its a serious problem. Imagen the old age population when people in their 20's now are old. We've seen and heard how in the UK esspesialy have they are treated, they wouldnt have to suffer like that, and likewise, it would save money and minds of many of us in the future.

Interestingly though, i watched a sci-fi about memory the other day that you may find interesting, taking the matter to a more dark side.

Black Mirror - The entire history of you

Last in the series of Charlie Brooker's dark dramas. In the near future, everyone has access to a memory implant that records everything they do, see and hear - a sort of Sky Plus for the brain. You need never forget a face again... but is that always a good thing?

p.s. its 4OD, i don't know if that works outside of the UK

If you cant wait for it to be pilled just buy some in its raw goodness
link

Okay, I love the innovation and possibilities on the one hand. On the other, I'm forced to think back and recall how many good ideas out of pharmacies proved to be unmitigated nightmares worthy of a Hollywood horror movie when given time to mature in real world use.

I'll line right up for my memory stim....a few years after the guinea pigs have been taking it daily and haven't become blithering idiots from them.


Oh.. The Germans found a really great little stim to stay up late and fight like berserkers too. Meth was apparently quite useful.....until it made them psychotic killers as a side effect. Ooops..... So much for good ideas and intentions some times.

reply to post by Leo Strauss


Is it just me or does this sound like the plot at the beginning of Rise of the Planet of the Apes.....just sayin

When given to chimps,


PLANET OF THE APES!

there was a story called...'Flowers for Algernon' by the Sci-Fi writer Heinlein

the story follows a retarded guy that thru brain surgery gets academically 'smart'
just like the test mouse before him....

but the guy descends back into a world of un-enlightenment and innocent-ignorance
as things to the damaged brain...return

one actually has to read the story to appreciate it


there was a movie made---but it sucked compared to the short story version




basically, i have a preconceived notion that modern science having a cure for intellect-deprivation
is not nor will ever be a reality...or just like the sci-fi story just a temporary thing


makes one really feel for the test subject


en.wikipedia.org...

Don't under estimate the correlation between Aluminum and Alzheimers. Europe has banned using cooking utinsils whether eating or cooking with this metal for years.
answers.google.com... Weak example.There are many references, go look.



alzheimers.org.uk...
The correlation is pretty strong.

We have been cooking and drinking with aluminum as a 2nd and 3rd generation nation for about 100 years.

And? A SPIKE in Alzheimers. Europe has it too. But I personally think U.S. has more cases.

I think Alcoa would frown on linking Alzeimers to drinking from cans made out of Aluminum, or eating from cans made out of aluminum for a lifetime. Bad for business.

But HEY!!! If they found a way to counter this degenerative disease that's a good thing.

I wondor who funded the research? P

reply to post by Leo Strauss


It's probably an extract from a [snipped drug reference] plant produced by Monsanto... that they will patent and charge mega bucks per dosage for. And once started will have to be continued on a regular basis for the rest of their lives to keep their brains from imploding.

So much for the healing effects of "time heals all wounds". There is much of the sting of instances I prefer to forget, but value their reference as experiences so as to improve.

reply to post by St Udio

there was a story called...'Flowers for Algernon' by the Sci-Fi writer Heinlein

Actually it was written by Daniel Keyes.

Heinlin wrote great books though, so did Zelazny from that same generation of writers.

There are already several nootropics on the market that improve memory and increase IQ like Modafinil and Piracetam.

a legitimate memory-enhancing pill does sound like something out of science fiction to me. yes, certain herbs and other substances can give you a slight (usually very slight) boost in the memory department, but i have a feeling that this new pill (when they actually make it. according to the article, there is no pill yet, just speculation about one) is just going to have a placebo effect.

worse, it may have effects far beyond helping with memory loss/Alzheimer's. there are quite a few "wonder drugs" that have quietly or not-so-quietly disappeared from the market after unforeseen problems began occurring. Vioxx comes to mind.

Does anyone know what they use to suppress PKR? And are there any natural foods that give a similar effect?