This is copied from a post I update regularly on another website, but after a brief reminder today, I have decided it deserves to be maintained here as well. This is not a recommendation for anyone to try anything without first consulting their own doctor(s), but I will add that I am now going on almost 4 years since reversing my symptoms of a disease that is known to progress steadily once it begins so the chances that I am experiencing some type of placebo effect are very low. Anyways here is a link to the actual post and a copy of what it says: (Also please keep in mind that the website where I maintain this post has many users with a far lower education level than that found here so some of what I have written has been over simplified intentionally.)
My Alternative Therapy for SCA1
My name is Joe Peck. I am 53 years old and in 2013 I tested positive for the SCA1 genetic mutation. I am neither a doctor nor a researcher, but I do have a strong background in science and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College. Over the last several years I have read hundreds of research papers some of which are linked below. Also, starting in 2016 I noticed early symptoms, but now I am symptom free and feel better than I have in a decade and here is what I am doing that I believe is making a difference.
First, this isn't about any one aspect. I believe it's the combination of ALL the elements listed below that are allowing me to keep my symptoms at bay. The concept of using a multi-pronged approach to treating neurological disorders was studied in 2014 by Dr. Dale Bredesen and his work is the key to what I am trying to do. In his study 10 patients with Alzheimer’s used numerous alternative therapies TOGETHER and amazingly they got better something individual therapies never before accomplished.
https://www.ncbi.nlm...20/#!po=69.3548
Second, although I just said it's not about any single element, I do believe the most important piece of this regimen is my running on a treadmill 30 minutes 3 times a week at 80% max heart rate. I use this exact type, amount and level of exercise because there is scientific evidence that it and ONLY it stops progression of a neurological disorder. That means not 70% heart rate, not 20 minutes, not cycling and not boxing, but 30 minutes on a treadmill at 80% max heart rate.
https://www.webmd.co...ow-parkinsons#1
I know not everyone with SCA or other genetic disorders can run on a treadmill but even if one can't run I am certain most people can stand on a treadmill and hold the handrails while walking and there is ample research showing that any exercise is better than none.
Aside from the concept of a multi-pronged approach the second key to understanding what I am trying to do is to understand that SCA1 is like many other neurological disorders in that at the heart of the disease is a protein that misbehaves and hangs around too long so anything that keeps the protein from misbehaving (forming an oligomer) and cleans out the protein (increases autophagy) might be helpful. It is true that if any of the supplements on my list are actually getting to the brain it is in teeny tiny quantities, but my hope and belief is that since these genetic disorders take decades to appear then maybe tiny quantities, WORKING TOGETHER, are enough to change the course of the disease. Certainly that is the basis for Dr. Bredesen's ideas. Also, it is my belief (based on the science in animals and cell cultures) that some of the items on the list work on the bad protein issue while others work to enhance general cellular survival and efficiency and still others work to provide extra energy to cells. Each piece of my regimen plays a slightly different and tiny role but, again, I think that TOGETHER they are making the difference. It is VERY hard to argue that I am experiencing some kind of placebo effect after nearly 4 years symptom free, when SCA1 is known to be one of the fastest progressing if not the fastest progressing SCA. Finally, I would note that all the supplements on my list have numerous human toxicity studies showing they are safe even at much higher levels than I am consuming, and many have human studies showing health benefits in general.
In 2016, I had symptoms including: inability to stand on one foot, difficulty walking downstairs, difficulty with clear speech, diminishing handwriting, fatigue, and inability to use exercise to increase strength or endurance. All my symptoms are now gone and I am gaining strength and endurance again. Here is what I am doing:
1) EXERCISE: Treadmill running 3 times a week for 30 minutes at 80% or more max heart followed by a 5 minute cool down walk (5.7 mph at 0% incline first and then 3.7 mph and 7% incline) plus additional weight training particularly leg lifts for my quadriceps and kettle ball dead lifts. Daily 20 minute dog walk. Twice weekly upper body weight training.
2) DIET: - I am now a VEGAN and am no longer eating any animal products. This includes no cheese, eggs, or fish. My primary reason for doing this was to control my cholesterol and blood pressure. I still avoid processed foods and simple carbs, and try to focus on fresh produce and whole grains.
3) INTERMITTENT FASTING: eating only between 3 and 7PM
4) YOGA, STRETCHING, and MEDITATION
5) SUPPLEMENTS: (amounts are daily total)
1 cup of Green Tea
40 g trehalose AM in coffee (2 heaping Tbs)
-AM&PM-
1200 mg Niagen by Chromadex (4 pills AM 4 pills PM)
180 mg bio-available curcumin (Theracurmin HP) (1 pill AM, 1 pill PM)
400 mg Ubiquinol (2 pills AM, 2 pills PM)
1333 mg NeuroMag (magnesium L-threonate) ( 1 pill AM,1 pill PM)
2000 mg taurine by Life Extension (1 pill AM, 1 pill PM)
-AM-
2.5 g thiamine HCl/vitamin B1 by Solgar (5 pills AM)
400 mg Chinese Skullcap by Swanson (1 pill AM)
-PM-
100 mg Pteropure by Chromadex (1 pill PM)
5 mg lithium orotate (the PURE brand) (1 pill PM)
20 mg BioPQQ (1 pill PM)
not taken for ataxia, but treatment of apthous stomatitis and general health:
1000 mcg B-12 (methylcobalamin) (1 pill AM, 1 pill PM) (contains mannitol)
1000 IU vitamin D (1 pill AM)
And, here is the science behind why I have chosen to do what I am doing:
Why treadmill running? Neuroplasticity and autophagy.
https://jamanetwork....bstract/2664948
https://www.scienced...71223134846.htm
http://europepmc.org...cles/PMC3232424
http://journals.plos...al.pone.0190160
http://www.exercisep...fisher_2013.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC3703838/
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC4461979/
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC5817333/
Why trehalose or mannitol? Autophagy, anti-oligomerization.
https://link.springe...0109-004-0632-2
https://www.globenew...e-Diseases.html
https://academic.oup.../15/1/23/613091
http://nebula.wsimg....0&alloworigin=1
https://scienceofpar...0/23/trehalose/
https://scienceofpar...05/30/mannitol/
https://link.springe...1064-015-1530-4
http://www.jbc.org/c...5/43/33252.long
https://www.scienced...044743116300446
http://www.jbc.org/c...8/24/17579.long
https://link.springe...2035-015-9173-7
https://www.scienced...161813X14001351
https://www.scienced...006291X15304666
one clinical trial of oral trehalose for vascular health:
https://www.ncbi.nlm...ing-08-1167.pdf
An older study that shows that mannitol passes thru the stomach wall undigested at a rate of 0.5 to 2%:
https://www.research...lity_for_Sugars
Why Niagen and NOT other B3s? Cellular process enhancement, Sirtuin activation.
https://clinicaltria...ogenesis&rank=1
http://www.cell.com/...4131(16)30482-X
http://www.cell.com/...4131(14)00452-5
https://www.cell.com...1247(18)30742-3
https://scienceofpar...s.com/?s=Niagen
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC4203351/
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC4113526/
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC4823968/
https://www.scienced...969996110002767
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC4963347/
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC5312101/
https://www.nature.c...1514-017-0016-9
https://www.research...mice_and_humans
Why thiamine? Anti-oxidant, cellular energy.
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC3604288/
http://www.advances....17/26/5/751.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/27596507
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/27488863
https://www.scienced...002090?via=ihub
https://www.scienced...197018601001206
https://www.scienced...197018610003591
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/28724340
https://www.scienced...197018616301401
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC5567484/
https://clinicaltria...otiamine&rank=1
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/27825907
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/28506637
https://fafysio.word.../11/03/im-here/
https://healthunlock...anyone-tried-it
Why pterostilbene? Sirtuin activation and anti-oxidatiion.
https://www.scienced...89158491731256X
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/27107941
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/29328494
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/29737568
https://www.scienced...014299916304873
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/29168580
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC4099343/
https://www.scienced...014299916300954
https://www.nature.c...e-global=remove
https://scienceofpar...rra-still-bean/
https://www.nature.c...598-018-26905-4
https://www.scienced...021949816301855
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/29315886
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/29210129
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC4981604/
Why Ubiquinol (mitochondrial health)
https://healthunlock...aking-ubiquinol
Why Green Tea? Autophagy, anti-oligomerization, anti-oxidation.
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/28633380
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/25030034
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/16893904
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/29263416
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC3289976/
https://scienceofpar...ns.com/?s=cuppa
https://scienceofpar...om/?s=green tea
http://www.mdpi.com/...9/23/6/1297/htm
https://www.michaelj...hp?grant_id=187
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/29363729
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/28835392
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/28667699
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/28238838
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/27364962
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/27268025
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC4983279/
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/26831259
http://www.fegt.org/...with-green-tea/
Why Theracurmin? Autophagy, anti-oligomerization, anti-oxidation.
https://www.scienced...064748117305110
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC5858819/
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/26728250
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC6051027/
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/24008671
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/28204864
https://www.michaelj...hp?grant_id=539
https://www.tandfonl...rnalCode=ktib20
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/29027056
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/28409389
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/28818104
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/27338805
Why lithium (autophagy enhancement, cellular health, GSK3 inhibitor)
https://healthunlock...lement.-lithium
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC3867580/
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/27878228
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/23812869
https://www.lifeexte...eration/Page-01
Why Chinese Skullcap? Autophagy, anti-oligomerization, anti-oxidation.
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC6025220/
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/29545515
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/24406245
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC2573395/
https://www.ncbi.nlm...in AND oligomer
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC5577282/
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC5566482/
https://www.scienced...006254?via=ihub
https://scienceofpar...2/01/baicalein/
Why PQQ? Mitochondrial health and memory.
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/27526146
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/26782228
https://www.scienced...955286313001599
https://www.function...es/56592277.pdf
https://www.scienced...028390816301654
Why taurine? Anti-oxidation and muscular health.
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/11274790
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/24032423
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/16337998
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/22903433
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/29568078
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/26004911
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/19239132
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/28979213
http://www.lifeexten...Taurine/Page-01
Why nano-magnesium (Magtein) ? Cellular process enhancement.
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC4927823/
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/27458051
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/26319097
https://www.ncbi.nlm...ooks/NBK507269/
https://www.ncbi.nlm...ubmed/20152124/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.../?term=25213836
https://clinicaltria...lzheimer&rank=2
https://www.alzdisco...tings/magnesium
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-
Why vitamin B12? Treatment of apthous stomatitis.
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/26025792
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/29508904
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/28267610
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/27886078
-
-
Why vitamin D? General health.
https://academic.oup.../5/1004/4577000
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC3812066/
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/20625085
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC5700019/
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/26538263
https://www.health.h...ns-20101130862v
-
-
Why a combination of therapies?
Using a multi-pronged approach to neurological disorders:
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC4221920/
-
-
Why a diet rich in cruciferous vegetables?
https://scienceofpar...09/30/broccoli/
-
Why daily/intermittent fasting?
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/29510748
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/28537332
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/29107505
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/27810402
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/29302618
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/26485309
Joe in NY
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-The role of oligomers and autophagy:
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC4462648/
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC6422678/
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC4020154/
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/29545515
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/29416016
Edited by 2Sunny, 06 December 2019 - 08:16 PM.