Maybe a tapeworm is the answer

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ChipW
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Maybe a tapeworm is the answer

Post by ChipW »

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/arc ... st/512396/


This is wild

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Kenny4/4
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Re: Maybe a tapeworm is the answer

Post by Kenny4/4 »

ChipW wrote:https://www.theatlantic.com/science/arc ... st/512396/


This is wild

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It makes sense, anthropologically speaking that is.
We 4's are at high levels in hunter gatherers. There are many parasites in fish and game and the apoE4 allelle with it's inflamatory componenet may help rid or keep at bay the parasites. On a side note us 4's are at the highest levels in Africa which is a parasite haven if there ever has been one. If it doesn't have any parasites to attack it may decide to attack or inflame it's own self. Bredesen talks about Type 1 inflammation Alzheimer's and how the apoE4 allelle is like North Korea as a defense/attack only system . The 4 allelle must have protected us back before sanitation, agriculture and a cozy fire to cook over every night. As much as I hate the .$%^!@# gene now, it probably protected my ancestors and allowed me to be here today.

It is interesting that Autoimmune diseases are common in the same populations that have a high apoE4 prevelence- Africa (Lupus)- Scandinavia (MS). Note: apoE 4 is not directly correlated to Auto immune disease. Is there a Common thread or a Common ancestral enemy such as parasites ?

Some treatments for auto-immune diseases use parasites as It takes the inflammation off the body and focuses it on the parasite.
Orangeblossom
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Re: Maybe a tapeworm is the answer

Post by Orangeblossom »

It's interesting about the immune system. I've read the parasites can be used by those with Crohn's disease. who also usually take immunosuppressant drugs. And there is that recent research that some drugs used for inflammatory conditions such as Crohn's or arthritis may be protective against AD as well. Wonder if this is all linked.

Also we E4s have a strong immune system generally, don't we? there is also some interesting stuff I have been reading about those more prone to neurodegenerative diseases and dementia, have less cancer risk and vice versa.

If you look at what happens with diseases like Crohn's,

"The importance of worms is that they provoke a different sort of immune response to that which occurs after bacterial infection. In scientific terms, they provoke a Th2 response, whereas the usual response is known as Th1. In Crohn’s disease, the immune attack on the bacteria living in the bowel is mediated by a Th1 response – so if you can switch it to Th2, the Crohn’s immune attack will be less and the disease will improve." http://www.crohns.org.uk/professor_hunter/blog/worms

It makes me think, is AD somehow similar, is it an immune response which can be altered in a similar way...

Also, there is some interesting research into such worms / parasites, altering the gut micro biome http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/04/ ... al-balance
jerryb
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Re: Maybe a tapeworm is the answer

Post by jerryb »

Have not been on forum in months but just found this article which may be of significance: https://apple.news/A-OEwkJSaRSCADOyPGeWCHQ
My wife has early Alzheimer’s and ongoing mild gut issues hence I have always been interested in gut brain interface. In addition came across a scientific article about a fecal transplant in an 80 year man with mild Alzheimer’s who markedly improved after transplant over a significant period of time. Jerry
NF52
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Re: Maybe a tapeworm is the answer

Post by NF52 »

jerryb wrote:Have not been on forum in months but just found this article which may be of significance: https://apple.news/A-OEwkJSaRSCADOyPGeWCHQ
My wife has early Alzheimer’s and ongoing mild gut issues hence I have always been interested in gut brain interface. In addition came across a scientific article about a fecal transplant in an 80 year man with mild Alzheimer’s who markedly improved after transplant over a significant period of time. Jerry
Hi Jerry,
Welcome back--I hope you and your wife are enjoying 2021 more than 2020! The article is intriguing, as is the research on fecal transplants, which I think I've read about being used for serious cases of c-difficile infections. This sentence from the article makes me think we're a long way from applying this to humans:
The team studied the link between gut bacteria and neurodegenerative disease in a worm called C. elegans.
From what I've heard from some researchers, the C. elegant worm is an excellent little creature to study, but it is used for very early "proof of concept" studies, which might then be followed by studying this in wild-type mice and mice genetically engineered to have "humanized ApoE4".

There are many current and upcoming interventional studies for people with early-stage AD, both of drugs vs placebos and of other interventions. I know people who have participated and currently participate in clinical trials and while there are no guarantees, most have felt they were helping research, maybe helping themselves and those who will come after them and need options. (Full disclosure, I was in a clinical trial for people with ApoE 4/4 that ended early due to non-life-threatening side effects in some participants. I also participate on an Advisory Board for the Alzheimer's Clinical Trial Consortium to advocate for the needs and interests of participants in clinical trials.)

If you'd like to learn more about those you can try the links below or just send me a Private Message with the city nearest to your home and I'll do some online checking of studies and send them to you via PM.

1. Trial Match is through the Alzheimer's Association and allows you to search by geographic area: https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia ... trialmatch

2. The NIH provides a listing of clinical trials by type and location and gives you information about criteria for each trial in a link. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/search/advanced
4/4 and still an optimist!
NewRon
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Re: Maybe a tapeworm is the answer

Post by NewRon »

Apo E4/E4, Male, Age 60
hairyfairy
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Re: Maybe a tapeworm is the answer

Post by hairyfairy »

This sounds good, having a tapeworm might also help contol my weight. Ιd be willing to give it a try but where can you get tapeworms if you doñlive in a third world country?
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floramaria
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Re: Maybe a tapeworm is the answer

Post by floramaria »

hairyfairy wrote:This sounds good, having a tapeworm might also help contol my weight. Ιd be willing to give it a try but where can you get tapeworms if you doñlive in a third world country?
hi hairyfairy, along the left hand column of this WiKi is an entry , “providers”. Lists many sources. Please let us know how this works out if you try it.
https://helminthictherapywiki.org/wiki/ ... erapy_Wiki
Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach
IFM/ Bredesen Training in Reversing Cognitive Decline (March 2017)
ReCODE 2.0 Health Coach with Apollo Health
JNB
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Re: Maybe a tapeworm is the answer

Post by JNB »

Hi,

Good spot on worms!

There is a growing evidence that AD may be caused by autoimmune issues.

Improved cognition in APOE4 Tsimane folks strongly points to worms and autoimmunity.

Apolipoprotein E4 is associated with improved cognitive function in Amazonian forager-horticulturalists with a high parasite burden
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5349792/

Some other references:
Baby rats with tapeworms avoided the brain inflammation that plagued worm-free rats after exposure to immune triggers in adulthood. What’s more, the benefits began early, while still in the womb. Expectant mother rats with tapeworms passed similar protection on to their worm-free pups, the researchers found.
They also didn’t develop the same memory problems later in life that their worm-free counterparts did.
https://today.duke.edu/2015/07/wormsont ... ywVhCWkB3Y
The team were able to show that the worms were working through IL-5 to affect specific cells in the immune system called T-regulatory, or Treg, cells. These cells are involved in ‘calming down’ the immune system and in particular preventing the immune system from attacking parts of its own body. When IL-5 was present, the worms were able to make the Treg cells become active, preventing other ‘pro-inflammatory’ immune cells from targeting and destroying the myelin coat that protects neurons.
https://www.msaustralia.org.au/news/unr ... -worms-ms/
Neurodegeneration—It’s Not the Tangles, It’s the T Cells
Holtzman hopes the findings will be a game-changer. “Of all the research that has come out of my lab, I believe this has the potential to be the most impactful,”
https://www.alzforum.org/news/research- ... ts-t-cells
JNB
ApoE 4/4, Male, Age 40+
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Re: Maybe a tapeworm is the answer

Post by hollybourne »

JNB wrote: Sat Jan 20, 2024 5:34 am Hi,

Good spot on worms!

There is a growing evidence that AD may be caused by autoimmune issues.

Improved cognition in APOE4 Tsimane folks strongly points to worms and autoimmunity.

Apolipoprotein E4 is associated with improved cognitive function in Amazonian forager-horticulturalists with a high parasite burden
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5349792/

Some other references:
Baby rats with tapeworms avoided the brain inflammation that plagued worm-free rats after exposure to immune triggers in adulthood. What’s more, the benefits began early, while still in the womb. Expectant mother rats with tapeworms passed similar protection on to their worm-free pups, the researchers found.
They also didn’t develop the same memory problems later in life that their worm-free counterparts did.
https://today.duke.edu/2015/07/wormsont ... ywVhCWkB3Y
The team were able to show that the worms were working through IL-5 to affect specific cells in the immune system called T-regulatory, or Treg, cells. These cells are involved in ‘calming down’ the immune system and in particular preventing the immune system from attacking parts of its own body. When IL-5 was present, the worms were able to make the Treg cells become active, preventing other ‘pro-inflammatory’ immune cells from targeting and destroying the myelin coat that protects neurons.
https://www.msaustralia.org.au/news/unr ... -worms-ms/
Neurodegeneration—It’s Not the Tangles, It’s the T Cells
Holtzman hopes the findings will be a game-changer. “Of all the research that has come out of my lab, I believe this has the potential to be the most impactful,”
https://www.alzforum.org/news/research- ... ts-t-cells
Hi JNB -

My name is Holly and I am one of the Support Team Interns here on the site. I see that you are a new member and I’d like to officially welcome you!

Thank you for your comments and links on the findings of a possible autoimmunity/AD connection and mediation from parasitic load. I find this subject fascinating. I suppose as we evolved as a species, some of our "work arounds" may have introduced symbiotic benefits? These studies have certainly piqued my interest.

As you continue to spend time on the site and in order to get the most out of it, I can provide you with a few tips that you may find helpful as you continue to spend time here. The Primer is a detailed and informative resource written by a practicing M.D. with ApoE4/4. It includes information about the biochemistry of the ApoE4 gene and offers a variety of research-based prevention strategies.

Some helpful tips for moving around the site include the How-To Guide . It includes topics such as navigating the forum, private messaging, and searching. One great tip is using the quote (") button when replying to a post. Using the button will automatically alert the member of your response.

Lastly, you can do some searching on other members’ experiences in Our Stories.

Welcome again, thanks for your involvement, and please reach out anytime!

Kindly,
Holly
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