Sunday, January 21, 2007
The Photoperiod Effect and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
The Photoperiod Effect study of the day is: Serotonergic mechanisms in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
It explores the hypothesis that, in effect, ALS is a serotonin deficiency disease, extending "the glutamate excitotoxicity theory". It concludes that "progressive degeneration of 5-HT neurons affecting motoneuron activity constitutes the prime mover of the disease and its progression and treatment of ALS needs to be focused primarily on boosting 5-HT functions..." 5-HT is serotonin, and we make it in the dark, only.
This is consistent with other studies I'd come across in the last couple of years that suggest a link between the Photoperiod Effect and ALS - more than a hint and less than proof. If you know anybody with ALS, tell them to come in out of the light, as it were.
It explores the hypothesis that, in effect, ALS is a serotonin deficiency disease, extending "the glutamate excitotoxicity theory". It concludes that "progressive degeneration of 5-HT neurons affecting motoneuron activity constitutes the prime mover of the disease and its progression and treatment of ALS needs to be focused primarily on boosting 5-HT functions..." 5-HT is serotonin, and we make it in the dark, only.
This is consistent with other studies I'd come across in the last couple of years that suggest a link between the Photoperiod Effect and ALS - more than a hint and less than proof. If you know anybody with ALS, tell them to come in out of the light, as it were.
