***Gut-associated bacterial microbiota in paediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease***
This study identified alterations in the gut bacteria of pediatric patients w/ IBD (Crohn's, Ulcerative colitis), both increases in pathogenic bacteria and reductions in protective. The bottom line is that destruction of normal flora through the indiscriminate use of antibiotics will have a much further reaching consequence then what most prescribing pediatricians will ever be aware of. Read More

***Evidence-Based Research in Complementary and Alternative Medicine III: Treatment of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease***
If you were ever looking for a good resource for finding out more about AD, this is definitely a great place to start. Notably, this article looked very critically at the available evidence for treatment of AD, and found that antioxidants, which would include Ginko, definitely play a role. It's not to say that other natural approaches will not work, but the criteria that were set to pluck the research studies to evaluate were very strict. Given the current mitochondrial dysfunction leading to neuronal apoptosis (preprogrammed cell suicide) model for neurodegenerative disorders, the fact that antioxidants would be effective should come as no surprise. Unfortunately, clinical recommendations, as usual, as lagging far, far behind the research. Read More

***The Use of Herbal Medicine in Alzheimer's Disease—A Systematic Review***
Ditto...with the additional commentary that natural approaches generally have much fewer side effects and are much, much cheaper than the drugs used to treat AD. Read More

***Low Micronutrient Levels as a Predictor of Incident Disability in Older Women***
It seems almost too simple to be true, but this study finds that better micronutrient status (in this case Vit B6, B12 and selenium) leads to better functioning as women get older. While this study did not evaluate multivitamin use, a good quality multi would supply adequate levels of these 3 nutrients, in addition to many more needed for healthy function. Of course, a nutrient dense, low calorie diet would also supply many of these same nutrients. Just another reason why a good quality multi needs to be on everyone's list. Read More

***Molecular Mechanisms of Insulin Resistance in Humans and Their Potential Links With Mitochondrial Dysfunction***
As much as I consider insulin resistance to be a devastingly unrecognized problem in today's society, the truth is that mitochondrial dysfunction is the underlying cause of IR. This study is just one more in the growing collection supporting the concept that defects in a muscle cell's ability to generate energy and protect against energy generation predispose IR. It is likely that too much glucose in the cell causes the cell to back off on energy production in an attempt to protect itself, starting the cycle. Luckily, lifestyle changes targeted for helping w/ IR are the very same that help mitochondria function better. Funny how that works out... Read More

***Planned cesarean versus planned vaginal delivery at term: Comparison of newborn infant outcomes***
It is well accepted that Westernized societies perform WAY too many C-sections. In many cases it has been a matter of convenience. Even 14 yrs ago, working in histology at a local hospital, the number of placentas we had to evaluate in the pathology department (hence...the number of C-sections performed) were much higher on Fridays and before holidays. While the results of this study should come as no surprise, it finds that the rates of certain complications doubled in the planned C-section group. Does this mean the pregnancy was more complicated from the start, or that, for some of these woman/doctor pairs, that the medicalization of the birth was just a reflection of the whole pregnancy. But, in their defense, what the heck does Mother Nature know about birth anyway???... Read More

***Valerian for Sleep: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis***
Our entire approach to sleep disorders is just a little dsyfunctional. If someone has a problem sleeping, there is something really wrong to be avoiding this absolutely essential process. This can come from several sources, but adding a medication to force a body into an unnatural sleep just can't be good in the long term (of course, we don't really know because few, if any, sleep drugs have had long term studies done on them...). Altered cortisol rhythms from stress, neurotransmitter dysfunction, melatonin production mis-timing can all cause sleep problems. These need to be fixed, NOT medicated. I remember a patient who worked midnights asking me what he could take for energy. Knowing his sleep cycle, I asked how he was sleeping. Poorly of course--so he tried a little melatonin to help regulate his sleep cycle. One week later he came in and had all the energy he needed. It's not that some high dose sugar and caffeine carbonated beverage wouldn't have done the trick... Read More

***Antidepressants and the Risk of Suicide, Attempted Suicide, and Overall Mortality in a Nationwide Cohort***
While it's not comforting to note that there was a drastic increase in the risk of suicide attempts in new users of antidepressants, it IS comforting to note that they seemed to succeed much less frequently. Wow--we do I sign up!! What's odd about neurological/mental disorders is that we don't do any testing. For blood pressure, we check your pressure, give you meds or lifestyle interventions and check again. Not the same w/ psychological issues, despite the fact that neurotransmitter testing has been available for many years now (www.neurorelief.com) and is very reliable and easy to do. So, when we give someone a medication that effects the way their brain works at its most fundamental level, we're basically performing a dangerous guessing came if we don't check neurotransmitters first. Read More

***The Neurosteroid Allopregnanolone Is Reduced in Prefrontal Cortex in Alzheimer’s Disease***
Allopregnanolone is considered one of the most potent GABA agonist on the planet, natural or synthetic. This means it has a potent ability to calm the brain cells down. Allopregnanolone is derived from progesterone. So how would what is thought of as a reproductive-age hormone affect the brain later in life? Actually the potential for interactions are great. First, we know that the damage with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's start decades before symptoms, putting the time frames for beginning damage well into the reproductive years. In addition, Alzheimer's is very strongly associated with insulin resistance, and IR is well known to inhibit ovulation and lower levels of progesterone. The bottom line, however, is the same as always--prevention of these age related chronic diseases begins decades earlier, and the approach to lowering risk is multifactorial. Read More

***Methylmalonic acid and cognitive function in the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study***
Many moons again, family docs use to give out B12 shots liberally. Inexpensive, safe and patient's loved them. For some reason they dropped out of favor. Maybe because of the misguided notion that food fortification would give us all we need, much like Vit D? Unfortunately, as we age and with chronic stress, digestion suffers as well as absorption of Vit B12. Much higher dosages become needed to overcome the poor absorption. Many studies put this level as >1,000 mcg/day. This study further confirms how important Vit B12 is needed for healthy brain aging. Read More

James Bogash, DC and Amy Strock, DC
1830 S. Alma School Rd, Bldg 7, Ste 135, Mesa, AZ 85210
(Alma School Road, just south of the Superstition Freeway/Highway 60)
Chiropractic Health Care for Chandler, Mesa and Tempe Arizona
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