More About Acetylcholine Inhibitors
1. Acetylcholine is synthesized in nerve terminals from acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl CoA, which is synthesized from glucose) and choline, in a reaction catalyzed by choline acetyltransferase (CAT or ChAT). Glucose and Choline are present in plasma 2. Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of acetylcholine, is presently the most specific indicator for monitoring the functional state of cholinergic neurones in the central and peripheral nervous systems. ChAT is a protein enzyme. Thus once again proteins are implicated, thus so also is protein synthesis and protein transport. This includes the protein, vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), which is responsible for transporting acetylcholine from the cytoplasm into the synaptic vesicles. The expressions of ChAT and VAChT appear to be coordinately regulated by multiple regulatory elements in cholinergic neurones. This then opens another pathway where malfunction is occurring.More About Glutamate Inhibitors
1. Glutamate is the most abundant neurotransmitter in the brain and central nervous system. It is balanced with a neurotransmitter called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), thus GABA is equally as abundant as glutamate. Glutamate enhances neuroplasticity — the brain’s capacity to change and grow — to help you learn, remember, and perform other cognitive functions. Glutamate is critical for human brain development which is why there are high concentrations of it in human breast milk. 2. Note: some websites say acetylcholine is the main neurotransmitter and others say glutamate is the most abundant. Bottom line, we can be certain both are abundant, important and interrelated. 3. Glutamate and GABA have a complex, homeostatic relationship that brings balance to the level of brain activity. While glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter, GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter. Thus if you wanted to inhibit glutamate you should increase GABA or ask the question as to why GABA is not automatically inhibiting glutamate. 4. When you artificially and blindly decrease excitatory neurotransmitters using the illegitimate drug called Memantine, you allow an overabundance of inhibitory neurotransmitters. Inhibitory neurotransmitters decrease the likelihood that a nerve impulse will fire. GABA normally inhibits brain activity, enabling people to relax. 5. Since glutamate is a precursor to GABA, a reduction in glutamate also reduces GABA, thus reducing overall brain function. Both of these neurotransmitter amino acids can transform into each other. 6. Glutamate system dysfunction has been linked to numerous neurodegenerative disorders and psychological disorders. Some of which are: anxiety disorders, autism, bipolar disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, psychosis 7. Glutamate is the most common amino acid naturally occurring throughout the body where it performs many vital functions. It can be, like all things both a nutrient and a toxin. You can only imagine what inhibiting this neurotransmitter will do to many cellular processes. 8. Glutamate exists in excess when there is stroke, head trauma or some other neurological disorder. Glutamate radiates from the injury and kills nearby neurons.Thus giving a person a glutamate inhibitor such as memantine, overlooks and helps hide dangerous medical conditions. This is malpractice as is most of what is associated with dealing with Dementia Syndrome.9. Malpractice is further evidenced when it is admitted that each neurotransmitter performs a variety of functions, and they interact with each other and brain neurons (brain cells) in an intricate manner that we don't fully understand. The brain is an efficient recycler, often using one neurotransmitter to create another. [Thus inhibiting a neurotransmitter whether its at a low level or high level, will have far-reaching effects. An excess of glutamate likely triggers the mechanisms to repair injury and replace neurons or reroute functions. Likewise, blocking the breakdown of acetylcholine likely prevents carry-on functions and causes buildups and shortages in other chemicals, thus causing harmful, dangerous, deadly side effects. Shortages in proteins and amino acids are likely.]
Can Neurotransmitter Levels Be Checked??
1. One website states Neurotransmitter Testing is now available to detect imbalances among major brain chemicals. 2. Basing treatment on symptoms alone (traditional medicine) will not provide us with the information we need to address the underlying neurotransmitter imbalances causing Dementia Syndrome symptoms. 3. NeuroScreen Profile- Basic neurotransmitter test for those with with NO adrenal or hormone symptoms. For those with problems with attention, focus, and sadness 4. NeuroAdrenal Profile-Neurotransmitter and adrenal function test for those with depressed or high mood, anxiety, panic, insomnia, obsessiveness, PTSD, pain, chronic fatigue, psychosis, memory impairment, attention and focus issues. 5. NeuroEndocrine Profile-Neurotransmitter, adrenal, and hormone function test for those with hormonal issues such as PMS,PCOS, peri-menopause, menopause, low sex drive, muscle loss, weight gain, hair loss, fatigue, decrease in bone mass. For those also suffering with depressed or high mood, anxiety, panic, insomnia, obsessiveness, PTSD, pain, chronic fatigue, psychosis, memory impairment, attention and focus issues/ 6. Neurotransmitter imbalances can be evaluated using a urine or blood sample. Laboratory analysis can now provide precise information on brain neurotransmitter deficiencies or overloads, as well as detect hormonal and nutrient co-factor imbalances which influence neurotransmitter production.7. In contradiction to the previous paragraph, it’s notoriously difficult to study neurotransmitter levels in the human brain. While you can measure levels in blood, saliva, or urine, these results have little-to-no correlation with levels in the brain. Measuring acetylcholine and glutamate levels in the brain is difficult at best.
Causes Of Excess Glutamate
1. GAD Autoimmunity - Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) is the enzyme used to turn glutamate into its calming counterpart, GABA. It’s possible to develop an autoimmune reaction to the GAD enzyme, leading to poor conversion into GABA. 2. Vitamin B6 Deficiency - Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is an essential cofactor in the conversion of glutamate to GABA. Lack of Vitamin B6 results in diminished GABA synthesis and a buildup of glutamate. 3. Gluten intolerance (celiac disease), Hashimoto’s disease (thyroid), type 1 diabetes, and other autoimmune diseases are linked to GAD autoimmunity. These diseases mimic Dementia Syndrome but have a high potential of being misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's and mis-treated. 4. Traumatic stress can elevate glutamate to abnormally high levels. Many mood-altering substances disrupt the glutamate-GABA balance. Caffeine, the most widely used stimulant, increases glutamate activity at the expense of GABA. Thus caffeine stimulates the chemical that is trying to get our minds to relax and our bodies to rest. Caffeine is forcing our minds and bodies to be active when we should be resting and sleeping. This then wears us down and wears us out and causes breakdowns in our systems. A brain injury or stroke causes glutamate to flood the injured area. All of these things are conditions and choices that mimic Dementia Syndrome symptoms. Glutmate inhibitor medication such as Memantine is an inappropriate treatment for these any condition, whether it is a neurocognitive disorder or something that mimics the symptoms of neurocognitive disorder. 5. It’s possible to have a genetic tendency for glutamate oversensitivity and imbalances between glutamate and GABA. I say, Yeah, but what activates this in older age? Why does this genetic deficiency lie dormant for 50 to 60 years?Balancing Glutamate/GABA Neurotransmitter Levels Naturally
1. Glutamate is common in most plants and animals. A very short list of those foods is asparagus, beets, bone broth, broccoli, carrots, cheese, corn, eggs, green tea, meat, mushrooms, onions, peas, soybeans, fermented soy products, spinach, tomatoes, sea vegetables, seafood (especially shellfish), poultry (especially dark meat), and nori (the seaweed used to wrap sushi) are high in taurine. Taurine excels at protecting the brain against toxic levels of glutamate. 2. Your body can also synthesize glutamate when necessary. So imagine the dangerous loop taking place, you are eating glutamate and Glutamate inhibitor medication is preventing glutamate from working. Then your body is making glutamate and the medication is preventing glutamate from working. Much must go wrong in this maddening cycle. 3. Ginger, protects the brain from MSG-induced excitotoxicity. MSG is monosodium glutamate, a synthetic man-made chemical used to flavor flavorless food. The natural form of MSG is found in plants and meats grown naturally. This is why food grown naturally and consumed naturally, need no flavoring or seasoning. This is why food from your garden tastes exquisitely better right off the vine. 4. Vitamin C protects receptors that control the release of glutamate, thus providing significant protection against MSG toxicity. 5. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a traditional relaxing herbal remedy, works by increasing GABA and by interacting with glutamate receptors to provide anxiety relief. 6. L-theanine, a relaxing compound found in tea [the extract of plant cell cytoplasm], is structurally similar to both glutamate and GABA. It has been found to enter the brain to stimulate GABA production and modestly lower glutamate levels. Since tea is the extract of plant cells, this is why it has the same effect as homemade soup and homemade vegetable broth and smoothies. 7. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is an essential cofactor required to synthesize GABA from glutamate. Inadequate B6 intake not only diminishes GABA synthesis, it also leads to a buildup of glutamate. 8. Supplements that increase GABA include the traditional relaxing herbs kava, lemon balm, chamomile, passion flower and more. 9. Despite all these detailed and specific foods, we should just focus on fresh naturally grown homegrown plant food and meats. 10. Remember, all information sources are trying to tell you something and sell you something. I am trying to tell sell you freedom. The natural world is trying to tell sell you dynamically balanced truth of self and all else, which is everlasting life.
