Neuroscientists: Shroom-induced brain rewiring could hold the key to fighting mental illness - psilocybin

The picture from there showing the enhanced brain connections is great.  This joins marijuana, ecstasy and levodopa as possible help in stroke recovery. But this will never occur with our fossilized Congress.
Neuroscientists: Shroom-induced brain rewiring could hold the key to fighting mental illness
Psychedelic mushrooms dramatically increase connectivity between otherwise uncommunicative parts of the brain, according to researchers from Imperial College London in an article to be published in the November edition of the Royal Society’s journal Interface.
Paul Expert and his team analyzed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from two groups of people — one who had ingested a small amount of the active agent in hallucinogenic mushrooms, psilocybin, and another group who was given a placebo.

On the left is a data visualization of a brain administered the placebo; on the right, one that has been subjected to a mild dose of psilocybin.

First Alzheimer's professional judgment budget reflects urgency in addressing this triple threat

IF we had anything resembling even a decent stroke association we would have stroke also doing its professional judgment budget to inform Congress of research needed to reach milestones. But we have jackshit for stroke associations because all they do is put out fucking lazy press releases.
http://alz.org/news_and_events_triple_threat.asp?WT.mc_id=enews2015_07_29&utm_source=enews-aff-99&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=enews-2015-07-29

First Alzheimer's professional judgment budget reflects urgency in addressing this triple threat

Today, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommended an increase of $323 million in its first professional judgment budget aimed at providing Congress with a scientific estimate of what research funding is needed and can be immediately well utilized to address Alzheimer's disease in fiscal year 2017. Under the Alzheimer's Accountability Act(Where is the stroke version?) incorporated in the 2015 funding bill, a professional judgment budget for Alzheimer's research that identifies the funding necessary to achieve annual research milestones established under the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease will be submitted each year until 2025. It will reflect the state of Alzheimer's knowledge, and the effectively deployable investments in research identified by leading scientists as required to achieve the plan's first goal to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer's by 2025.
"Congress has told us they want to hear directly from the nation's top scientists. Today, they have heard from those experts that Alzheimer's disease warrants swift and significant investment," said Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association. "Congress has shown leadership on the issue of Alzheimer's research over the last few years. This scientific budget estimate will give both a more complete picture of the funding necessary in fiscal year 2017 to build on the recent research investments and to ensure we are on track to meet the goals of the National Plan. This objective research funding estimate is critical as Congress continues their work to reverse the historic underfunding of Alzheimer's disease of the past several decades."
Alzheimer's is only the third disease to receive a professional judgment budget, also known as a "by-pass budget," following cancer and HIV/AIDS. Recognizing the role that this mechanism played in the successful investments and resulting medical advances for these diseases, Alzheimer's Association grassroots advocates and staff held thousands of congressional meetings to secure support for the Alzheimer's Accountability Act. While the Alzheimer's Association and its sister organization, the Alzheimer's Impact Movement, were the only two organizations to endorse and work to advance the Alzheimer's Accountability Act, the legislation received strong, bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate.
Last month, led by Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the House and Senate Appropriations Committees approved historic funding increases for Alzheimer's disease of $300 million and approximately $350 million, respectively, for fiscal year 2016. If enacted into law, this 50-60 percent increase would be the largest increase in Alzheimer's research funding to date.
"Under NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins' leadership, this professional judgment budget for fiscal year 2017 confirms what the science community has said: we must continue to increase funding for Alzheimer's disease research at significant intervals to reach the levels necessary to accomplish the first goal of the national Alzheimer's plan," said Johns.
Alzheimer's is already the most expensive disease in the nation, and the only leading cause of death among the top 10 in the U.S. without a way to prevent, cure or even slow its progression. Because advancing age is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and Americans are living longer than ever before, those numbers are projected to soar to as many as 16 million by 2050, costing the nation $20 trillion over the next 40 years.
Earlier this year, the Association released Changing the Trajectory of Alzheimer's Disease: How a Treatment by 2025 Saves Lives and Dollars, which calculated that a treatment introduced in 2025 that delays the onset of Alzheimer's by five years would reduce the number of individuals affected by the disease by 2.5 million people and save the nation $220 billion within the first five years of a treatment being available.
For more information on Alzheimer's disease, visit the Alzheimer's Association at alz.org.

The potential therapeutic effects of THC on Alzheimer's disease

For your doctors' knowledge. This won't be enough to get through the stupidity of Schedule I classification of marijuana. Every single congressperson is going to need to get alzheimers and be successfully treated like this before they legalize it.  I personally will travel to Colorado.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25024327

Cao C¹, Li Y², Liu H¹, Bai G², Mayl J³, Lin X¹, Sutherland K⁴, Nabar N⁵, Cai J².

Author information

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential therapeutic qualities of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) with respect to slowing or halting the hallmark characteristics of Alzheimer's disease. N2a-variant amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) cells were incubated with THC and assayed for amyloid-β (Aβ) levels at the 6-, 24-, and 48-hour time marks. THC was also tested for synergy with caffeine, in respect to the reduction of the Aβ level in N2a/AβPPswe cells. THC was also tested to determine if multiple treatments were beneficial. The MTT assay was performed to test the toxicity of THC. Thioflavin T assays and western blots were performed to test the direct anti-Aβ aggregation significance of THC. Lastly, THC was tested to determine its effects on glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and related signaling pathways. From the results, we have discovered THC to be effective at lowering Aβ levels in N2a/AβPPswe cells at extremely low concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. However, no additive effect was found by combining caffeine and THC together. We did discover that THC directly interacts with Aβ peptide, thereby inhibiting aggregation. Furthermore, THC was effective at lowering both total GSK-3β levels and phosphorylated GSK-3β in a dose-dependent manner at low concentrations. At the treatment concentrations, no toxicity was observed and the CB1 receptor was not significantly upregulated. Additionally, low doses of THC can enhance mitochondria function and does not inhibit melatonin's enhancement of mitochondria function. These sets of data strongly suggest that THC could be a potential therapeutic treatment option for Alzheimer's disease through multiple functions and pathways.

What’s in Those Supplements?

We have no idea what is in the supplements we buy. All because of the stupidity of our Congress passing the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA): (DSHEA) defined dietary supplements as a category of food, which put them under different regulations than drugs. They are considered safe until proven otherwise. Caveat Emptor.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/03/sidebar-whats-in-those-supplements/?

The New York State attorney general’s office accused four national retailers on Monday of selling dietary supplements that were fraudulent and in many cases contaminated with unlisted ingredients.

The authorities said they had run tests on popular store brands of herbal supplements at the retailers — Walmart, Walgreens, Target and GNC — which showed that roughly four out of five of the products contained none of the herbs listed on their labels. In many cases, the authorities said, the supplements contained little more than cheap fillers like rice and house plants, or substances that could be hazardous to people with food allergies.

At GNC, for example, the agency found that five out of six samples from the company’s signature “Herbal Plus” brand of supplements “were either unrecognizable or a substance other than what they claimed to be.” In pills labeled ginkgo biloba, the agency found only rice, asparagus and spruce, an ornamental plant commonly used for Christmas decorations.

More at link.

This legislation ensures that Congress is equipped with the best possible information to set funding priorities to reach the goal of National Alzheimer's Plan to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer's by 2025.

What are our stroke associations doing to get a National Stroke Plan out there? There are 7 million stroke survivors in the US, increasing by 500,000 a year. If we don't get a Plan going we will never solve the problems in stroke.
Dear dean,

This week, Congress has the opportunity to take a major step forward in the fight against Alzheimer's disease, but they need to hear from you. Congress is voting on the fiscal year 2015 funding bill, which includes the Alzheimer's Accountability Act. This legislation ensures that Congress is equipped with the best possible information to set funding priorities to reach the goal of National Alzheimer's Plan to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer's by 2025. The bill also includes an additional $25 million increase for vital Alzheimer's research.

I hope you'll join the Alzheimer's Association by signing our petition calling on Congress to approve the Alzheimer's Accountability Act and increase funding for Alzheimer's disease.

Sign the petition now!

As you know, the Alzheimer's epidemic takes an enormous human and financial toll on our nation. Today there are more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer's, and the disease has been recognized by the New England Journal of Medicine as the most expensive condition in America.

To prevent, stop or even slow the fatal progression of Alzheimer's disease we must increase critical research. That's why it's so important that Congress takes action this week.

Please take a moment to sign our petition. Call on Congress to act today!

By signing our petition, you'll be standing with the Alzheimer's Association as we continue our work to fight for increased funding for Alzheimer's research, improved access to care and support services for families facing the disease.

Tell Congress today: It's time to act on Alzheimer's.

Thank you,


Harry Johns
President and CEO
Alzheimer's Association

GOP Congressman Warns Of The Real Social Ill Destroying American Values: Marijuana

If you are a constituent of Rep. John Fleming (R-La.) call him up and ream him out about his stupidity on marijuana. Tell him you need it for stroke recovery and point directly to the research proving it works. WE have to take charge on this because doctors like him are what is so wrong with our marijuana policy.  We need complete legalization because medical marijuana rules never allow stroke survivors to use it.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/26/gop-marijuana_n_5890784.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592


My 13 reasons to use it post-stroke.

Does Marijuana Harm the Brain?

You will have to make the decision if the benefits of helping stroke recovery outweigh any possible harm.  But first you will need to pound into your representatives and senators stupid little heads that marijuana does not belong on the Schedule I drug list.
My 13 reasons to use it post-stroke.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/does-marijuana-harm-the-brain/

Sativex Helps MS Spasticity in Objective Tests

Is your doctor following current research at all and are they willing to try this on you as an off-label use? Or do they believe that you shouldn't bother about spasticity like Dr. William M. Landau suggests. And you'd have to go to Europe to get it because we have absolute f*cking idiots in Congress  about marijuana.

Spasticity After Stroke: Why Bother?

Sativex Helps MS Spasticity in Objective Tests 

An objectively measured sign of spasticity in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients was relieved with Sativex, the oromucosal cannabinoid spray, in a small randomized trial reported here.

Mean scores on the modified Ashworth scale, which measures resistance to muscular stretching, for lower limb spasticity improved by 18.2% (SD 33.7%) in patients treated with Sativex for 4 weeks, compared with a 6.7% improvement (SD 26.6%) in patients using a placebo spray (P=0.029 for the between-group difference), according to Letizia Leocani, MD, PhD, of University Hospital San Raffaele in Milan.
Previous studies had shown that Sativex, which combines tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol in equal parts, improved MS patients' self-reported symptoms of spasticity. But a systematic review and practice guideline released earlier this year by the American Academy of Neurology indicated that the product is "probably ineffective" for objective spasticity measures.
Hence, the current study -- presented at the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, held jointly this year with its North American counterpart -- provides new support for Sativex as a useful treatment for MS spasticity, an important manifestation that contributes to disability.
It randomized 43 patients to a 2-week titration period followed by 2 weeks of treatment at stable doses with either placebo or Sativex. Following a 2-week washout period, patients then crossed over to a second 4-week cycle with the other treatment.
Exclusion criteria were other medical or psychiatric illnesses that might interfere with treatment or symptomatology, contraindications to transcranial magnetic stimulation, or THC urine test results indicating previous cannabis use.
Patients must have had progressive MS for at least 1 year and modified Ashworth scores at screening of greater than 1 in at least one limb.
Mean patient age in the study was 48 (SD 7) and mean score on the Expanded Disability Status Scale was 5.7 (SD 0.9, range 3.5 to 6.5).
In addition to modified Ashworth score, patients were evaluated with timed 10-meter walks and neurophysiological measures including motor evoked potentials, intracortical inhibition/facilitation, and the so-called H/M ratio (maximal Hoffmann reflex versus the maximal motor response of the soleus muscle).
A responder analysis showed that, among those achieving at least 20% improvement in modified Ashworth scores, half of participants showed such responses only when receiving Sativex. The remainder were divided among patients responding to both the active drug and placebo and those who only responded to placebo.
Importantly, however, Sativex did not produce significant improvements on outcomes other than the modified Ashworth score. In addition to the objective measures, these included patient-reported pain, sleep, and fatigue.
Leocani said these results indicated that additional research is needed on "the relevance of other spinal and supraspinal mechanisms involved in the physiopathology of spasticity."
Sativex is not approved in the U.S.; it is available in several European countries for relief of MS spasticity.

 

Federal marijuana bill would legalize some cannabis strains

This will more than likely slow down the actual legalization of marijuana because the idiots in Congress will just say, 'Use the medical marijuana we've already approved'. The only way to make this work is to allow any proven research of marijuana from anywhere in the world. Not just low THC strains.
I will figure out a way to get some after my next stroke, screw the legality, I want to recover my brain functions.
My 13 reasons to use it post-stroke.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/28/health/federal-marijuana-bill/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Repeal Marijuana Prohibition, Again - NYTimes opinion

Nothing on the reasons for using it for stroke, but more proof we have f*cking idiots in Congress.
My 13 reasons to use it post-stroke.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/27/opinion/sunday/high-time-marijuana-legalization.html?_r=0

Tell Congress to 'Spread the Word' about Stroke

Another NSA email. So when they have that congressional briefing about stroke and caregiving on May 14 will they enumerate all the failures in stroke?
http://www.stroke.org/site/R?i=2q0dipnoZmgE7wb7LqSdqA
Failures like these, that they haven't even attempted to solve.

Absolutely everything in stroke is a failure and has been for 30 years.
Problems in stroke;

1. There is no fast, easy and objective way to diagnose a stroke. Maybe when the Qualcomm Tricorder X Prize is available. A number of friends have waited hours in ERs until stroke symptoms have visibly manifested themselves.
http://oc1dean.blogspot.com/2013/11/34-teams-are-building-medical.html

2. Only 10% get to almost full recovery.
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/stroke_rehabilitation.htm
3. 12% tPA efficacy
http://wrkf.org/.../more-stroke-patients-now-get-clot-busting-drug
4. Nothing being done to stop the neuronal cascade of death during the first week.
http://newswire.rockefeller.edu/2009/01/15/discovery-could-help-scientists-stop-the-death-cascade-after-a-stroke/
5. No one knows how to cure spasticity.
6.  No one knows how to cure fatigue.
7. F.A.S.T is actually a failure because even at its best tPA is only delivered to 33% of those eligible and then of those that get it it only works 12% of the time.

Cannabis may help stroke recovery

Of course our fucking idiots in the US Congress believe marijuana is a Schedule I drug and Reefer Madness was a documentary. But when your parents are asking what can help  recovery, are you going to tell them that marijuana will but they can't have it because they voted for complete idiots in Congress. This goes totally against Dale Carnegies book, I shouldn't be criticizing people we need on our side.   Damn them all for preventing recovery.
http://www.skynews.com.au/health/article.aspx?id=930419

Cannabis may help to reduce brain damage after a stroke, new research suggests.
Chemical compounds found in the plant could help shrink the area of the brain affected by stroke, the study says.
Cannabinoids in the plant, as well as those that can be made artificially and those found naturally in the body, can also help improve brain function after a stroke attack, the authors said.
The study, which is to be presented to the annual UK Stroke Forum, examined previous studies conducted on the effect of the compound.
The authors, from the University of Nottingham, examined 94 studies evaluating the effects of cannabinoids on 1022 male rats, mice or monkeys.
They say the chemical 'shows promise as a neuroprotective treatment for stroke'.
But experts cautioned that the effects of cannabis on the brain are highly complex and called for more research to see whether the same effect is noted in humans.
'This meta-analysis of pre-clinical stroke studies provides valuable information on the existing, and importantly, missing data on the use of cannabinoids as a potential treatment for stroke patients,' said lead author Dr Tim England, honorary consultant stroke physician at the University of Nottingham and Royal Derby Hospital.
Dr Dale Webb, director of research and information at the Stroke Association, added: 'Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability in the UK, with more than half of all stroke survivors left dependent on others for everyday activities. With more people in the UK surviving a stroke, it's never been more important to find new treatments to help more stroke patients make better recoveries.
'This new research is an example of the many new developments in the field of stroke which are being presented at this year's UK Stroke Forum.
'The findings have identified the potential for cannabinoids to reduce brain damage caused by stroke.
'Further research is needed to investigate whether cannabinoids have the same effects in humans: the effects of cannabis on the brain are highly complex and it remains a risky substance.'

All the positive reasons are listed here; 

1.  Tapping Medical Marijuana’s Potential

2.  Stroke survivors unaware of therapy options for spastic muscles, survey finds

3.  Small Quantities Of Marijuana Protect Against Brain Damage

4.  Cannabis chemical 'helps heart' The cannabis chemical helps ward off heart disease, scientists say

5.  A cannabinoid type 2 receptor agonist attenuates blood–brain barrier damage and neurodegeneration in a murine model of traumatic brain injury

6. Symptomatic therapy in multiple sclerosis: the role of cannabinoids in treating spasticity

7.  Marijuana might cause new cell growth in the brain

8.  Medical Marijuana: Clearing Away the Smoke

9.  A Marijuana Bud A Day Keeps The Stroke Away

10.   Cannabidiol Reduces Aβ-Induced Neuroinflammation and Promotes Hippocampal Neurogenesis through PPARγ Involvement

11.   DAGL-dependent endocannabinoid signalling: roles in axonal pathfinding, synaptic plasticity and adult neurogenesis

12.   Marijuana and stroke rehab

OTC painkiller may blunt memory loss from puffing pot

And look at that, marijuana may reduce the effect of Alzheimers. When the hell is your doctor going to influence the FDA and Congress to allow marijuana to be legalized?
A great post from Neurorexia

http://neurorexia.com/2013/11/27/otc-painkiller-may-blunt-memory-loss-from-puffing-pot/ 

3 paragraphs, rest at link.

Pot’s not the best thing for your memory. Yes, I know there are functional potheads who enjoy their greens and get also their work done. Still, it’s hard to ignore the legions of studies that show Δ⁹-THC consumption impairs spatial learning and working memory – that is, the ability to hold several pieces of information in mind and manipulate them to reach a mental goal.

Welcome to downtown BC and BC Bud! Source: cannabisculture.com

Yet paradoxically, THC may benefit those with Alzheimer’s disease. Previous research in rats show that the compound breaks down clumps of disease-causing proteins (called β-amyloid plagues) by upregulating a “scissor” enzyme that chops them up. Sweeping out these junk protein plagues decreased the number of dying neurons in the hippocampus, a brain area crucial for learning and memory. THC also has powerful anti-oxidant effects and may protect the integrity of mitochondria – the “power plants” of our cells.
So here’s the dilemma: THC may potentially battle dementia, yet it also naturally impairs memory. In an unexpected turn of events, scientists from Louisiana State University discovered a key protein that mediates THC-caused memory loss, and show in mice that you can have your edibles and eat it too.

 

NIH director: Medical breakthroughs depend on Congress

And this is precisely why we need a great stroke association that sponsors its own research. Depending on Congress to get anything done is total insanity. From a Faster Cures email.

NIH investments in research have led to advances in understanding and treating myriad diseases, and those advances have increased average human longevity, but political dysfunction puts future breakthroughs at risk, says NIH Director Francis Collins. Budget cuts mean the NIH now rejects the majority of applications to fund worthy research projects, and the sequester only made matters worse. "My greatest concern -- this is the thing that wakes me up at night -- is that a whole generation of scientists are looking at this situation and getting increasingly discouraged and disheartened," Collins said.  The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (11/8)

congressional member organizations (CMOs) for stroke

This came from an email from the NSA but they didn't say what to tell your congressperson(A National Stroke Plan would be great).  Stroke medical stuff is totally broken. Ask the NINDS to convene a session for survivors(excluding the ASA and NSA as unproductive) and come up with a strategy to address reducing stroke disabilities.  Similar to National Alzheimer’s Plan Released

The suggested content of your communication, boring, boring, boring.
Join stroke-related CMOs
Dear [Representative/Senator],
Congress is considering a range of policies critical to stroke survivors. These include bills to ensure access to post-stroke therapy services under Medicare; improve the federal partnership with survivors on return-to-work challenges; and continue our nation's commitment to stroke-related medical research activities. To ensure that you and your staff are well-informed on these and other stroke-related issues, I urge you to join congressional member organizations (CMOs) designed to provide the latest updates on these policy debates, specifically the:

House Congressional Neuroscience Caucus, co-chaired by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) [contact at 225-4811] and Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-WA) [contact at 225-2006];

House/Senate Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition, chaired by Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) [contact at 225-3601], Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) [contact at 225-3765], Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) [contact at 224-6142], and Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) [contact at 224-2152]; or

House Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, co-chaired by Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) [contact at 225-5751] and Rep. Tom Rooney (R-FL) [contact at 225-5792].

These CMOs seek to highlight the enormous human and financial impacts of stroke across our nation. From a budget perspective, the estimated direct and indirect cost of stroke was $73.7 billion in 2010. But clearly the human cost is more important. Someone in the U.S. has a stroke roughly every 40 seconds. About 795,000 people will have a stroke this year. It's the fourth leading cause of death and a leading cause of long-term disability.

Joining these bipartisan groups offers an opportunity for you to help improve the federal partnership with stroke survivors, caregivers and their families and offer a ray of hope to me and other constituents like me who have been impacted by stroke. To join one of these CMOs, simply call one of the co-chairs noted above and ask for the staff person managing the group. I appreciate your consideration and hope I can count on you to prioritize stroke-related issues.
Thank you,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]