olsen
06-17-2008, 11:24 AM
http://neuroprotectivelifestyle.com/how-to-bolster-your-blood-brain-barrier/
17
Jun How To Bolster Your Blood-Brain Barrier
Category: Neurobiology And Beyond
Just in case you didn’t know, the blood-brain barrier (BBB), serves as a veritable “surge protector” guarding against certain drugs, chemicals and toxins that find their way into your blood stream.
Depending on the biochemical characteristics of specific molecules, they may never find their way into the brain. Good thing, since most drugs are medicines first and neurotoxins second.
But what exactly constitutes the blood-brain barrier?
Blood vessels in the brain (unlike the rest of the body) are lined with endothelial cells that form tight junctions where they meet.
In other words, the space between cells that line the blood vessels in the brain is so small as to only permit specific nutritional substances, and nothing else.
More specifically, size matters when it comes to the blood-brain barrier. Large proteins are excluded entirely and unless small molecules are lipophilic (soluble in fat), they too will be discriminated against. In short, the brain is very, very particular about what substances cross the blood-brain barrier and be thankful that’s the case.
All bets are off however when inflammation due to infection or any number of other diseases is present. Under these conditions, integrity of the blood-brain barrier is compromised and a neurotoxic “free-for-all” assault on the brain ensues.
Recent advances in nanomedicine seek to exploit this particular vulnerability of the blood-brain barrier by developing a drug delivery system utilizing nanoparticles. Unfortunately, nanoparticles themselves may ultimately be found to possess neurotoxic properties thus exemplifying the inherent truth the traditional French proverb:
“Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose”, that is,
“the more things change, the more they stay the same”
So what’s an every-day-ordinary blood-brain barrier to do? Nano-neuro-nonsense on one hand or fledgling nutritional neuroscience on the other.
Well consider this for starters. Some of the most innocuous substances on planet earth serve as penultimate blood-brain barrier bolsterers. (I think bolsterers is a word).
Coffee, and the caffeine associated with it, has recently emerged as a neuroprotective agent. It’s clear now, the mechanism behind it’s neuroprotective properties includes caffeine’s ability to enhance the integrity of the BBB in addition to coffee’s inherent antioxidant properties.
Fortunately, flavonoids (a.k.a. phytochemicals, isoflavones, proanthocyanidines) can also traverse the BBB, bringing with them potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The next time you enjoy fresh grapefruit juice, relish the bitterness. The citrus bioflavonoid naringenin accounts for both the bitterness and neuroprotective efficacy.
Not surprisingly, regular exercise improves BBB function even in the event of an ischemic stroke.
Ultimately, maintaining the integrity of the BBB may very well be the most effective way of ensuring life-long” cognitive reserve” and perhaps more importantly, establishing a neurobiological foundation for the “neuroprotective lifestyle”.
Coffee anyone?
About the Author:
Originally from Ontario, Canada, Dr. Friesen received his doctor of medicine degree from Queen’s University Faculty of Medicine. He completed post-doctoral training jointly at Wright State University School of Medicine and Kettering Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio. While at Kettering Medical Center he was awarded the Albert A. Brust award for “Excellence in Internal Medicine.” He graduated summa cum laude in 1987. Dr. Friesen is board certified in Internal Medicine with special medical interests in nootropics, neurochemistry and nano-bio-cogno-informatics.
Currently, Dr. Friesen is in private practice and lectures frequently on the subjects of “inflammation overload”, accelerated aging and the neuroprotective lifestyle. Dr. Friesen is available to provide informative lectures on his favorite motivational topic…“forget what you’ve heard—you CAN change your brain”.
17
Jun How To Bolster Your Blood-Brain Barrier
Category: Neurobiology And Beyond
Just in case you didn’t know, the blood-brain barrier (BBB), serves as a veritable “surge protector” guarding against certain drugs, chemicals and toxins that find their way into your blood stream.
Depending on the biochemical characteristics of specific molecules, they may never find their way into the brain. Good thing, since most drugs are medicines first and neurotoxins second.
But what exactly constitutes the blood-brain barrier?
Blood vessels in the brain (unlike the rest of the body) are lined with endothelial cells that form tight junctions where they meet.
In other words, the space between cells that line the blood vessels in the brain is so small as to only permit specific nutritional substances, and nothing else.
More specifically, size matters when it comes to the blood-brain barrier. Large proteins are excluded entirely and unless small molecules are lipophilic (soluble in fat), they too will be discriminated against. In short, the brain is very, very particular about what substances cross the blood-brain barrier and be thankful that’s the case.
All bets are off however when inflammation due to infection or any number of other diseases is present. Under these conditions, integrity of the blood-brain barrier is compromised and a neurotoxic “free-for-all” assault on the brain ensues.
Recent advances in nanomedicine seek to exploit this particular vulnerability of the blood-brain barrier by developing a drug delivery system utilizing nanoparticles. Unfortunately, nanoparticles themselves may ultimately be found to possess neurotoxic properties thus exemplifying the inherent truth the traditional French proverb:
“Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose”, that is,
“the more things change, the more they stay the same”
So what’s an every-day-ordinary blood-brain barrier to do? Nano-neuro-nonsense on one hand or fledgling nutritional neuroscience on the other.
Well consider this for starters. Some of the most innocuous substances on planet earth serve as penultimate blood-brain barrier bolsterers. (I think bolsterers is a word).
Coffee, and the caffeine associated with it, has recently emerged as a neuroprotective agent. It’s clear now, the mechanism behind it’s neuroprotective properties includes caffeine’s ability to enhance the integrity of the BBB in addition to coffee’s inherent antioxidant properties.
Fortunately, flavonoids (a.k.a. phytochemicals, isoflavones, proanthocyanidines) can also traverse the BBB, bringing with them potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The next time you enjoy fresh grapefruit juice, relish the bitterness. The citrus bioflavonoid naringenin accounts for both the bitterness and neuroprotective efficacy.
Not surprisingly, regular exercise improves BBB function even in the event of an ischemic stroke.
Ultimately, maintaining the integrity of the BBB may very well be the most effective way of ensuring life-long” cognitive reserve” and perhaps more importantly, establishing a neurobiological foundation for the “neuroprotective lifestyle”.
Coffee anyone?
About the Author:
Originally from Ontario, Canada, Dr. Friesen received his doctor of medicine degree from Queen’s University Faculty of Medicine. He completed post-doctoral training jointly at Wright State University School of Medicine and Kettering Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio. While at Kettering Medical Center he was awarded the Albert A. Brust award for “Excellence in Internal Medicine.” He graduated summa cum laude in 1987. Dr. Friesen is board certified in Internal Medicine with special medical interests in nootropics, neurochemistry and nano-bio-cogno-informatics.
Currently, Dr. Friesen is in private practice and lectures frequently on the subjects of “inflammation overload”, accelerated aging and the neuroprotective lifestyle. Dr. Friesen is available to provide informative lectures on his favorite motivational topic…“forget what you’ve heard—you CAN change your brain”.