The damaging effects of both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s are well documented.  Though there are treatments emerging to deal with each of these terrible conditions they remain largely incurable.  Most Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s cases can however be effectively managed long term.   A recent discovery however seems to suggest that the IGF-1 Molecule (which is present throughout the body, especially in the brain) might offer clues on how to better shield the brain’s neurons from attack (from diseases like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s). The actual study of the protective effects of this molecule was carried out using a toxin called epoximicin, (which mimics the degenerative qualities of Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s) IGF-1 has been shown to limit the effects of this toxin and even block some of its effects altogether.  This exciting find is just one of many that are helping to break down barriers so that we might begin to understand exactly how these terrible diseases affect the brain and how we might safeguard ourselves against them. Though it has not been proven conclusively, there is even evidence that IGF-1 could even potentially reverse the effects of Alzheimer’s disease when it’s in its earliest stages.  In a study involving mice it was found that reducing the pathway of IGF-1 seemed to inhibit neurodegeneration.    Amyloid plaques were still noted to build up in the brains of these mice, but the effects (present in conditions like Alzheimer’s) were not nearly as damaging.

What is IGF-1?

IGF-1 stands for insulin growth factor; it is essentially a protein-based hormone that is very similar to insulin.  This particular molecule has also been referred to as “the fountain of youth hormone”.   IGF-1 is also very important in the human growth and development process, playing an extremely significant role during the years of childhood.  Being produced mostly in the liver, IGF-1 is very important to the endocrine system and the life cycle of cellular tissues. In addition to being used to study neurodegenerative disease, IGF-1 is also currently being used to synthesize new treatments for a whole range of illnesses, including cancer and diabetes.  IGF-1 is also used in the various anti-aging studies being carried out throughout the world. Sources: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16842093″>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16842093 http://www.springerlink.com/index/U3480013W16G5264.pdf”>http://www.springerlink.com/index/U3480013W16G5264.pdf http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0014488607003652″>http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S00144886070036 http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/s1568-1637(04)00031-5″>http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/s1568-1637(04)00031-5 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12900169 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12900169</a> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12900169″ Insulin-like growth factor-I mediates neuroprotection in proteasome inhibition-induced cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells, Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, In Press, Uncorrected Proof, Available online 23 April 2011, ISSN 1044-7431, DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2011.04.002. —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- *Note: this article and all articles are for information purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose nor suggest that we provide such treatment other than our advertised services.

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