Sunday, September 21, 2014

Low Doses Of Marijuana Compound Could Slow Or Stop Progression Of Alzheimer's

Posted: 08/28/2014 3:09 pm EDT Updated: 08/28/2014 3:59 pm EDT

Marijuana is touted for its medical uses, lessening pain, nausea, and other uncomfortable side effects of conditions like glaucoma, nerve pain, and cancer. Now researchers say, a chemical found in the hotly debated drug could slow or altogether stop the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Findings of a preclinical study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, suggest very small doses of THC, a chemical found in marijuana, slow down the production of thebeta-amyloid protein, which builds up to create plaques in the brain, an accumulation of which is a known hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.
"THC is known to be a potent antioxidant with neuroprotective properties, but this is the first report that the compound directly affects Alzheimer's pathology by decreasing amyloid beta levels, inhibiting its aggregation," lead author Chuanhai Cao, of the University of South Florida's Byrd Alzheimer's Institute said in a release.
Similar studies have also pointed out the effectiveness of THC in fighting the formation of harmful brain plaques. Researchers in a 2006 study conducted by the Scripps Institute found that THC blocked the aggregation of plaques completely, even better than the best known inhibitors, found in existing Alzheimer's drugs.
Researchers called THC "natural and relatively safe," emphasizing that in very low doses, the benefits of the compound outweigh any potential harm.
But don't go light up just yet. Researchers say the findings simply suggest the compound could be explored in future development of Alzheimer's drugs and therapeutic treatments.
"Are we advocating that people use illicit drugs to prevent the disease? No," said co-author Neel Nabar. "It's important to keep in mind that just because a drug may be effective doesn't mean it can be safely used by anyone. However, these findings may lead to the development of related compounds that are safe, legal, and useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease."

Thursday, September 11, 2014

My rabbit hole has not been a happy, contented place lately. I usually am a fairly positive person that sees the bright side of whatever the Queen of Hearts can throw at me. I have become a fair and objective human that tries not to hurt anyone in the process of living my life or doing my job. I have been grateful and appreciative to God for what I have and understand that what I want is not always what I need. I know to be careful for what I wish for because sometimes you get it and it's not what you expected.
Lately, I have had a hard time seeing what I have and instead see what I don't have. This makes it hard to be grateful for anything. I have not been feeling well physically and I know it is time for my regular tests to see that my physical issues are balanced. I have been eating garbage that I don't usually eat and I am sure my sugar is out of whack. I am stressed and crave those chocolate creme filled cupcakes all the time. All of this has got me thinking that it's time I get off my ass and get myself back on track or I will wallow in self pity and the Cheshire cat won't even be able to make me smile. God, I've become depressing!! So when I am done here I will put yoga on the tv and hope and work for the best.
I posted I will never forget 9/11 last night before going to bed. Naturally, today there are a lot of things going around about it. I watched David Letterman's and Jon Stewart's poignant monologs on their first show after that horrid day. I watched SNL's first night back with Mayor Giuliani who guided the city with such courage and wisdom. I realized something about myself. I will pick my self up by the bootstraps and get it together. One of the reasons I will do that is because I am a New Yorker. I was born in The Bronx. Not Bronx, NY, but The Bronx, because there is only one and it is in New York and there is only one of those too. I have seen people come together as one and my heart is there. Where I live now is far away from there geographically, but when bad things happen to people around here, people band together f or the common good and help each other. Why? Because they are Americans. We will not let anyone get us down. We will triumph because we are strong. We have big hearts to help others not as fortunate as us. And we will be the best we can be when life gets tough.
Maybe I have had it too easy lately, ( yeah, right!) and have lost appreciation for what I have. I don't know but It will get better and in my heart I know that. So let the Tea Party (the Mad Hatter's, not a political thing) begin. Life goes on and I am here to stay.

Thanks to Erika Keller for sending me "We are all Mad Here"
#weareallmadhere #neverforget #yoga #optimistic

Monday, September 8, 2014

Super moon 2014

#supermoon2014 #supermoon #moonshot #moonbeams

Sunday, September 7, 2014

I have always loved to dance. I have always loved to sing. Now you have to realize that for my whole adult life people, friends and family have told me that I can't sing. That I have a terrible voice and I can sound like a cat that got it's tail stepped on or even a cat in heat. Realize also, that none of that has ever stopped me from singing. It makes me happy and I feel if I am happy, I have an obligation to spread my joy around. So sometimes I sing loud.

This is my brother and myself singing Christmas songs when we were very little in 1959, in our Christmas pj's. A star is born. Or at least inspired. I hope I never stop singing, because although people make fun of me and my voice, it's still gets a laugh or a smile and really does brighten some peoples day.
Now on to dancing. When I was younger some dances had moves and some dances were more free form dancing. That is my style if I have one. Music makes me move and it touches my soul. So if I sit, it makes me sway and tap my feet and if I can be more involved I get out there and dance. As I grew older I still danced. Afterall, it makes me happy also. As I kept getting older, some people started to react to my dancing in a humorous way. I didn't understand that, I dance like everyone else, don't I? As the years go by I still got reactions, mostly from my in laws, who have danced since they were born and know all the country moves and all the 50's moves and they did them well. So who am I to say they are wrong, they are obviously good dancers and know all the traditional dances. Well, tonight I was watching something on 60's music. It was a good show with clips from all the big names of the 60's that appeared on Ed Sullivan. For you young ones, that is a "variety" show and singers were a big part of it. When I saw The 5th Dimension singing Aquarius and they were all dancing their hearts out, it hit me. I STILL dance like that! Maybe that is why some people think me humorous on the floor. I still have the 60's moves and sways and steps. Duh, it is 2014, already! Get with the times. No wonder my sister in law shakes her head and smiles.
Well, I do still like to dance. I will not stop dancing, although it takes longer to recuperate from a long night of dancing. Dancing, like singing, brings joy.

Here I am trying to learn "a move." And here I am (below) enjoying a dance with my newly acquired grandson. You can't make a wrong move when you are dancing with a child.

I would add some more photos of dancing, but I am afraid it would get an R or an X rating if blogs have a rating system.

In conclusion; don't let anyone tell you that you can't sing well or you dance funny. Have fun, enjoy each note and move and let the music move your soul.

#dancing, #singing, #happy #music, #funtimes

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Humans of New York's photo.

1 min ·

that is so awesome that you can bring such a smile and probably piece of mind to another human being that has seen such pain and death. And we in America think we have it hard. We live such cumbersome lives, we don't see the big picture. We mourn our dead, but their dead have died such untimely, horrid deaths the pain is not the same. I will say it again, this website should be required viewing in schools. Thank you Brandon and his aides.

Humans of New York

This woman spoke about how she had been visiting her sister in Juba when the fighting broke out, and had been unable to return home. To make matters worse, she had left her older children behind in her village, because she thought it would just be a short trip. She had not seen them in nearly a year. As I was interviewing her, she kept a very resigned, unsmiling, faraway look on her face, which can be seen in the previous post. But when we finished, my translator asked her what village she was from. When she told him, he pulled out his phone. "I've just been to your hometown on an aid mission," he said, "I can show you photos." As he scrolled through photos of her village, her expression suddenly changed.

(Tongping Internally Displaced Persons Site, Juba, South Sudan)

Monday, September 1, 2014

Humans of New York

10 hours ago

He told me he wanted to be a "soccer star," but wouldn't say much else, probably because his teammates were hovering around him. But later on, when I asked the coach who the strongest player was, he pointed out this boy. "We made him captain," the coach explained, "Because he takes it the most seriously. If we lose, he won't talk for the rest of the day. He always shows up early to practice. If we're not around, he organizes the team and has them ready when we arrive. And if anyone loses their temper during the game, he'll reprimand them and tell them to just focus on winning."

(Juba, South Sudan)