Mad World

Thought I would add, in case anyone is not familiar with Lorenzo's Oil.

Medical response

Though the film seemed to accurately portray the events related to the boy's condition and his parents' efforts during the time period covered by the film, it was criticized for painting a picture of a miracle cure. Subsequent research with Lorenzo's oil has not clearly proven its long-term effectiveness in treating ALD after its onset, but the oil is highly effective if provided before onset. The actual subject of the film, Lorenzo Odone, died of pneumonia in May 2008 at the age of 30, having lived two decades longer than originally predicted by doctors.
[link to en.wikipedia.org (secure)]


[link to www.youtube.com (secure)]

Lorenzo’s Oil is a combination of a 4:1 mix of oleic acid and erucic acid, extracted from rapeseed oil and olive oil designed to normalize the accumulation of the very long chain fatty acids in the brain thereby halting the progression of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD).


How it Works

The oil, if started early in boys with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) showing no symptoms, is now known to have some benefit in preventing the childhood cerebral form of adrenoleukodystrophy. Researchers are still trying to understand the complex relationships among fats in the body, and how Lorenzo’s oil could be further modified to be more effective. The oil is designed to normalize the accumulation of the very long chain fatty acids in the brain that thereby halting the progression of ALD.

Lorenzo’s Oil is specific to ALD, does not repair myelin, and does not have any known effect on other demyelinating disorders, such as Multiple Sclerosis. In ALD pre-symptomatic boys, however, Lorenzo’s Oil can (but not always) slow down the onset of the disease by stopping the body from producing the very long chain fatty acids, whose buildup leads to demyelination.
[link to myelin.org]

I guess I just always assumed it was in the brain. I'm more thinking in regard to demyelination. Loss of sheath to the motor cortex? Like severing a spinal cord. Maybe not all the way, but partially.

I was just reading about that. It occurs in the central nervous system and nerve fibers.

Right now the reigning theory in regard to the cause of MS, seems to be a person's distance from the Equator. I.E. Sunlight. I.E. Vitamin D.



What Causes MS?

In multiple sclerosis, damage to the myelin in the central nervous system (CNS) — and to the nerve fibers themselves — interferes with the transmission of nerve signals between the brain and spinal cord and other parts of the body.


Environmental Factors

Studies have shown that people born in an area with a high risk of MS who then move — or migrate — to an area with a lower risk before the age of 15 assume the risk of their new area. Such data suggest that exposure to some environmental agent before puberty may predispose a person to develop MS later on.

Growing evidence suggests that vitamin D plays an important role. People who live closer to the equator are exposed to greater amounts of sunlight year-round. As a result, they tend to have higher levels of naturally-produced vitamin D, which is thought to support the immune function and may help protect against immune-mediated diseases like MS. The possible relationship between MS and sunlight exposure is currently being looked at in a Society-funded epidemiological study in Australia.

[link to www.nationalmssociety.org]

Low risk=closer to Equator=more Sunlight=vitamin D


So here is a thought. ALD is the accumulation of long chain fatty acids that build up, and destroy the myelin.

Long chain fatty acids come from foods like cheese. Which most often comes from cows. Vitamin D is rather quickly available in milk, that many Caucasian children over the decades in America drink on the regular, unless an allergy is detected, starting quite young. At the preschool I worked at all the toddlers were served Whole Milk until the were 3.5 y/o.

As children grow, the milk may substitute the lack of sunlight being farther from the Equator. And as kids reach closer and closer to puberty, milk drinking becomes less and less common, leading to deficiency in vitamin D, being location is same(low sunlight), an no longer being made up for, with milk.

It would explain why those who change locations suddenly take on the low risk aspect.

In Lorenzo's Oil it starts with him as a boy, I think in Africa. Lots of Sun. Shirt off playing with the other boys. Flying a kite.

Then he moves to America with his parents, which shows snow during the Winter, indicating a much less sunny climate.

idk but they do fortify milk with vitamin d, combines with sun exposure could create a toxic vitamin d cocktail for susceptible genetic victims! lol

My moms is scorpio 62 of that year on paper.

Interestingly, breast milk does not contain enough vitamin d, to help aid in healthy bone development in infants. Nursing mothers are urged to supplement, if the child is solely breastfed (formula contains vitamin d).

That is interesting.

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Long-chain polyunsaturated fats are chains of carbon atoms with multiple double bonds. DHA and arachidonic acid -- ARA -- are the most abundant long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the brain. Infants can obtain DHA and ARA through breast milk or supplemented formula, while adults and children get them primarily from seafood and eggs.
[link to www.livestrong.com]

so it seems that ms could be associated with white brain matter in respects to sheathing issues. the slow deteriorating nature of ms may be an indication that outside conditions play an important role over time.

if ms is genetically predisposed, and influenced by a lifetime of environmental factors, it could explain late onset and a higher degree of onset by women than by men after a certain age, due to the higher volume of white matter in women's brains. maybe! lol

I wonder if the incidence rates of MS went up after milk, butter and eggs...were damned by 'modern science' in the late 70's early 80's.


Butter was replaced by margarine in many homes. Soda and sugary juices, replaced milk.

And eggs were replaced by cereal and pop tarts.

what is clear is that men's brains do work differently, not better but different! lol

Yes, and margarine contains trans fatty acids, which are known to cause plaque buildup and narrowing blood vessels. They are also known to harm brain function.

Coward.

So...where am I stuck?

I am stuck at, 'MS incidence worldwide and its correlation to distance from the Equator and prevalence of milk ingestion by said culture(s)'.

Yes.

Global Distribution of MS

[link to multiplesclerosis.net (secure)]


Equator

[link to upload.wikimedia.org (secure)]


Global Milk Consumption

[link to www.languagesoftheworld.info]


Fluid Milk consumption US comparison chart 1977-1978 2005-2006
[link to www.ars.usda.gov]

seer you think its vitamin deficiency, i think it is vitamin d toxicity! lol

They put the wrong d in milk

the finns reportedly have a very bleak outlook on life, they have an extremely high suicide rate.

seer, we had fun, but cut it loose! and don't go all anxiety ridden or depressive about it! you'll give yourself a tumor! lol

OK? ok! lol