Notes from the article:
Cannabinoids take the brain by STORM
Wed, 12/10/2014 -- Holly Brothers PhD
http://www.sciguru.org/newsitem/18095/cannabinoids-take-brain-storm
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OK, maybe that's a little exaggerated, but basically any drug causes a dopamine surge that changes your brain such that the rewards of normal life don't seem good enough anymore. This study actually found that pot smokers have a bigger nucleus accumbens (the brain area associated with pleasure, reward, and reinforcement learning). They say that 19 million Americans have smoked pot recently. That's a lot.

Here's the article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/04/16/even-casually-smoking-marijuana-can-change-your-brain-study-says/
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Pesticides, etc.
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http://www.jarrow.com/product/188/Neuro_Optimizer consider this product via Vitacost



MY QUESTIONS
what are food sources of citicholine? can we get it from eating brains?
there is choline in eggs and liver. is there citicholine?? how much??
how easily does choline convert to citicholine?
can we support the conversion?
can we by pass this supp using diet???

CHOLINE DEFICIENCY is common (not citicholine, mind you!)
suspect if: fatty liver, hemorrhagic kidney necrosis, infertility, growth impairment, bone abnormalities, hypertension, cancer, atherosclerosis, glaucoma, neuro dz: Alzheimer's,. bipolar. LABS: incr ALT, incr HCYS

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Recent research has shown that children who are young relative to the other kids in their school classes are more likely to be diagnosed and treated for ADHD. This is presumably because they are younger, less well socialized and more childish than their classmates. That childishness can be problematic so they are singled out by teachers and sent down that path toward mind bending pharmaceuticals.

Last weekend's seminar supported my impression that ADHD may be a low dopamine state, either due to decreased levels of the neurotransmitter or decreased receptor activity or numbers. It also supported my impression that low dopamine can follow from childhood trauma. We all know how vicious kids can be, so just being the youngest may constitute trauma. We also know that low status primates within a group have lower serotonin levels.

I personally know two adult humans who are beneficially treated for their ADHD with ritalin. Ritalin's mechanism of action is unknown, but it is thought to influence several neurotransmitters, most especially dopamine. Some texts say it is a dopamine and serotonin reuptake inhibitor.

My question is this: How does being a younger, smaller and lower status individual in a group of mammals affect your dopamine function? And what IS the relationship of dopamine function to ADHD?

So far this Apex seminar is awesome. It is answering so many of my questions! Perhaps it is lighting me up because I have been actively studying this material for some time now. Lots is familiar, but then when something new is explained it has a structure to fit into, and builds my body of knowledge....feels so good. I finally have a good idea what my protocol will be for getting people off benzos while also treating their anxiety. I finally understand the mechanisms behind gluten's impact on the brains of some people, and which people are more likely to experience this. It's all fascinating. My energy level is high. I seem to finally be kicking my nasty disease. Thank goodness.

School: it is quickly becoming apparent that I have way too many classes this term. I wish I could put some of them off. I'm going to look into the possibility of splitting this load in half and staying another term. I want to study this material thoroughly, not push through it for a grade and remember nothing! I have genetics, oncology, urology, proctology, neurology, endocrinology and ground rounds in addition to my 3 shifts. Most these subjects would fill an entire term (or many) if done properly. Attempting to cover all of them in one term is insane. Madness. Who needs it.

QotD:
When you love, you wish to do things for. You wish to sacrifice for. You wish to serve.
--Ernest Hemingway