tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post6979089677843367200..comments2023-06-05T11:51:38.383-04:00Comments on Evolutionary Psychiatry: Depression: A Genetic Faustian Bargain with Infection?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04429177284200775781noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post-10920947370035079202012-03-19T08:33:58.935-04:002012-03-19T08:33:58.935-04:00Excellent post. Just a question - currently under...Excellent post. Just a question - currently under psychiatric care taking Paxil and Wellbutrin for depression, etc. Would a paleo type diet aid in maintaining weight loss? Paxil works incredibly well for me, contra to all the people on the web who seem to think it is evil incarnate. Want to keep taking it, but hate the fact that my weight loss stalls out. Currently working out and have the opportunity to eat a paleo type diet - any thoughts?Athenazehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05511935753580380434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post-37991968243456250142012-03-15T16:08:23.596-04:002012-03-15T16:08:23.596-04:00best post everbest post everboomgoesthedynamitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07147877714687816499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post-90699930310653436282012-03-13T13:09:52.834-04:002012-03-13T13:09:52.834-04:00Hi Emily -
Very, very interesting post.
Clini...Hi Emily - <br /><br />Very, very interesting post. <br /><br /><i>Clinically, it helps us to focus on the immune system and inflammation, and how that may have been altered by modern diet, stress, lack of parasites and pseudocommensals, changed sleep, infectious burden, and physical activity. </i><br /><br />I'd love to hear your thoughts on the possible participation of a developmental programming effect; i.e., the ability for in utero and perinatal exposures modifying the immune phenotype with ramifications for development of cognitive disorders. <br /><br />Up and above the things you listed above, as a people we are getting fatter, more diabetic, and more hypertensive, all conditions that alter the chemical milieu that our infants inhabit in the womb. If the findings of fetal programming in regards to energy usage and metabolic diseases have parallels in the immunological realm (something with growing animal model support), and the immune system is tightly coupled with brain formation and function, perhaps our observations of more children with different behavioral profiles are not solely the responsibility of diagnostic shifting and 'greater awareness'? <br /><br />I love your blog.<br /><br />- pDpassionlessDronehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05398721312156704738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post-10362143931743820172012-03-12T10:53:25.558-04:002012-03-12T10:53:25.558-04:00Very interesting, a lot of food for thought there....Very interesting, a lot of food for thought there.<br /><br />I've been aware that inflammation is a double-edged sword but it never occurred to me that this could apply to something like influenza where healthier immune systems were at greater risk.praguestepchildhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04219985675023163249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post-27456437381775676242012-03-11T11:10:17.639-04:002012-03-11T11:10:17.639-04:00Excellent. I enjoyed this post very much, not only...Excellent. I enjoyed this post very much, not only for the connection between infection and depression but because you clearly explain that the genetics is not due to a single gene and that evolution is not about that every trait is present because it is adaptive, maybe it is a consequence of other adaptation. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post-63635777120793037372012-03-11T08:08:46.765-04:002012-03-11T08:08:46.765-04:00The brain is the biggest loser in the Neolithic Di...The brain is the biggest loser in the Neolithic Diet. It is no coincidence that the diet of our Paleolithic forebears was associated with an explosion in brain size. Every modification of our diet since, has had a negative impact on the brain.<br /><br />To understand the issue we need to forget about the complexities of the brain and focus on 2 general issues- wiring and firing. Wiring is the structure of the brain, size and position of nuclei (clusters of neurons) and the interconnections (synapses) made by axons and dendrites. Firing describes the release of neurotransmitters- where 2 nerves connect, they communicate when an electrical impulse arrives, not by sharing the impulse, but by the first nerve releasing chemicals (neurotransmitters) into the connection (synapse).<br /><br />The modern diet is low in long chain omega 3. (Ultimate Reference Book= The Omega Diet by Simopoulos and Robinson) Bad for wiring as the synapses are made of omega 3. Bad for firing as neurotransmitters are packaged into "synaptic vesicles" using omega 3. This is why fish oil helps depression.<br /><br />Next problem, let us go past folic acid which is a vitamin needed for the methyl cycle, and remember that it is just one of 4 methyl amigos. The 4 amigos are folic acid, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6 and Choline (the forgotten one). We all know that folic acid or B12 deficiency affect cell migration in the embryo (this deficiency may cause spina bifida). Let us also remember that methyl vitamins are needed to produce serotonin, and I think also dopamine and norepinephrine (don't quote me). So stress on this system can reduce production of these neurotransmitters. So stress on this system can reduce production of these neurotransmitters, which is of course central to depression.<br /><br />Wind back to CHOLINE. Now this only became a vitamin in 1999, and is needed to make Acetyl Choline, one of the main neurotransmitters, and the target of many Alzheimers drugs (But no papers on Alzheimers and simple supplements of choline as they are too cheap). Now 70% of the population are deficient in choline. Whoopsy. Back to square one.<br /><br />The deficiency of choline makes it likely that our brains are structurally disorganised due to poor cell migration. It would also contribute to reduced production of neurotransmitters to make matters worse. Increased homocysteine makes it worse again.<br /><br />Agreed that brain inflammation is undesirable and there are many avenues cited in Loren Cordain's paper Cereal Grains: Humanity's Double Edged Sword.<br /><br />And on it goes. Neolithic life is also associated with very high risk of lead poisoning (though Americans born after 1990 might be low in lead, which is why their IQ is higher). And a few other issues such as iodine deficiency (though unusual in USA and Canada but common in Australia and Europe).<br /><br />Regards<br />Ben BalzerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com