“The terms Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma can be easily confused. Although they’re both named after the scientist who discovered them, they are different diseases that require different treatments to ensure the best results for patients.

Here, lymphoma specialist Paolo Strati, M.D., explains the differences between the two types of lymphoma and shares what newly diagnosed patients should know when seeking treatment.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is more common than Hodgkin lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is more common than Hodgkin lymphoma, and both types are slightly more common in men. Although both diseases can be diagnosed at any age, Hodgkin lymphoma is most common in young adults ages 15 to 40 and older adults over age 55. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is typically diagnosed in adults over age 60.

Some viruses may make you more likely to get both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. These include: Epstein-Barr virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human T-cell lymphocytotropic virus. If you have had any of these viruses, talk with your doctor about whether you might be at increased risk for lymphoma.”

Dr. Anderson’s Cancer Center (https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/hodgkin-vs–non-hodgkin-lymphoma–whats-the-difference.h00-159457689.html)

A particular cell known as the Reed-Sternberg cell is found in the biopsies. This cell is not usually found in other lymphomas, therefore they are called non Hodgkins lymphoma. This may not seem a very big difference, but it is important because the treatment for Hodgkins and non Hodgkins lymphomas can be very different.

Although the diseases may sound similar, there is a lot of difference between Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are malignancies of a family of white blood cells known as lymphocytes, which help the body fight off infections and other diseases.

Both Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are lymphomas — a type of cancer that begins in a subset of white blood cells and these are called lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are an integral part of your immune system, which protects you from germs.

The main difference between Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is in the specific lymphocyte each involves but also it includes:

Sources: National Cancer Institute and Lymphoma Research Foundation 2016

Hodgkin lymphoma is marked by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells, which are mature B cells that have become malignant, are unusually large, and carry more than one nucleus. The first sign of the disease is often the appearance of enlarged lymph nodes. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, by contrast, can be derived from B cells or T cells and can arise in the lymph nodes as well as other organs. (B cells and T cells play different roles in the body’s immune response to disease.)

The the Mayo Clinic it states both diseases are relatively rare, but non-Hodgkin lymphoma is more common in the United States, with more than 70,000 new cases diagnosed each year, compared to about 8,000 for Hodgkin lymphoma. The median age of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma is 60, but it occurs in all age groups. Hodgkin lymphoma most often occurs in people ages 15 to 24 and in people over 60. There are more than 60 distinct types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, whereas Hodgkin lymphoma is a more homogeneous disease.

The two forms of lymphoma are marked by a painless swelling of the lymph nodes. Hodgkin lymphomas are more likely to arise in the upper portion of the body (the neck, underarms, or chest). Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can arise in lymph nodes throughout the body, but can also arise in normal organs. Patients with either type can have symptoms such as weight loss, fevers, and night sweats.

The diseases often follow different courses of progression. Hodgkin lymphoma tends to progress in an orderly fashion, moving from one group of lymph nodes to the next, and is often diagnosed before it reaches an advanced stage. Most patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma are diagnosed at a more advanced stage.

Treatments for lymphoma vary depending on the type of disease, its aggressiveness, and location, along with the age and general health of the patient. As a general rule, however, Hodgkin lymphoma is considered one of the most treatable cancers, with more than 90 percent of patients surviving more than five years. Survival rates for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma tend to be lower, but for certain types of the disease, the survival rates are similar to those of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma.

A doctor can tell the difference between Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma by examining the cancer cells under a microscope. If in examining the cells, the doctor detects the presence of a specific type of abnormal cell called a Reed-Sternberg cell, the lymphoma is classified as Hodgkin’s. If the Reed-Sternberg cell is not present, the lymphoma is classified as non-Hodgkin’s.

Many subtypes of lymphoma exist, and your doctor will use laboratory tests to examine a sample of your lymphoma cells to determine your specific subtype. Expect to wait a few days to receive results from these specialized tests.

Your type of lymphoma helps your doctor determine your prognosis and your treatment options. The types of lymphoma have very different disease courses and treatment choices, so an accurate diagnosis is an integral part of getting the care you need.

How both Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s Disease are diagnosed:

• Physical exam. Your doctor checks for swollen lymph nodes, including in your neck, underarm and groin, as well as for a swollen spleen or liver.
• Blood and urine tests. Blood and urine tests may help rule out an infection or other disease.  A sample of your blood is examined in a lab to see if anything in your blood indicates the possibility of cancer (in both of these diseases particularly the WBCs).
• Imaging tests. Your doctor may recommend imaging tests to look for tumors in your body. Tests may include X-ray, CT, MRI and positron emission tomography (PET).
• Lymph node test. Your doctor may recommend a lymph node biopsy procedure to remove all or part of a lymph node for laboratory testing. Analyzing lymph node tissue in a lab may reveal whether you have non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and, if so, which type.  Your doctor may recommend a lymph node biopsy procedure to remove a lymph node for laboratory testing. He or she will diagnose classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma if abnormal cells called Reed-Sternberg cells are found within the lymph node.
• Bone marrow test. A bone marrow biopsy and aspiration procedure involves inserting a needle into your hipbone to remove a sample of bone marrow. The sample is analyzed to look for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cells to look for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cells or to look for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cells.  This test is done on numerous types of cancer patients in helping to diagnose the cancer they have.

“Blood cancer is a group of more than 100 cancers that most often begin in the bone marrow and can affect blood cells, lymph nodes, and other parts of the lymphatic system. Blood cancers occur when abnormal blood cells crowd out normal cells, interfering with the ability of normal blood cells to fight infection and reproduce.

Many people discount their symptoms. Exhaustion or random aches and pains are often blamed on stress or age. Night sweats and recurring fevers sometimes get written off as a virus. Lots of itching… must be an allergy. Or a broken bone is usually just seen as just an accident.

They seem like innocent symptoms that can be associated with other common ailments, but any of them could point to blood cancer.

Many people aren’t familiar with blood cancer. In fact, some patients who have been diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, or myeloproliferative neoplasms, may not realize they have a form of blood cancer.”

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (https://www.lls.org/blog/defining-and-redefining-blood-cancer-diagnosis)

Today’s topics will be covering on leukemia and lymphoma than what is the difference between them actually.  It will also include the factors proning you to these cancers, the tests that the M.D. might do and the different treatments for all 3 cancers Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma (discussed in Part II).

Leukemia

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society states leukemia begins in a cell in the bone marrow and in the blood.  Remember the bone marrow creates our cells releasing them into the blood stream.   The cell undergoes a change and becomes a type of leukemia cell. Once the marrow cell undergoes a leukemic change, the leukemia cells may grow and survive better than normal cells. Over time, the leukemia cells crowd out or suppress the development of normal cells. The rate at which leukemia progresses and how the cells replace the normal blood and marrow cells are different with each type of leukemia.

After diagnosis and treatment, many people with leukemia live many good, quality years.

Leukemia is a cancer of the early blood-forming cells, meaning just coming formed from the bone marrow. Most often, leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells, but some leukemia (s) start in other blood cell types or effect the count of other cells in our bloodstream. Leukemia is often described as being either acute (fast growing) or chronic (slow growing). Different types of leukemia have different treatment options and outlooks.

The National Cancer Institute also says leukemia is a broad term for cancers of the blood cells. The type of leukemia depends on the type of blood cell that becomes cancer and whether it grows quickly or slowly. Leukemia occurs most often in adults older than 55, but it is also the most common cancer in children younger than 15.

Leukemia may affect red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

In a healthy child, the bone marrow makes blood stem cells (immature cells) that become mature blood cells over time. A blood stem cell may become a myeloid stem cell or a lymphoid stem cell.

A myeloid stem cell becomes one of three types of mature blood cells:

A lymphoid stem cell becomes a lymphoblast cell and then one of three types of lymphocytes (white blood cells):

The major types of leukemia are:

• Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). This is the most common type of leukemia in young children. ALL can also occur in adults.
• Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). AML is a common type of leukemia. It occurs in children and adults. AML is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults.
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). With CLL, the most common chronic adult leukemia, you may feel well for years without needing treatment.
• Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). This type of leukemia mainly affects adults. A person with CML may have few or no symptoms for months or years before entering a phase in which the leukemia cells grow more quickly.
• Other types. Other, rarer types of leukemia exist, including hairy cell leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative disorders.

Statistics by the American Cancer Society:  Leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children and teens, accounting for 1 out of 3 cancers.   Most childhood leukemias are ALL Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia.  Most of the remaining cases for childhood are AML Acute Myeloid Leukemia.  Chronic Leukemia is rare in children.   However, because other types of leukemia become more common with age, most leukemia is found in among adults.

Decades of research have led to vastly improved outcomes for children diagnosed with ALL.

Lymphoma

Lymphoma starts in the immune system and affects the lymph nodes and lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell. There are two main types of lymphocyte, B cells and T cells.  Whereas Leukemia starts in the bone marrow affecting the white blood cells.  Doctors categorize leukemia based on which type of white blood— lymphocytes or myeloid cells — and whether the illness is developing very quickly (acute disease) or slowly over time (chronic disease).

Cancer can affect any part of the body, including the blood. Leukemia and lymphoma are both forms of blood cancer. The main difference is that leukemia affects the blood and bone marrow, while lymphomas tend to affect the lymph nodes.  BUT remember leukemia can go into the lymph nodes since its in the blood stream the cancer cells and can effect the lymph nodes.  BOTH effect white blood cells. Myeloma is similar in that it effects plasma a white blood cell.

The origin of where Myeloma, Leukemia or Lymphoma.  Lets look at all 3 All start in the Bone Marrow but the effect is similar in general but the type with the stage of cancer the individual has is a major factor of ending results.

All 3 types of cancers this article in Part I to Part II are bad cancer cells that derive in all in the bone marrow and they all effect some type of White Blood Cell (WBC).  All White Blood Cells are to fight infection and prevent it.  

Myeloma effects the normal plasma cells originating in the bone marrow and are an important part of the immune system.  Lymphocytes (lymph cells) are one of the main types of white blood cells in the immune system and include T cells and B cells. Lymphocytes are in many areas of the body, such as lymph nodes, the bone marrow, the intestines, and the bloodstream.  These are the cells involved in this cancer being the problem.

Lymphoma is cancer that begins in infection-fighting cells of the immune system, called lymphocytes. Leukocytes are WBCs also that are affected in this cancer like Myeloma.  In Lymphoma the leukocytes become an abnormal amount (of WBCs) in the body.  Lymphocytes are a form of small leukocyte (white blood cell) with a single round nucleus (remember this is the brain for the cell), occurring especially in the lymphatic system.  Abnormal lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that fights infection, become lymphoma cells, which multiply and collect in your lymph nodes. Over time, these cancerous cells impair your immune system. Lymphomas are divided into two categories: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (this is another topic in itself).  These cells are in the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, bone marrow, and other parts of the body.

Leukemia is a cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system.  In Leukemia many of the white blood cells produced in the bone marrow do not mature normally. These abnormal cells, called leukemic cells, are unable to fight infection the way healthy white cells can. As they grow in number, the leukemic cells also interfere with the production of other blood cells. Obviously the WBCs start in the bone marrow just like every cell does.

So these 3 cancers are similar in many ways with the ending results but where they effect initially or their primary area effected might be slightly different, as discussed already in this topic. 

Factors that may increase your risk of developing some types of any 3 cancers include:

• Previous cancer treatment. People who’ve had certain types of chemotherapy and radiation therapy for other cancers have an increased risk of developing certain types of leukemia.
• Genetic disorders. Genetic abnormalities seem to play a role in the development of leukemia. Certain genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome, are associated with an increased risk of leukemia.
• Exposure to certain chemicals. Exposure to certain chemicals, such as benzene — which is found in gasoline and is used by the chemical industry — is linked to an increased risk of some kinds of leukemia.
• Smoking. Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of acute myelogenous leukemia.
• Family history of leukemia. If members of your family have been diagnosed with leukemia, your risk of the disease may be increased.

However, most people with known risk factors don’t get leukemia. And many people with leukemia have none of these risk factors.

Regarding Myeloma, Leukemia or Lymphoma:

Doctors may find in a routine blood test, before symptoms begin. If this happens, or if you have signs or symptoms that suggest any 3 of the cancers, you may undergo the following diagnostic exams:

• Physical exam. Your doctor will look for physical signs of Myeloma or Leukemia or Lymphoma, such as pale skin from anemia, swelling of your lymph nodes, and enlargement of your liver and spleen.
• Blood tests. By looking at a sample of your blood, your doctor can determine if you have abnormal levels of red or white blood cells or platelets — which may suggest leukemia.
• Bone marrow test. Your doctor may recommend a procedure to remove a sample of bone marrow from your hipbone. The bone marrow is removed using a long, thin needle. The sample is sent to a laboratory to look for leukemia cells. Specialized tests of your cancer cells that may reveal certain characteristics that are used to determine your treatment options.

Treatment

Treatment for your Myeloma, Leukemia or Lymphoma depends on many factors. Your doctor determines your treatment options based on your age and overall health, the type of cancer of the 3 you have, and whether it has spread to other parts of your body, including the central nervous system.

Common treatments used to fight these 3 blood cancers include:

• Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is the major form of treatment for all 3. This drug treatment uses chemicals to kill cancer cells.Depending on the type of cancer you have, you may receive a single drug or a combination of drugs. These drugs may come in a pill form, or they may be injected directly into a vein.
• Biological therapy. Biological therapy works by using treatments that help your immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.
• Targeted therapy. Targeted therapy uses drugs that attack specific vulnerabilities within your cancer cells.For example, the drug imatinib (Gleevec) stops the action of a protein within the leukemia cells of people with chronic myelogenous leukemia. This can help control the disease.
• Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses X-rays or other high-energy beams to damage cancer cells and stop their growth. During radiation therapy, you lie on a table while a large machine moves around you, directing the radiation to precise points on your body.You may receive radiation in one specific area of your body where there is a collection of cancer cells, or you may receive radiation over your whole body. Radiation therapy may be used to prepare for a stem cell transplant.
• Stem cell transplant. A stem cell transplant is a procedure to replace your diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow.Before a stem cell transplant, you receive high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy to destroy your diseased bone marrow. Then you receive an infusion of blood-forming stem cells that help to rebuild your bone marrow.You may receive stem cells from a donor, or in some cases you may be able to use your own stem cells. A stem cell transplant is very similar to a bone marrow transplant.

“Blood Cancer Awareness Month is held every September to raise the profile of blood cancer, which doesn’t get the attention of other cancers. Every year, our blood cancer community comes together to raise awareness.  There are many types of blood cancer. Each have different symptoms, treatments and prognoses.”

Blood Cancer UK (https://bloodcancer.org.uk/about-us/our-campaigns/blood-cancer-awareness-month/)

The six most common cancers—breast, lung, prostate, colorectal, melanoma and bladder—are solid cancers that account for almost 1 million new cases a year.  In 2023, roughly 2.0 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States. An estimated 297,790 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer, which makes it the most common cancer diagnosis. Prostate cancer is the leading cancer diagnosis among men and the second most common diagnosis overall with 288,300 expected cases. Lung and bronchus cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosis with an estimated 238,340 new cases.

Cancers that are not considered solid cancers are often lumped together in the category of blood cancers being:

Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma.

What purpose do these different cells we in the human body have including the bone marrow and lymph fluids?

Blood and lymph are the two most important body fluids in the human body. Blood comprises plasma, white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.

Lymph is a colorless fluid that circulates inside the lymphatic vessels.

The body fluids and circulation of these body fluids are described below in complete detail.

• Blood: Blood regulate the flow of oxygen and carbon dioxide in and out of the body-through red blood cells RBC’s, contains immune cells that fight infection-through the white blood cells WBC’s, and Platelets for clotting.  The blood delivers nutrients and hormones.
• Bone marrow: Red bone marrow produces new blood cells and platelets, which help regulate clotting. Yellow bone marrow produces and stores fats that help build bone and cartilage.
• Lymph: Lymph fluids carry immune cells throughout the body, deliver bacteria to lymph nodes to be filtered out of the circulatory system, and return excess proteins to the blood supply.

The three main types of blood cancers are:

Multiple myeloma: This cancer develops in the bone marrow and affects plasma cells, which produce antibodies that attack infections and diseases. When plasma cells become cancerous, they may accumulate in the marrow and damage or weaken bone and cause pain. Cancerous plasma cells also produce faulty antibodies, which make it hard for the body to fight infections. multiple myeloma may be treated with targeted therapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and/or a stem cell transplant.

Leukemia: This cancer of the blood cells usually starts in bone marrow and travels through the bloodstream. In leukemia, the bone marrow produces mutated cells and spreads them into the blood, where they grow and crowd out healthy blood cells. Leukemia comes in many forms, but the key diagnosis is determined by whether the disease is acute or chronic. Acute leukemias are fast-growing and may require aggressive treatments.

Lymphomas: These diseases affect the cells in the lymphatic system. In lymphomas, immune cells called lymphocytes grow out of control and collect in lymph nodes, the spleen, in other lymph tissues or in neighboring organs. There are dozens of types of lymphoma, but the disease is largely categorized as Hodgkin lymphoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Immunotherapy may be used to treat some cases of Hodgkin lymphoma. Other lymphoma treatments include chemotherapy and surgery to remove affected lymph nodes.

“You can help reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s by making healthy lifestyle choices. You can reduce your risk by:

• Prevent and manage high blood pressure. Tens of millions of American adults have high blood pressure, and many do not have it under control.
• Manage blood sugar. Learn how to manage your blood sugar if you have diabetes.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Healthy eating and regular physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight.
• Be physically active. Physical activity can improve thinking, reduce risk of depression and anxiety, and help you sleep better.”

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/reducing-risk-of-alzheimers-disease/index.htm)

More Tips for Avoiding Alzheimer’s Disease:

The beauty of following a healthy diet is that it helps treat and prevent all chronic degenerative diseases, from the common ones like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity and Alzheimer’s to the ones you have never heard of or can’t even pronounce.

The first step is to eat healthy, maintaining exercise balanced with rest and practice healthy habits in addressing Alzheimer’s disease, which is currently at epidemic proportions, with 5.4 million Americans – including one in eight people aged 65 and over – living with the disease.By 2050, this is expected to jump to 16 million, and in the next 20 years it is projected that Alzheimer’s will affect one in four Americans. People we need to live healthier if not to help ourselves our future young ones.

In spite of how common memory loss is among Westerners, it is NOT a “normal” part of aging. While even mild “senior moments” may be caused by the same brain lesions associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, these cognitive changes are by no means inevitable! People who experience very little decline in their cognitive function up until their deaths have been found (post-mortem) to be free of brain lesions, showing that it’s entirely possible to prevent the damage from occurring in the first place and one of the best ways to do this is by leading a healthy lifestyle.

• Fructose. As mentioned, most everyone will benefit from keeping their total fructose consumed to below 25 grams per day.

• Improve Magnesium Levels. There is some exciting preliminary research strongly suggesting a decrease in Alzheimer symptoms with increased levels of magnesium in the brain. Unfortunately most magnesium supplements do not pass the blood brain levels, but a new one, magnesium threonate, appears to and holds some promise for the future for treating this condition.

• Optimize your vitamin D levels with safe sun exposure. Strong links between low levels of vitamin D in Alzheimer’s patients and poor outcomes on cognitive tests have been revealed. Researchers believe that optimal vitamin D levels may enhance the amount of important chemicals in your brain and protect brain cells by increasing the effectiveness of the glial cells in nursing damaged neurons back to health.

• Vitamin D may also exert some of its beneficial effects on Alzheimer’s through its anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. Sufficient vitamin D is imperative for proper functioning of your immune system to combat inflammation that is also associated with Alzheimer’s.

• Vitamin B12: According to a small Finnish study recently published in the journal Neurology, people who consume foods rich in B12 may reduce their risk of Alzheimer’s in their later years. For each unit increase in the marker of vitamin B12 (holotranscobalamin) the risk of developing Alzheimer’s was reduced by 2 percent. Very high doses of B vitamins have also been found to treat Alzheimer’s disease and reduce memory loss.

• Eat a nutritious diet, rich in folate. Vegetables, without question, are your best form of folate, and we should all eat plenty of fresh raw veggies every day.

• High-quality animal-based omega-3 fats, such as krill oil. (I recommend avoiding most fish because, although fish is naturally high in omega-3, most fish are now severely contaminated with mercury.) High intake of the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA help by preventing cell damage caused by Alzheimer’s disease, thereby slowing down its progression, and lowering your risk of developing the disorder.

• Avoid and remove mercury from your body. Dental amalgam fillings, which are 50% mercury by weight, are one of the major sources of heavy metal toxicity, however you should be healthy prior to having them removed.

• Avoid aluminum, such as antiperspirants, non-stick cookware, vaccine adjuvants, etc.

• Exercise regularly. It’s been suggested that exercise can trigger a change in the way the amyloid precursor protein is metabolized,¹⁰ thus, slowing down the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s. Exercise also increases levels of the protein PGC-1alpha. Research has also shown that people with Alzheimer’s have less PGC-1alpha in their brains¹¹ and cells that contain more of the protein produce less of the toxic amyloid protein associated with Alzheimer’s. I would strongly recommend reviewing the Peak Fitness Technique for my specific recommendations.

• Avoid flu vaccinations as most contain both mercury and aluminum, well-known neurotoxic and immunotoxic agents.

• Eat plenty of blueberries. Wild blueberries, which have high anthocyanin and antioxidant content, are known to guard against Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases.

• Challenge your mind daily. Mental stimulation, especially learning something new, such as learning to play an instrument or a new language, is associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer’s. Researchers suspect that mental challenge helps to build up your brain, making it less susceptible to the lesions associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

• Avoid anticholinergic and statin drugs. Drugs that block acetylcholine, a nervous system neurotransmitter, have been shown to increase your risk of dementia. These drugs include certain nighttime pain relievers, antihistamines, sleep aids, certain antidepressants, medications to control incontinence, and certain narcotic pain relievers.

• Statin drugs are particularly problematic because they suppress the synthesis of cholesterol, deplete your brain of coenzyme Q10 and neurotransmitter precursors, and prevent adequate delivery of essential fatty acids and fat-soluble antioxidants to your brain by inhibiting the production of the indispensable carrier biomolecule known as low-density lipoprotein.

** Before making any changes check with your doctor or endocrinologist first.**

Alzheimer’s Disease considered by some as Diabetes 3=Brain Diabetes.

At one time Alzheimer’s disease was a disease considered with unknown etiology (or cause). Today it is considered different in the eyes of many in the medical profession.  WELCOA =Wellness Council of America blog site considers this Month, June, Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month!  It is national month in November as well.

While we know that certain diseases, like type 2 diabetes, are definitively connected to the foods you eat, Alzheimer’s is generally thought to strike without warning or reason.

That is, until recently.

Now, a growing body of research suggests there may be a powerful connection between the foods you eat and your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, via similar pathways that cause type 2 diabetes. Some have even re-named Alzheimer’s as “type 3 diabetes.””

Can You Eat Your Way to Alzheimer’s?

In a recent animal study, researchers from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island were able to induce many of the characteristic brain changes seen with Alzheimer’s disease (disorientation, confusion, inability to learn and remember) by interfering with insulin signaling in their brains.

Know that faulty insulin (and leptin, another hormone) signaling is an underlying cause for insulin resistance, which, of course, typically leads to type 2 diabetes. However, while insulin is usually associated with its role in keeping your blood sugar levels in a healthy range, it also plays a role in brain signaling. When researchers disrupted the proper signaling of insulin in the brain, it resulted in dementia.

What does this have to do with your diet? Let us go back to one of my articles on diabetes and how it impacts your diet. It states “The foods we eat that contain starches, carbohydrates, calories are made up of sugar. When food reaches our stomach in time digestion starts to take place where these foods are broken down in the stomach into individual or complex sugar molecules ( glucose being one of the most common and important ones). The glucose then passes from our stomach into our bloodstream when it reaches the liver 60 to 80 % of the glucose gets stored in that organ turning glucose into inactive glucose that’s converted to glycogen. The purpose for glycogen is when our glucose is low and our body needing energy we have this extra stored sugar, glycogen, to rely on. This is done by the liver which allows the sugar to be stored and released back into the bloodstream if we need it=energy, since nothing is in our stomach at that time, in that case scenario). When glucose=an active sugar, it is our energy for our cells and tissues and is a sugar ready to be utilized by the body where it is needed, by many organs. Think of a car for one moment, and what makes it run? That would be gas/fuel for it to function. The same principle with glucose in your bloodstream=fuel for the human body so we can function, for without it we wouldn’t survive. That is the problem with a person that has diabetes. They eat, they break the food down, the glucose gets in the blood but the glucose fuel can’t be used due to lack of or NO insulin at all. Insulin allows glucose to pass into our cells and tissues to be used as energy/fuel for the body parts to work. Glucose is used as the principle source of energy (It is used by the brain for energy, the muscles for both energy and some storage, liver for more glucose storage=that is where glucose is converted to glycogen, and even stored in fat tissue using it for triglyceride production). Glucose does get sent to other organs for more storage, as well. Insulin plays that vital role in allowing glucose to be distributed throughout the body. Without insulin the glucose has nowhere to go.”

So how does this impact your brain thinking? “This new focus on the Alzheimer’s/Diabetes/Insulin connection follows a growing recognition of insulin’s role in the brain. Until recently, the hormone was typecast as a regulator of blood sugar, giving the cue for muscles, liver and fat cells to extract sugar from the blood and either use it for energy or store it as fat. We now know that it is also a master multitasker: it helps neurons, particularly in the hippocampus and frontal lobe, take up glucose for energy, and it also regulates neurotransmitters, like acetylcholine, which are crucial for memory and learning.” What is effected with Alzheimer’s disease? Your memory and learning, So your diet plays a big role in Alzheimer’s disease.”                                                                                        

Over-consumption of sugars and grains is what ultimately causes your body to be incapable of “hearing” the proper signals from insulin and leptin, leaving you insulin resistant in both body and brain. Alzheimer’s disease was tentatively dubbed “type 3 diabetes” in early 2005 when researchers learned that the pancreas is not the only organ that produces insulin. Your brain also produces insulin, and this brain insulin is necessary for the survival of your brain cells.

If You Have Diabetes, Your Risk of Alzheimer’s Increases Dramatically

Diabetes is linked to a 65 percent increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s, which may be due, in part, because insulin resistance and/or diabetes appear to accelerate the development of plaque in your brain, which is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s. Separate research has found that impaired insulin response was associated with a 30 percent higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and overall dementia and cognitive risks were associated with high fasting serum insulin, insulin resistance, impaired insulin secretion and glucose intolerance.

A drop in insulin production in your brain may contribute to the degeneration of your brain cells, mainly by depriving them of glucose, and studies have found that people with lower levels of insulin and insulin receptors in their brain often have Alzheimer’s disease (people with type 2 diabetes often wind up with low levels of insulin in their brains as well). As explained in New Scientist, which highlighted this latest research:

What’s more, it encourages the process through which neurons change shape, make new connections and strengthen others. And it is important for the function and growth of blood vessels, which supply the brain with oxygen and glucose.

As a result, reducing the level of insulin in the brain can immediately impair cognition. Spatial memory, in particular, seems to suffer when you block insulin uptake in the hippocampus… Conversely, a boost of insulin seems to improve its functioning.

When people frequently gorge on fatty, sugary food, their insulin spikes repeatedly until it sticks at a high level. Muscle, liver and fat cells then stop responding to the hormone, meaning they don’t mop up glucose and fat in the blood. As a result, the pancreas desperately works overtime to make more insulin to control the glucose – and levels of the two molecules skyrocket.

The pancreas can’t keep up with the demand indefinitely, however, and as time passes people with type 2 diabetes often end up with abnormally low levels of insulin.”

Alzheimer’s Might be “Brain Diabetes”

It’s becoming increasingly clear that the same pathological process that leads to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes may also hold true for your brain. As you over-indulge on sugar and grains, your brain becomes overwhelmed by the consistently high levels of insulin and eventually shuts down its insulin signaling, leading to impairments in your thinking and memory abilities, and eventually causing permanent brain damage.

Regularly consuming more than 25 grams of fructose per day will dramatically increase your risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Consuming too much fructose will inevitably wreak havoc on your body’s ability to regulate proper insulin levels.

Although fructose is relatively “low glycemic” on the front end, it reduces the affinity for insulin for its receptor leading to chronic insulin resistance and elevated blood sugar on the back end. So, while you may not notice a steep increase in blood sugar immediately following fructose consumption, it is likely changing your entire endocrine system’s ability to function properly behind the scenes.

Additionally, fructose has other modes of neurotoxicity, including causing damage to the circulatory system upon which the health of your nervous system depends, as well as profoundly changing your brain’s craving mechanism, often resulting in excessive hunger and subsequent consumption of additional empty carbohydrate-based calories.

In one study from UCLA, researchers found that rats fed a fructose-rich and omega-3 fat deficient diet (similar to what is consumed by many Americans) developed both insulin resistance and impaired brain function in just six weeks.

Plus, when your liver is busy processing fructose (which your liver turns into fat), it severely hampers its ability to make cholesterol, an essential building block of your brain crucial to its health. This is yet another important facet that explains how and why excessive fructose consumption is so detrimental to your health. Decreasing fructose intake is one of the most important moves you can take in decreasing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in your lifetime.

“Labor Day 2024 will occur on Monday, September 2. Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers and is traditionally observed on the first Monday in September. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894. Labor Day weekend also symbolizes the end of summer for many Americans and is celebrated with parties, street parades and athletic events.

Labor Day, an annual celebration of workers and their achievements, originated during one of American labor history’s most dismal chapters.

In the late 1800s, at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, the average American worked 12-hour days and seven-day weeks in order to eke out a basic living. Despite restrictions in some states, children as young as 5 or 6 toiled in mills, factories and mines across the country, earning a fraction of their adult counterparts’ wages.”

History (https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/labor-day-1#why-do-we-celebrate-labor-day)

Happy Labor Day to All and to those off enjoy the holiday and to those not thank you for working the holiday!