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New Drug Rapidly Repairs Age-Related Memory Loss, Improves Mood (newatlas.com)

A team of Canadian scientists has developed a fascinating new experimental drug that is purported to result in rapid improvements to both mood and memory following extensive animal testing. It's hoped the drug will move to human trials within the next two years. New Atlas reports: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a key neurotransmitter, and when altered it can play a role in the development of everything from psychiatric conditions to cognitive degeneration. Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax or Valium, are a class of drugs well known to function by modulating the brain's GABA systems. This new research describes the development of several new molecules that are structurally based on benzodiazepines, but with small tweaks to enhance their ability to specifically target certain brain areas. The goal was to create a new therapeutic agent that can effectively combat age-related mood and memory alterations caused by disruptions in the GABA systems.

In animal tests the drug has been found to be remarkably effective, with old mice displaying rapid improvements in memory tests within an hour of administration, resulting in performance similar to that of young mice. Daily administration of the drug over two months was also seen to result in an actual structural regrowth of brain cells, returning their brains to a state that resembles a young animal.
The new study was published in the journal Molecular Neuropsychiatry.

84 comments

  1. Awesome! by sgage · · Score: 3, Funny

    They've invented cocaine1

    1. Re: Awesome! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Zoom zoom?

    2. Re: Awesome! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or Prozac

    3. Re: Awesome! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You really think so? Is it the formula for cocaine? Is there more than one cocaine? Where can I get them all? I want to be able to say I took more than one kind of cocaine when Iâ(TM)m high and on speed

  2. I mean... by RickyShade · · Score: 1

    Weed? Doesn't weed do this?

    1. Re: I mean... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Weed improves mood in most people but causes short term and, with prolonged use, long term memory impairment.

      The drug in the article is more or a neuro decongestant.

    2. Re:I mean... by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 1

      Weed? Doesn't weed do this?

      If you can't remember, try smoking more weed ... :-)

      --
      It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    3. Re:I mean... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yup, high CBD% cannabis.

    4. Re:I mean... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If problem persist, smoke more and the problem wouldn’t bother you anymore...

    5. Re: I mean... by TJHook3r · · Score: 1

      Maybe, apart from the ones that experience paranoia and anxiety. And definitely not a performance enhancer for the memory!

  3. Surprises await us ... by BoRegardless · · Score: 2

    Like, how long does it last, and, oh by the way, how much will they charge for a dose?

  4. Good, now I remember to say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Get it off my lawn"

  5. Re:Surprises await us ... by DamnRogue · · Score: 3, Funny

    how much will they charge for a dose?

    How much do you have?

  6. Re:Surprises await us ... by sgage · · Score: 2

    What were we talking about?

    They say that memory is the second thing to go when you get older. I can't remember the first thing.

    Getting old sux.

  7. Abstract by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here's the paper abstract:

    Altered gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) function is consistently reported in psychiatric disorders, normal aging, and neurodegenerative disorders and reduced function of GABA interneurons is associated with both mood and cognitive symptoms. Benzodiazepines (BZ) have broad anxiolytic, but also sedative, anticonvulsant and amnesic effects, due to nonspecific GABA-A receptor (GABAA-R) targeting. Varying the profile of activity of BZs at GABAA-Rs is predicted to uncover additional therapeutic potential. We synthesized four novel imidazobenzodiazepine (IBZD) amide ligands and tested them for positive allosteric modulation at multiple α-GABAA-R (α-positive allosteric modulators), pharmacokinetic properties, as well as anxiolytic and antidepressant activities in adult mice. Efficacy at reversing stress-induced or age-related working memory deficits was assessed using a spontaneous alternation task. Diazepam (DZP) was used as a control. Three ligands (GL-II-73, GL-II-74, and GL-II-75) demonstrated adequate brain penetration and showed predictive anxiolytic and antidepressant efficacies. GL-II-73 and GL-II-75 significantly reversed stress-induced and age-related working memory deficits. In contrast, DZP displayed anxiolytic but no antidepressant effects or effects on working memory. We demonstrate distinct profiles of anxiolytic, antidepressant, and/or pro-cognitive activities of newly designed IBZD amide ligands, suggesting novel therapeutic potential for IBZD derivatives in depression and aging.

    1. Re: Abstract by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All over the place. How many times can they say that this drug is like another, barely pausing long enough to put in the full stop? Fucking over the top slashdot and not so great unless it is your own writing I guess.

    2. Re:Abstract by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here's the full article:

      Sci-hub

    3. Re: Abstract by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks for the copy and paste job, without some rando on /. doing a copy paste I surely would never have read this meaningless drivel

    4. Re: Abstract by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 2, Funny

      AC Wrote:

      All over the place. How many times can they say that this drug is like another, barely pausing long enough to put in the full stop? Fucking over the top slashdot and not so great unless it is your own writing I guess.

      Oh, sorry to hear that you're having trouble parsing the article, AC. Maybe you need one of these new ligands that will help you recover your brain power.

      Oh holy cow! I've discovered the cure for Anonymous Coward Syndrome!

    5. Re: Abstract by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh no cure for that, only maintenance meds. Good luck with all the ACs on this site. You will never get laid reading all that.

    6. Re: Abstract by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I find A/C comments greatly aid both the duration and frequency of my orgasms, if read during intercourse. You're probably doing it wrong or have unrelated performance issues.

    7. Re: Abstract by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 1

      Oh holy cow! I've discovered the cure for Anonymous Coward Syndrome!

      The only cure for obnoxious ACs like him is to seal him in a barrel and drop him overboard.

      --
      Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
    8. Re:Abstract by PseudoThink · · Score: 4, Informative

      Here's another link to the full paper via SciHub, since the previous AC post with the link has somehow been scored at 0... https://sci-hub.tw/10.1159/000...

    9. Re:Abstract by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Benzodiazepines were banned from mainstream use - because they were addictive. Cocktail drugs using stimulants and BZ's was very popular for old school chemists.

      Tweaking molecules is as old as the hills, so I suspect broad spectrum patents just expired.
      I am more interested in a seasickness tablet, as the blood brain barrier is very hard to cross.

      ref: http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/22824189 means there are othere tweaks

    10. Re: Abstract by epine · · Score: 1

      Double funny, because as science writing goes, this is good. Every sentence has a job, and does a job. No mealy mouthed phrasing. Round pegs in round holes, square pegs in square holes. Easily in the top quartile of Slashdot science summaries.

      However, one nit: compared to the abstract someone else posted, they err in talking about "the" drug, when the experiment seems to have covered three related compounds, only two of which exhibited the vaunted memory-improvement profile.

  8. Alcohol is the most well-known GABA agonist by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If this new drug helped to reverse the effects of long-term alcohol abuse, millions of people would benefit.

    1. Re:Alcohol is the most well-known GABA agonist by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 1

      If this new drug helped to reverse the effects of long-term alcohol abuse, millions of people would benefit.

      It might help your memory, but it won't help your liver ...

      --
      It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  9. Made one thing illegal and patented another. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So they patented a GHB analogue ? Ho hum.
    They only banned GHB at the behest of the liquor industry and the narco warrior zealots. They called it a date rape drug when it was rohypnol, a prescription drug that was actually the substance being used. Cops used to take GHB as an alternative to drinking alcohol because it wouldn't interfere with their steroids or lower their testosterone levels. Both of which were legal for personal use in Canada.

    1. Re: Made one thing illegal and patented another. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wait. Cops are allowed to take steroids?

    2. Re: Made one thing illegal and patented another. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You think that 300lb Vin diesel lookalike cop is naturally sporting 20" arms? Nah son.

    3. Re: Made one thing illegal and patented another. by Ungrounded+Lightning · · Score: 1

      Wait. Cops are allowed to take steroids?

      Who is going to bust them for it?

      --
      Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
  10. Preprint or other article not behind a paywall by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 5, Informative

    This article is by a subset of the authors and seems to be about the same molecules.

    1. Re: Preprint or other article not behind a paywall by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And we all know an elbow to the hippocampus can jog your memory. Garbage in garbage out

  11. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2219542/ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2219542/ = you don't know what you're talking about.

    1. Re:www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2219542/ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      Yes, he does. Cannabis use has acute - and potentially chronic - affects on memory.

    2. Re:www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2219542/ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Okay then Jeff Sessions.

  12. Re: Correction: replying to my own comment. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So I actually looked at the paper and they're still mucking about with benzodiazepines that have a stronger action on GABA. Its like forcing a square peg into a round hole. I suppose it's necessary for patentability reasons, but GHB analogues/homologues and derivatives are better suited for the job, even if there's no money in them for big pharma.

  13. Re:Surprises await us ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Use some viagra or cialis and you will remember what is the first thing.

  14. Re:Surprises await us ... by JMJimmy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Canadians, they'll practically give it away and a US company will swoop in with a similar patent and gouge everyone while burying anyone who tries to make the low cost version.

  15. What a great time to be a rodent! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Big Science just keeps on finding ways to make their lifespans longer and better!

  16. why is it someone invents a miracle drug by FudRucker · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    and then you never hear about it again, i bet the government and the financial elite buy it and then make it disappear so nobody can use it except them, leaving the wider world to just do without

    --
    Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
    1. Re:why is it someone invents a miracle drug by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... the government and the financial elite buy it ...

      While an old conspiracy theory, it's obvious no greedy capitalist would turn their back on this wonder drug.

      ... performance similar to that of young ...

      All the (mental) performance of a youngster plus the wisdom of middle-age: I want it now.

    2. Re:why is it someone invents a miracle drug by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      and then you never hear about it again, i bet the government and the financial elite buy it and then make it disappear so nobody can use it except them, leaving the wider world to just do without

      Because most of the "miracle drug discoveries" reported are miraculous cures for cancer. And they get reported as miraculous cures for cancer because some researcher found out it kills cancer cells in a Petri dish. Media get all hyped up, people get all worked up, we get news articles "we are ont the verge of curing cancer" and so on. Well, you know what also kills cancer cells in a Petri dish? Sulphuric acid. Cyanide. Lye. Strychnine. Surgical spirit. Arsenic oxide. And so on. Then, when you administer your new "miracle drug" to mice, it turns out that it not only kills cancer cells but normal cells as well, and that's how your "miracle drug" disappears.

      You have to realize that killing cancer cells in a Petri dish is trivial, it's actually getting them to grow at all in a Petri dish that's hard, most human tissues (and cancers derived from them) won't even do that, they will only grow in an organism, with the blood supply, extracellular matrix and so on. So those cancer cells on a Petri dish are barely making it as it is, and it takes very little to push them over the edge. And the collateral damage to the liver is not a concern in a Petri dish too.So, next time you hear about a miracle cure for cancer just think "wow, they discovered another sulphuric acid" to put things in the right perspecive.

      And I can already tell you how this particular drug will disappear: it's beznodiazepine-based and it targets GABA, so it'll probably work like all other drugs in this category: it's going to be addictive and it's going to create resistance. Meaning that, at first it will be great, but over time you'll need higher and higher doses of it to create the same effect, then even to just get back to normal. And at some point the "get back to normal" dose you're going to need is going to be higher than the liver can handle and it becomes toxic. And then you're screwed.

      And think of it: if you were an evil villain controlling the pharmas and the government from the shadows wouldn't you WANT the proles addicted to some substance that only you can make, can charge whatever you want for, and that actually makes them WORSE off in the long run? Thank goodness there ain't no evil shadow man, and the drug is going to be tightly regulated and used only sparingly. *If* it turns out to work as well on humans as on rats, which is a yet another huge chasm that many potential drugs fall into.

    3. Re:why is it someone invents a miracle drug by Ungrounded+Lightning · · Score: 1

      why is it someone invents a miracle drug ... and then you never hear about it again

      Because you hear about it when it's discovered, which is years before it's approved and goes into use - IF it looks good enough that somebody is going to drop tens of millions on getting it approved and IF it passes all the hurdles, like really doing what it looked like in the lab, and not giving you cancer, making your nose fall off, or your kids be born with no arms or legs.

      --
      Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
    4. Re:why is it someone invents a miracle drug by lollllol1 · · Score: 1

      Guys, Need a little help. I`m bad at the internet and to find need information is a little bit hard for me. Can someone check this site http://www.thedogtor.net/emotional-support-animal-letter I don`t find any bad reviews and maybe it`s really good? So why I need this. My father has problem with eyes and I want to buy him The dog-guide and for this we need a document so that there will be no problems later. I`m really waiting for reply, thank you

  17. resembling a young animal? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Can we pick which young animal we will resemble?

  18. None too soon by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    Quick, send some of this to every internet user, stat!

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  19. When they give the memory test to mice by fredrated · · Score: 1

    is it multiple choice?

  20. GLeeMONEX? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    GLeeMONEX?

  21. Quickly put Trump in a vat of it ASAP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    And preferably hold his head under till the bubbles stop.

  22. In search of the perfect drug? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Once again, our esteemed senior /. editor BeauHD posts another dubious brain altering article. He seems to have a fixation on this topic, perhaps he feels mentally inadequate in some way?

    The CIA tried LSD. The Hell's Angels tried Meth. Others have tried speed. All have failed miserably. There is no such thing as the "perfect drug." I highly doubt this latest drug won't have terrible side effects just like all the others in the past.

    BeauHD - get some help dude. It's okay to be less than average. Trying to "fix" things often makes things worse. Just be happy with who God created you to be.

    1. Re:In search of the perfect drug? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The US air force uses methamphetamine to boost their pilots on long missions.

      Source.

    2. Re:In search of the perfect drug? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Shut the fuck up, you imbecile.

      You're clearly far too stupid to see the implications of this, so just go back to watching Hee Haw and banging your sister and let the rest of us get on with appreciating the science behind this.

    3. Re: In search of the perfect drug? by reiterate · · Score: 1

      Just ask him out already, this is getting unbearable

    4. Re: In search of the perfect drug? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your point is that making such a drug is impossible, so don't report on it? That's pretty dumb. Your God may tell you not to do such evil research, but for everyone else, this had huge value.

    5. Re:In search of the perfect drug? by BeauHD+has++Crohns · · Score: 0

      No it doesn't, you moron. You can still get amphetamines, but the preferred go pill is moda. But you wouldn't know this, retard.

  23. NZT-48? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is that you?

  24. Yes. by denzacar · · Score: 5, Informative

    https://med.stanford.edu/sbfnl...

    Y Maze Spontaneous Alternation Test

    Y Maze Spontaneous Alternation is a behavioral test for measuring the willingness of rodents to explore new environments. Rodents typically prefer to investigate a new arm of the maze rather than returning to one that was previously visited. Many parts of the brain--including the hippocampus, septum, basal forebrain, and prefrontal cortex--are involved in this task.

    Testing occurs in a Y-shaped maze with three white, opaque plastic arms at a 120Â angle from each other. After introduction to the center of the maze, the animal is allowed to freely explore the three arms. Over the course of multiple arm entries, the subject should show a tendency to enter a less recently visited arm. The number of arm entries and the number of triads are recorded in order to calculate the percentage of alternation. An entry occurs when all four limbs are within the arm. This test is used to quantify cognitive deficits in transgenic strains of mice and evaluate novel chemical entities for their effects on cognition.

    --
    Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
    1. Re:Yes. by swell · · Score: 1

      Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
      I took the one less traveled by,
      And that has made all the difference.

      --
      ...omphaloskepsis often...
    2. Re:Yes. by denzacar · · Score: 1

      Well... it's three roads for Rodent Frost.

      Mice get dropped onto the "crossroads" between three paths, not two.

      --
      Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
  25. What a time to be alive ... if you are a mouse by slyborg · · Score: 1

    When the rodents replace us, they'll look back on the age when Homo sapiens invested massive effort to make them immortal with some perplexity. Why did we do it?

    1. Re:What a time to be alive ... if you are a mouse by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because we had a legend that they built the Earth as a custom supercomputer and we happened to basically sneeze all over it.

  26. Re:Surprises await us ... by gregstumph · · Score: 2

    Which reminds me; would someone put some flowers on Algernon's grave for me?

  27. .ca medicare by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Don't worry, if you're in the USA you can't afford this drug. It's for the rest of the world only, because we have the greatest system in the world that nobody can afford.

    Even fucking Rand Paul goes to Canada for health care.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  28. One mouse, named Algernon, responded so well ... by Babel-17 · · Score: 2

    that a volunteer, identified only as "Charlie", has been recruited to be the first human trial subject. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

  29. GABA matters! At least for me... by OneOfMany07 · · Score: 2

    I've been on my own GABA influencer journey and wanted to mention an already easy to get substance, at least outside of Russia where it is a prescription only substance, that I'm 99% sure many people take already with great effect. And that it also focuses on the same GABA alpha receptors like they mention targeting in the paper, though the paper's substance is attempting to be selective about where they trigger things. Most GABA alpha items are used for anxiety, at least when given out by prescription. GABA itself is a relaxing/calming neurotransmitter.

    Phenibut is pretty cheap, seemingly safe at high doses (yes people take WAY more than the typical prescription dose used in Russia for fun), and the way people talk about it I think it can have some of the same effects as the goal of this new substance when used in moderation. Phenibut doesn't only affect GABA, but seems to release a bit of Dopamine too...the reward chemical.

    For a more global GABA increaser for the brain...Inositol. Taking GABA won't get into your brain because it doesn't pass through the blood brain barrier easily. Inositol definitely calms me initially, and makes me more ready for sleep. It was originally misclassified as a B vitamin, and is generally safe up to really huge doses. I've read 6-12g/day is a typical dose for anxiety. I can't seem to stomach more than a gram a day, and I'm getting lots of nausea and other side effects. So not my "magic bullet" solution. But it's another cheap, safe option for GABA manipulation/influence.

    I'm not advocating anything here. Please research anything you put in your body. And yes, you can hurt yourself if you take too much phenibut. Or if you take too much for too long, your body will start to downregulate those receptors and you won't get the same effects. And stopping suddenly will be VERY uncomfortable from what I read.

    But many people already use GABA beta substances daily (alcohol). The alpha vs. beta refer to a fast vs. slow change substance, as I've understood it. The alpha receptor is designed to react quickly to changing levels of triggers (agonists). The beta, much more slowly. Hence how large a dose of alcohol we need before we can feel it (comparatively), compared to a pill like typical benzodiazepines.

    And one of the reasons healthy eating helps calm us is the probiotic organisms we'd be encouraging create GABA in our guts for us. Those eat fiber and other things, are killed off by alcohol, and generate GABA and many other helpful substances we cannot. This is one of the reasons that changes in gut flora is so scary/bad for many people.

    For those curious to read more...Google it, :D. There are tons of articles and reddit posts on experiences, and safe places to order from. Below is a wikipedia article on the two GABA receptor types as I'm sure I'm not explaining it all well.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

  30. Misleading title by jenik · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Could you please, next time, put the really important info into the title? "New Drug Rapidly Repairs Age-Related Memory Loss, Improves Mood *in Mice*. Thank you.

    1. Re:Misleading title by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Could you please, next time, put the really important info into the title? "New Drug Rapidly Repairs Age-Related Memory Loss, Improves Mood *in Mice*. Thank you.

      New Drug Turn Brains into You Mice Brains

    2. Re:Misleading title by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      to be fair, I do not expect slashdot to be sporting articles of something that will be available for prescription next week. i assume most of these are at the mouse stage. I does frustrate me if it is petri dish news.

  31. Re:Surprises await us ... by dunkelfalke · · Score: 1

    You can have something similar right now, it is called phenibut. It is not very expensive.

    --
    "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
  32. Re:GABA matters! At least for me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    > Taking GABA won't get into your brain because it doesn't pass through the blood brain barrier easily.

    > And one of the reasons healthy eating helps calm us is the probiotic organisms we'd be encouraging create GABA in our guts for us. Those eat fiber and other things, are killed off by alcohol, and generate GABA and many other helpful substances we cannot.

    Those two sentences are mutually exclusive.

  33. Re: One mouse, named Algernon, responded so well . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Excellent find, bravo!

  34. Thank Zeus! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I've a real problem with grumpy mice. The only thing saving us is that when they go out they forget where they live.

  35. Re:GABA matters! At least for me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Phenibut can cause some nasty withdrawl.

  36. GABA is not safe to take by lamer01 · · Score: 1

    GABA can kill you. It works as a roofie afaik. A bit too much and you can die.

    1. Re:GABA is not safe to take by OneOfMany07 · · Score: 1

      Other way around. Roofies are an overdose of GABA triggering medicines to knock people out or make them happy/funny/compliant. Yes, too much of anything that normally makes you sleep seems like a bad idea. And again, I suggested being careful and researching anything you plan to ingest. Most sites I'd looked at said to start low/slow and see how you feel.

      In the past GHB was one example of a "roofie". I actually wish I could find it legally/safely, as in safer/moderate doses it's more like "alcohol without calories". Apparently body builders would use it to relax instead of drinking and messing up their figures. Never tried it myself though to compare against actual alcohol with.

  37. Another thing to get addicted to by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Benzodiazepines are already the next and worse epidemic. Will the withdrawal include seizures like benzos when patients can't get anymore?

  38. Re:Surprises await us ... by apoc.famine · · Score: 1

    You can't remember the first thing? I'll give you a hint: It's the thing that hurts now but didn't hurt when you were 30.

    --
    Velociraptor = Distiraptor / Timeraptor
  39. PSA: Butter fixed it for me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    55yo male here. a few years ago i started having 'senior moments' where i could not remember/voice things that i knew i knew. this went on for months and i was seriously freaked about my time in the SW industry having gone past some kind of biological expiration date.

        I wound up changing my diet so as to get ~50% of my calories from saturated fats and as a result, an unexpected benefit appeared within a few days of transitioning to a better fuel: the memory retrieval fails disappeared. within a year the initially disgusting fatty diet became my new normal. i have 2+ addtl hours of energy every day, need to sleep less and am lean and never hungry, never any low blood-sugar or concentration or fatigue issues.

    after 2 years of slapping butter on everything, dropping all carbs except greens and the occasional drink, i've remembered and let go of personal history stories and things that clogged my brain and can literally tell you everything i ate and did for the last month, in reverse order, day by day. i have continuation on people i meet at work to the point that i can tell what they were wearing .. and overall need far fewer bookmarks than i did in the past.

    i have some excellent work-habits and ymmv, but if you clicked this post to see if the meds mentioned were something for you and found that you could not get them, perhaps you'll do some research into the experiences of people who've transitioned away from sugar into the land of saturated fats for fuel. perhaps just dropping all sugars will do it for you; for me, i enjoy the no strain/pain/tiredness aspects of the anti-inflammatory effects this provides me with.

    know that your gall-bladder is likely not working optimally when you start taking in more fats -- which will lead to you having 2..3 days of non-fever fog-head/flu-like symptoms as you start eating better. its not a big deal and it will pass quickly if you just suffer through it.

    a steady marker for being in the 'proper fat' zone is that you will (as i and some friends have found) suddenly develop a taste for water ~20mins after eating. i find that's the only regulator i need. if i messed up by eating socially that thirst won't be there and i'll need to snack on some unsalted butter to get it back. calories are not a concern for me at all. looking down i can see my pubes unambiguously. that wasn't the case before.

    in any case, if you too have discovered what a 'senior moment' is and if you don't enjoy them either, get smart, learn a bit about fat and oils, and feed your body-mind with fuels like butter that are good for many many hours while not moving the needle on your blood-sugar at all.

    within some weeks you too might realize that you have zero cravings or desire for sweets. none. which is weird and will startle some people socially. just tell them you prefer honey. i use that along with a good cm of 40% cream in my coffee for a no jitter coffee experience. perhaps start with a few days of that while you research the rest.

    phew, that got long. may it profit you too!

    (this stream of consciousness after a 12hr workday at the end of a 6 day week. now i'm off to go dancing!)

    1. Re:PSA: Butter fixed it for me by Joey+Vegetables · · Score: 1

      Started doing something similar recently. I don't feel particularly better yet, partly because of an unrelated painful back injury. But there are other benefits. For instance, it's had a dramatic effect on my blood sugar. Turns out that if one isn't eating much sugar or high-glycemic carbs, it's a lot harder to be hyperglycemic, no matter one bad one's insulin or leptin tolerance may be. And eating bunches of healthy greens, nuts, seeds, etc. makes it a lot less likely that one will try to satisfy hunger through massive overconsumption of carbs. I'm not sure type-2 diabetes can survive a low-carb diet. And if mine improves, it's likely that my hypertension will improve as well. Some long-term damage has already been done, but hopefully this will arrest any further damage, and perhaps even reverse some of it. (NOTE: There is some evidence that high-fat diets . . as distinct from low-carb diets . . . may harm the liver and increase, rather than reduce, insulin tolerance. So I do include a fair amount of protein and lower-glycemic carbs such as beans as well.)

  40. Take that ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Won't do any good. I'll never remember to take it.

  41. Good luck getting access by shplopt · · Score: 1

    The opioid crisis has caused politicians, and hence doctors, to become extremely skiddish about anything that produces euphoria, regardless of how helpful it might be for patients. People love easy answers to complicated problems, so prohibition and paternalism are the watchwords here.

  42. Re:GABA matters! At least for me... by ChrisMaple · · Score: 1

    If you aren't already, try taking inositol with a meal.

    --
    Contribute to civilization: ari.aynrand.org/donate
  43. Re:GABA matters! At least for me... by OneOfMany07 · · Score: 1

    Thanks. Nope, I actually have a pretty strong stomach normally (take tons of pills daily, empty stomach or not) so hadn't thought about taking it with food before.

    I think simultaneous glutamine powder (just before bed) wasn't helping either (I've read muscles and our intestines can repair better with enough glutamine). Apparently we turn glutamine into glutamate, which is a stimulant in our brains...kept me awake a couple times much later than planned. Guessing it made me a little nauseous too.