"Many neurodegenerative conditions that can lead to severe disorders are associated with depleted levels of growth factors in the brain – neuropeptides that help neurons grow, proliferate and survive.
Some clinical studies of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases have shown that delivering these growth factors to specific degenerating neurons can have a therapeutic effect.
However, it is rather hard to do in practice; when taken systemically, as a typical drug, they can have difficulty penetrating the blood-brain barrier and severe side effects. And using viruses to deliver them as a form of gene therapy means one cannot easily stop the treatment once it is initiated, which also leads to safety concerns."
NGF eye drops are approved for treatment of neurotrophic keratitis (Oxervate).
There doesn't seem to be any interest in re-purposing for neurodegenerative disease like MSA; my father said he experienced some benefit from Lion's Mane, which is supposed to increase production of NGF.
The discoverer of NGF, Rita Levi-Montalcini, used to make and use her own NGF eye drops. She was still working in her 80's.
OTOH she felt that mast cell activation caused by NGF was a problem that could be treated with PEA (Palmitoylethanolamide). I tried Lion's Mane and thought it increased my sciatica pain (since then I've gotten rid of the sciatica through static stretching).
I think mast cells play a role in neurodegeneration and am curious about these seeming contradictions.
There's a rather expensive supplement, Mirica, that has been tested in at least one clinical trial; it is a combination of luteolin and PEA. I tried it for a couple of months and did not notice anything. You can also buy palmitoylethanolamide by itself and for much cheaper from other brands, but just make sure it is not the other PEA - phenethylamine, which is an 'upper' often used for weight loss. um-PEA is micronized PEA and is supposed to be better absorbed; I have not tried um-PEA (maybe I should).
I currently late a luteolin supplement (100 mg, 2x day) for mast cell stabilization and it seems to help with that (less itching, stuffy nose, etc.)
Interesting that you thought Lions Mane increased your sciatic pain. My hubby with PD has sciatic pain and has been taking Lions Mane for about a year. What made you think Lions Mane may have caused the increase in your sciatic pain?
Because it got worse when I started taking Lions Mane - I would say within a week. It returned to normal after I stopped. Maybe just a coincidence, but given what Levi-Montalcini said about NGF, it makes sense and I was not aware of her work on the topic at the time I was taking Lion's Mane.
I thought if it helped with peripheral neuropathy it would be overall beneficial for nerve pain. My father had peripheral neuropathy. I've had some numbness in extremities and parasthesia, but these got better when I started other interventions like B vitamins, ubiquinol and exercise ( though this week parasthesia in my right arm and hand started up again for some reason).
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