Sara Manning Peskin on the Deepest Mysteries of our Brains
Jun 28, 2023
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Neurologist Sara Manning Peskin discusses her book about the mysteries of the brain, including diseases caused by unruly molecules. The podcast covers intriguing stories of patients battling zombies, the role of misfolded proteins in infectious diseases, and the search for Vitamin B3. It also explores the connection between consciousness and the physical brain, emphasizing the remaining mysteries in this field.
Neurology is targeting specific molecules for the treatment of diseases, following the example of oncology.
The discovery of prions challenges the traditional understanding of infectious diseases and opens up possibilities for exploring their role in neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Considering environmental factors such as toxic substances and nutritional deficiencies is important in understanding cognitive health and behavior.
Deep dives
The Paradigm Shift in Neurology
Neurology is following the oncology model by targeting specific molecules in diseases for treatment.
Mutants: Huntington's Disease
Nancy Wexler's research paved the way for genetic testing for Huntington's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by movement problems and dementia.
Rebels: Kuru and Niacin Deficiency
Vincent Zigas identified Kuru, a disease affecting the Fore tribe in Papua New Guinea, and Joseph Goldberger discovered that Kuru and other related diseases were not caused by an infectious agent but by a deficiency in niacin (vitamin B3), leading to the eventual elimination of these diseases.
Understanding the infectious agent causing Kuru and its implications
Kuru is a disease that affected the four tribe and was initially believed to be spread through an infectious agent. However, it was discovered by a neurologist in the 80s that the infectious agent causing Kuru was actually a protein. This protein, called a prion, has the ability to misfold and cause other proteins to misfold, leading to the disease. This discovery challenges the traditional understanding of infectious diseases and has opened up the possibility of exploring the role of prions in other neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
The exploration of mercury poisoning in Abraham Lincoln and vitamin deficiency in Pellagra
There has been speculation that Abraham Lincoln may have suffered from mercury poisoning due to his use of a substance called blue mass, which contained mercury. Although it is difficult to prove, this theory is supported by accounts of Lincoln's behavior being inconsistent with his usual temperament. Additionally, the story of Joseph Goldberger's study on Pellagra provides insight into the impact of vitamin deficiencies on cognitive health. Goldberger's experiments showed that a change in diet, specifically replacing corn-based products with nutritionally-rich foods, led to a decline in the occurrence of Pellagra. These stories highlight the importance of considering environmental factors, such as toxic substances and nutritional deficiencies, in understanding cognitive health and behavior.
Dr. Peskin recounts gripping tales of unruly molecules and the diseases that form in their wake. A college student cannot remember if she has eaten breakfast; by dinner, she is strapped to a hospital bed, convinced she is battling zombies. A man planning to propose marriage instead becomes violently enraged, gripped by body spasms so severe that he nearly bites off his own tongue. One after another, poor farmers in South Carolina drop dead from a mysterious epidemic of dementia.
From to Alzheimer's Disease to hallucinations, A Molecule Away from Madness is an unputdownable journey into the deepest mysteries of our brains.
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