As I am not the most regular visitor to the forum and have only just come across this very interesting thread today.
Those newer to the forum may not realise that there was a previous discussion about chelation ("Chelate or not to chelate") a year or so ago. Just put "chelation" into the Google search box in the left hand column and select the "This is MS" option.
Or go here:
http://www.thisisms.com/ftopic-6606-0-d ... rasc-.html
Back then few people seemed that interested in the topic or its possible connection to CCSVI, but I originally started that thread more because of the role of the
metabolism of iron.
When I originally underwent tests for MS, the doctors thought I may have a rare heridary illness called Friedreich's Ataxia. Tests proved I did not, but I became curious as it mimicked MS in so many ways...numb extremities, balance problems, heat fatigue, optical neuritis.
There was a huge breakthrough with this disease very recently when they unexpectedly discovered that Friedreich's was caused by faulty metabolism of iron.
This led me to suspect that MS may have a similar origin. So many neurological illnesses are starting to point the finger at iron - Parkinson's, Alzheimers etc. There is still the possibility that the "chicken and egg" question over CCSVI could be answered by saying that the iron deposits somehow lead to the vascular problems, not the other way round.
Recently I've come across an article suggesting that psychological stress can increase the intake of iron in some regions of brain and subsequently causes regional iron accumulation.
(here)
Could this possibly help to solve the mystery as to why stressful episodes so often seem to precede MS attacks?
I am a huge fan of cheerleader and how she drew everyone's attention to the vascular theory of MS (some of you may also recall how ages ago, I was impressed with the quirky ebook by the Australian Noel Batten who had his own vascular theory linked to muscular tension).
But what fascinates me most is, if MS is primarily vascular, what causes the vascular problems in the first place?
If it was purely vascular in origin surely older people would start developing MS as the circulation naturally gets weaker with age...whereas MS hits people when they are in their prime.
Stress can have a negative effect on the vascular system directly. A very eminent anaesthesiologist in Iran, Mohammad Najmabadi, who founded the intensive care unit of Tehran Heart Hospital, is convinced that stress can cause brain strokes because "excessive thinking" overworks and damages the vasculature of the brain:
http://payvand.com/news/09/oct/1230.html
gainsbourg