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Was listening to NPR yesterday and there was a story about ARBs (Angiotensin Receptor Blockers) and Alzheimer's. Then reading afterwards it really made me wonder just how many medical problems out there are caused by a 'narrowing' of the veins. Anyone not familiar, Angiotensin II is a chemical that causes the muscles around veins to contract, causing a 'narrowing' of the veins and thereby leading to hypertension/high blood pressure. The latest is that these ARBs (especially when combined with ACE inhibitors) can greatly reduce the chances of getting dementia, and in patients who already suffer from dementia or alzheimer's show a much reduced rate of deterioration.

The venous system seems to be coming to the front of the line in regards to the study of many diseases, me thinks the neuros may want to go back to school.

May be old news to some of you but thought it was interesting in light of CCSVI that the venous system is being looked at in regards to other diseases that have gone unsolved.

I remember Professor Dake mentioned both amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer's as potential vascular disorders. Let's hope they get enough funding to look at the vascular architecture in these diseases too. I'm beginning to wonder if they bother looking at anything but micro-biological and pharmaceutical these days rather than the basic infrastructure. I keep wondering if there is something, maybe even bony tissue that is trapping the vagus nerve in Parkinsons. I read somewhere recently that nobody looks at autopsy material anymore so the big picture is bound to be ignored.

This is very interesting, thanks johnnymac. When I first started reading about ccsvi and the results I was surprised that ccsvi wasn't present in people with other disorders where iron deposition was present in the brain like alzheimers and parkinsons, ect. Maybe this will help explain that some day as imaging gets better and circulation is investigated more.

Johnny-
Thanks to Dr. Z's discovery, forward thinking docs are now looking at circulatory/vascular issues and diseases of neurodegeneration. Important to remember, Dr. Zamboni found this particular venous narrowing and reflux of CCSVI only in MS patients ...but these other docs are considering the timing of the blood into the brain and its exit in other diseases, too.

We have some Parkinson's and dementia in my family and all of us have family and friends affected by Alzheimers. I wonder if the folks at Michael J Fox's Parkinson's research foundation are looking at the vascular/circulatory ramifications in Parkinson's. Maybe I'll see if I can hook them up with Dr. Zamboni.
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