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Showing posts with the label GABA

When is an SSRI not an SSRI? Low dose SSRIs as Selective Brain Steroidogenic Stimulants (SBSSs) via Allopregnanolone modifying GABAa receptors and neonatal KCC2 expression

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Today’s post might seem to have a very complicated tittle, but to regular readers it is really just another take on what we have seen time and time again. Today we see how another steroid imbalance in autism – low levels of allopregnenolone in this case – affects the neurotransmitter GABA and indeed the chloride transporter KCC2. Putting Prozac/Zoloft to a better use? I did report previously on a trial in adults with autism where pregnenolone was used. Brief report: an open-label study of the neurosteroid pregnenolone in adults with autism spectrum disorder. Pregnenolone - an effective OTC anti-inflammatory therapy for autism? Why Low Doses can work differently, or “Biphasic, U-shaped actions at the GABAa receptor” Recall that disturbed hormonal homeostasis is a key feature of autism. What matters is the level of each hormone inside the brain (i.e. centrally), not in your blood. The only way to get a reliable idea of what is going on would be to take a sample of spinal fluid. Today w...

Ketones and Autism Part 1 - Ketones, Epilepsy, GABA and Gut Bacteria

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Source:  The Gut Microbiota Mediates the Anti-Seizure Effects of the Ketogenic Diet Today’s post is the first in a short series about ketones, that looks into very specific areas of the science. There was an earlier post on the Ketogenic Diet (KD). The Clever Ketogenic Diet for some Autism We already know, anecdotally, that some people with autism respond well to the Ketogenic Diet (KD) and some to just ketone supplements. We also know from some very small clinical trials that a minority of those with autism benefit from the KD.   What percentage of people with autism respond to ketones? This is the important question and the simple answer appears to be a minority, albeit a significant minority. A lot depends on what you mean by autism and what you judge to be a response. From reading up on the subject I would estimate that about 20% respond well, but which 20%? Why do some people with autism respond to ketones and how do you maximize the effect? There is quite a lot of usefu...