How walking helps keep your brain healthy

[CFS_for_19_years]

Ten years ago I was walking 35 minutes twice a day, with no PEM, but too sick to do any work other than some part-time work from home. I don't believe walking did me any harm as I was able to keep this up for at least two years, along with some swimming. Venlafaxine, which I was taking for erythromelalgia, gave me the energy to do this. I was also many years past the stage of always coming down with some cold or flu.

Today I'm mostly homebound and I don't exercise or walk at all. I blame this decline on menopause. I swear a lot when I have to go to the doctor.

I believe that some mildly affected people can exercise without causing themselves any harm. It took me several months to get to the point where I was walking 35 minutes twice a day. I started out with seven minutes once a day, kept a log and did my own version of GET. I would never recommend this for someone who was moderately or severely affected or felt sick with a cold or flu.

There are benefits to exercising, IF one is able, and that's a big IF.

 

[Chocolove]

@perrier

http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/thiamine/evidence/HRB-20060129
There is a condition known as
"Pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency (PDH)
PDH is a disorder caused by the buildup of lactic acid, which may be life-threatening and cause nervous system problems. Early evidence suggests that thiamine supplementation may benefit children with PDH. Further evidence is needed before a firm conclusion can be reached."

PDH is one of the enzymes in the body that requires both the co-factors magnesium and thiamine in order to function.

"Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) deficiency is a congenital degenerative metabolic disease resulting from a mutation of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) located on the X chromosome. While defects have been identified in all 3 enzymes of the complex, the E1-α subunit is predominantly the culprit."
Pyruvate dehydrogenase - Wikipedia

Here is the report of a PDH deficiency patient who responded to thiamine:
https://moh-it.pure.elsevier.com/en...se-deficiency-presenting-as-isolated-paroxysm

"...We report on a 19-year-old intelligent female with PDH deficiency caused by a Leu216Ser mutation in PDHA1. She presented with recurrent hemidystonic attacks, triggered by prolonged walking or running, as the unique clinical manifestation that manifested since childhood. Laboratory workup and neuroimages were initially normal but bilateral globus pallidum involvement appeared later on brain MRI. Dystonia completely remitted after high doses of thiamine, remaining free of symptoms after 3 years of follow up..."

 

[pattismith]

It's right that many diseased are improved by exercise, and that ME is not.

But some other diseases are not improved by exercise. Vitamine deficiencies for example, will always worsen after exercise!
ME works like if something prevents the cells to use vitamins...

@perrier

http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/thiamine/evidence/HRB-20060129
There is a condition known as
"Pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency (PDH)
PDH is a disorder caused by the buildup of lactic acid, which may be life-threatening and cause nervous system problems. Early evidence suggests that thiamine supplementation may benefit children with PDH. Further evidence is needed before a firm conclusion can be reached."

PDH is one of the enzymes in the body that requires both the co-factors magnesium and thiamine in order to function.

"Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) deficiency is a congenital degenerative metabolic disease resulting from a mutation of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) located on the X chromosome. While defects have been identified in all 3 enzymes of the complex, the E1-α subunit is predominantly the culprit."
Pyruvate dehydrogenase - Wikipedia

Thank you for reminding us how important Thiamine and Magnesium are for ME patients!

After 45 days of supplementing myself with high Thiamine dose (and monitoring my blood lactates for 3 months now), I am convinced that Thiamine saved me from the muscles dysfunctions I had, most of my brain fog, and it lowered my average lactates very quickly. I just hope the powerful effect I can see with that vitamin will keep working with time!

 

[ScottTriGuy]

I didn't realize that he only sees 5-6 patients per year but I knew he refers to many specialists which I thought might be helpful to rule in or out what is going on diagnostically (or a way to get an appt with specialists that a regular PCP/GP might not refer you to)?

I think Dr Hyde sees 5 or 6 new patients each year.