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Alzheimer's A Fo o d b o r n e D i s e a s e ? Researchers have found a compelling link between a particular kind of protein and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Lou Gehrig's disease. This protein, called TDP-43, behaves like toxic and infectious proteins known as prions, which are responsible for the brain destruction that occurs in Mad Cow and Chronic Wasting Disease, two types of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. According to a study published in 2011, TDP-43 pathology is detected in 25 to 50 percent of Alzheimer's patients, and research presented at the 2014 Alzheimer's Association International Conference revealed Alzheimer's patients with TDP-43 were 10 times more likely to have been cognitively impaired at death than those without it. The common denominator between Mad Cow and Chronic Wasting Disease (the latter of which affects deer and elk) is forcing natural herbivores to eat animal parts and byproducts, such as blood and bone meal. This is common practice in "confined animal feeding operations" (CAFOs). The evidence also suggests humans may be infected with TDP- 43 via contaminated meats. The most infectious parts of a cow carrying these prions are the brain and spinal cord, which may be found in hot dogs, bologna, and products containing either gelatin or ground meat. The human version of Mad Cow disease is known as Creutzfeldt- Jakob disease (CJD), and some researchers have noted that Alzheimer's behaves like a slow moving version of CJD. The Case for Alzheimer's as a Slow-Acting Version of Mad Cow Surprising as it may seem, the idea that neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's may be spread via CAFO foods isn't brand new. A 2005 study published in the journal Medical Hypotheses, titled "Thinking the Unthinkable: Alzheimer's, Creutzfeldt-Jakob, and Mad Cow Disease: The Age- Related Reemergence of Virulent, Foodborne, Bovine Tuberculosis, or Losing Your Mind for the Sake of a Shake or Burger", states: "In the opinion of experts, ample justification exists for considering a similar pathogenesis for Alzheimer's, Creutzfeldt- Jakob and the other spongiform encephalopathies such as Mad Cow disease. In fact, Creutzfeldt-Jakob and Alzheimer's often coexist and at this point are thought to differ merely by time-dependent physical changes. A recent study links up to 13 percent of all 'Alzheimer's' victims as really having Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease... Alzheimer's, Cruetzfeldt-Jackob, and Mad Cow Disease might just be caused by eating the meat or dairy in consumer products or feed.'" The study also notes that bovine tuberculosis serves as a vector for human Mad Cow Disease, and Page 44 | Abby's Magazine - www.AbbysMag.com