Ibogaine by David Dardashti Explores Groundbreaking Research Linking Genetic Enhancers to Neurological Disease Treatment, Including Parkinson's
Ibogaine by David Dardashti, a leading voice in the exploration of ibogaine's therapeutic potential, is closely analyzing a new study published in EMBO Reports that sheds light on the intricate genetic mechanisms underlying neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease. This research, spearheaded by Associate Professor Masahito Yoshihara and colleagues, provides compelling evidence that could significantly impact the understanding and application of ibogaine treatment.
The study utilized advanced genomic techniques, including CAGE, NET-CAGE, and Capture Hi-C/HiCap, to identify and characterize thousands of enhancers – non-coding DNA regions that play a crucial role in gene regulation – active during neuronal differentiation. Crucially, the researchers discovered a significant enrichment of genetic variants (SNPs) associated with Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia within these enhancers. This finding suggests that these enhancers, and the genes they regulate, are directly implicated in the development and progression of these conditions.
David Dardashti, a prominent advocate for ibogaine research, recognizes the profound implications of this study for the field of ibogaine therapy. 'This research provides a critical piece of the puzzle in understanding how ibogaine may exert its remarkable effects,' Dardashti explains. 'By demonstrating the direct involvement of specific genetic enhancers in neurological disorders, it opens up exciting new avenues for exploring ibogaine's mechanism of action at a molecular level.'
Ibogaine has shown promise in anecdotal reports and preliminary studies for its ability to alleviate symptoms of neurological conditions, including addiction, and potentially Parkinson's. Its purported anti-aging and restorative properties have also garnered significant interest. While the exact mechanisms remain under investigation, one hypothesis centers on ibogaine's potential to influence gene expression, possibly through interactions with these very enhancers identified in the EMBO Reports study.
The study's focus on LUHMES cells, a model for human dopaminergic neurons (the cells primarily affected in Parkinson's disease), is particularly relevant. By linking specific enhancers to genes involved in neuronal differentiation and disorders, the research provides a potential roadmap for understanding how ibogaine might influence these crucial cellular processes.
Dardashti is particularly intrigued by the potential connection between the identified genetic enhancers and the 'genetic rejuvenating factors' hypothesized to be influenced by ibogaine. 'If ibogaine can modulate the activity of these enhancers, which are clearly linked to neurological health and disease, it could explain its reported ability to promote neuroplasticity, reduce neuroinflammation, and potentially even reverse some of the cellular damage associated with conditions like Parkinson's,' he notes.
The research highlights the 'vast regulatory potential embedded in non-coding regions' of the genome. This aligns with the emerging understanding of ibogaine's potential to induce broad-spectrum changes in gene expression, leading to long-lasting therapeutic effects.
Ibogaine by David Dardashti is committed to rigorously examining the findings of this and other related studies. This deeper dive will help determine, specifically the implications for ibogaine treatment protocols and future research directions. The goal is to move beyond anecdotal evidence and establish a solid scientific foundation for ibogaine's use in treating neurological disorders, including the potential for mitigating the progression of Parkinson's disease.
About Ibogaine by David Dardashti:
Ibogaine by David Dardashti is dedicated to exploring the therapeutic potential of ibogaine and promoting responsible research into its applications for addiction, neurological disorders, and overall well-being.
Media Contact
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
2 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Does coffee boost longevity? 47,000 women were studied for 30 years to find out
Drinking moderate amounts of coffee in midlife may boost healthy aging decades later, according to a study presented this week at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition. The findings add to the existing body of research showing there may be health and longevity benefits to consuming coffee. Most of these studies are observational and do not directly show that consuming coffee necessarily causes better health, just that people who drink coffee often tend to be healthier — as measured by such metrics as lower cardiovascular mortality, lower risk of some cancers and lower risk of Type 2 diabetes. The analysis, which followed more than 47,000 women over about 30 years, found that those who drank coffee during midlife, ages 45 to 60, were more likely to exhibit healthy aging later in life. On average, they consumed 315 milligrams of caffeine a day, the equivalent to about three small cups of coffee. The researchers defined healthy aging as being at least 70 years old and free from 11 major chronic diseases — including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, cancer and Parkinson's disease — with no major mental health or cognitive impairment or memory problems. The study followed female nurses starting in 1984 and asked them to fill out questionnaires about their consumption of coffee, tea and soda. By 2016, about 3,700 women were considered part of the healthy aging group. Within that group, each extra cup of coffee a day was linked to a 2% to 5% higher chance of doing well later in life, up to five small cups a day. The same link between coffee consumption and better health in later life was not found among women who drank tea, soda or decaffeinated coffee. 'While past studies have linked coffee to individual health outcomes, our study is the first to assess coffee's impact across multiple domains of aging over three decades,' Sara Mahdavi, an adjunct professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Toronto who led the study, said in a statement. 'The findings suggest that caffeinated coffee — not tea or decaf — may uniquely support aging trajectories that preserve both mental and physical function.' The study did not examine why caffeinated coffee and not other caffeinated beverages was linked to healthy aging. But previous research suggests that coffee contains antioxidants like polyphenols, which may help the body lower inflammation, reduce oxidative stress on cells and fight diseases. The analysis accounted for other factors that influence healthy aging including body weight, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, education level and protein in the diet. 'The takeaway is not that people should start drinking coffee for the sake of longevity, nor that more is better,' Mahdavi said. 'What we found is that moderate caffeinated coffee consumption — approximately 1 to 3 cups per day — was associated with a modestly higher likelihood of healthy aging over time.'
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. will ‘end the war' against alternative medicine at the FDA, from stem cell therapy to chelation. Here's what to know
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. doubled down on his support for non-pharmaceutical health treatments during a recent podcast appearance, saying, 'We're going to end the war at the FDA against alternative medicine.' Speaking on the Ultimate Human podcast with host Gary Brecka, a 'renowned Human Biologist, biohacker, and longevity expert,' according to the website, Kennedy said he would fix the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's bias against the following: stem cell treatments, chelating drugs, vitamins and minerals, amino acids, peptides, and hyperbaric chambers. 'Our position is that the FDA has a job: Just do the science on these kinds of issues and then tell the public what they've learned from the science … but don't tell physicians what they can and cannot prescribe,' he said. And as far as the patients go, he said, 'If you want to take an experimental drug … you ought to be able to do that.' RFK Jr. added, 'We don't want to have the Wild West. We want to make sure that information is out there. But we also want to respect the intelligence of the American people' to decide what treatments will benefit them the most. He acknowledged that, with this approach, there will be 'charlatans' as well as 'people who have bad results' from various alternative treatments. 'But ultimately,' he said, 'you can't prevent that either way, and leaving the whole thing in the hands of pharma is not working for us.' Brecka called Kennedy's pronouncements 'music to my ears.' Below, what you need to know about the alternative therapies RFK Jr. is advocating for. What is it: It's a way to repair diseased or injured tissue in the body using stem cells—cells that can self-renew or become other types of tissues—typically grown in a lab, manipulated, and then be implanted into the patient. What it does: Though it's considered to be largely experimental, the FDA does permit stem cell therapies for blood and immune disorders. Leukemia, lymphoma, neuroblastoma, and multiple myeloma, for example, are also often treated this way, with bone marrow treatments, which are backed by decades of science. Other types of the treatment are still in clinical trials, while more and more wellness centers are offering the treatment for unapproved reasons, using cells drawn from the patient's body and injected back in without manipulation for everything from autism and ALS to Parkinson's and better skin, according to the New York Times. Kennedy told Brecka that he received the treatment for his voice disorder, spasmodic dysphonia, and that it helped him 'enormously,' but that he had to go to Antigua to access it. Risks: For starters, wellness clinic treatments cannot guarantee they are using actual stem cell, reported the Times. And improper injections can lead to a host of terrible consequences—clots, infections, blindness, and even the formation of tumors, which the FDA warned of in 2021. What it is: Chelation involves the use of certain chemicals to remove toxic heavy metals, such as mercury and lead, from the body; all FDA-approved chelation therapy products require a prescription and can only be used safely under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner. What it does: Some alternative medicine practitioners offer chelation therapy, through pill or injection, as a way to treat Alzheimer's, autism, diabetes, high blood pressure, or Parkinson's disease, all of which are unapproved and risky. Children's Health Defense, founded by Kennedy, has written about chelation as a way to treat autism, which compares 'autism with mercury poisoning' due to childhood vaccines that contained the preservative thimerosal (largely mercury) before it was removed in 2001. Some flu shots still contain the preservative, but, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 'There is no evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines.' Risks: The FDA warns specifically about using chelation therapy for autism, and notes, 'Chelating important minerals needed by the body can lead to serious and life-threatening outcomes.' While minor risks may include fever, headache, muscle pain, and nausea or vomiting, severe reactions range from heart failure and kidney damage to respiratory failure and seizures, according to the Cleveland Clinic. What they are: Dietary supplements in almost every letter of the alphabet, from A to zinc, are over-the-counter pills or liquids that contain nutritional boosts of vitamins and minerals. What they aim to help: Vitamin and mineral supplements aim to fill in with necessary nutrients that a person is not getting through food—though nutritionists believe that healthy food is the best source of such vitamins and minerals. Studies have found supplements may help with practically any issue under the sun—energy, heart issues, cognitive function, gut health, sleep, and more. Risks: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates supplements, but doesn't approve them for safety or effectiveness before they are sold to the public. Some may cause liver damage and toxicity, while others may just be a waste of money. What it is: Amino acids are often referred to as the 'building blocks of proteins,' needed for building proteins, hormones, and neurotransmitters. are compounds that play many critical roles in your body. You need them for vital processes such as building proteins, hormones, and neurotransmitters. Amino acids are concentrated in protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, and soybeans, and foods that contain all nine essential amino acids are called complete proteins. Peptides are short proteins, and come in the form of hormones such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and creatine and collagen. What they aim to help: Amino acid supplements may help with various issues—such as L-arginine for blood flow and inflammation; tryptophan for mood and sleep; and valine, leucine, and isoleucine to help with energy and athletic performance. Taking collagen supplements may help strengthen nails and bones, while people take creatine for boosting workouts and building muscle growth. Risks: Side effects of taking either can range from toxicity and gastrointestinal issues to effects on brain function muscle protein balance. Creatine may cause muscle cramps and digestive problems (and may not have many benefits), while tryptophan may cause dizziness, headache, or nausea. And again, as with all supplements, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates them, but doesn't approve them for safety or effectiveness before they are sold to the public. What it is: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a medical-grade, FDA-approved chamber lets you breathe pure oxygen—as opposed to everyday air, which is just 21% oxygen mixed with nitrogen. Hyperbaric oxygen is also highly pressurized, thereby allowing the lungs to take more in. Home chambers (used by folks including Lebron James, LeAnn Rimes, and Mayim Bialik), as well as those offered in many wellness clinics, do not deliver 100% oxygen. Instead, they use regular air that is 30% more pressurized than normal for what's known as 'mild hyperbarics.' What it aims to help: The FDA has been regulating HBOT chambers since 1976, and has officially cleared 13 medical conditions—such as decompression sickness, burns, radiation injury, and certain wounds—for such treatment. But it's used off-label for many other reasons, including concussions, traumatic brain injury, long COVID, age reversal, stroke recovery, fibromyalgia, and improved brain function, many of which are being looked at in ongoing clinical trials. Risks: For medical-grade chambers, risks include ear and sinus pain, middle ear injuries, temporary vision changes, and lung collapse, which is rare, according to the FDA. For mild hyperbarics, risks include potential exposure to toxic oils from some compressors, carbon dioxide buildup that brings a risk of hypoxia inside the chamber—or, according to some experts and a body of inconclusive evidence, that the treatment may simply be ineffective. This story was originally featured on
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Police search for missing Lake County man
PEACOCK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Police are asking the public for help finding a Lake County man who was last seen Sunday. Jack Albert Peterson, 67, stands 6 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs about 200 pounds. He has green eyes and brown graying hair. According to Michigan State Police, Peterson was last seen Sunday near Irons Road and 4 Mile Road in Irons. He left his vehicle, phone and other personal belongings at home, troopers say. Peterson has Parkinson's disease, MSP said. Anyone who knows where he may be should contact Lake County Central Dispatch at 231.745.2711. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
