Motor Neurons and Brain Stem Deterioration
Original Post: Dr. Bruno, are motor neurons and the brain stem affected by Post-Polio deterioration? Do damaged and surviving brain neurons deteriorate later because of use?
Is “stress” considered exercise for motor neurons?
Dr. Bruno’s Response: The Polio Virus influenced a lot more than we ever imagined.
Red arrows indicate Brain Activating System.
Lighter Yellow & Black cross hatching indicate areas of mild to moderate poliovirus damage.
Darker Yellow & Black cross hatching areas indicate the most severe poliovirus damage.
Source: David Bodian, MD, PhD
Overuse of brain neurons is obviously different than overuse of motor neurons. Thinking too much doesn't stress brain neurons the way that walking too much stresses and damages spinal cord motor neurons.
Certain drugs, like amphetamines, will force polio damaged neurons to overwork by "squeezing" them to produce more neurotransmitters.
And, where people who had polio but refused to conserve to preserve have been shown to lose 7% of their motor neurons every year (versus people who didn't have polio lose 1% per year after the age of 60), even people who didn't have polio lose about a third of their dopamine, brain activating neurons by the time they're 50.
The bottom line: Never mess with dopamine producing neurons or dopamine receptors in the brain.
Look in the Index under the topics of Dopamine and Motor Neurons in the Encyclopedia of Polio and PPS for more information.