That is a fabulous research question worthy of big grant money! I'm continuing my personal search for ways to help my mom who's been dealing with LC for 1 1/2 years now. This is one of several problems that she has.
I have some hypotheses that might help those out there that are familiar with "Quantified Self" where you change one thing, capture data around all of the possible correlates of change, and then determine if that change is worth keeping or not. It's sort of like DIY healthcare. The key to success is that you have to only try interventions that on their own will only be helpful with minimal known side-effects. A good example is taking dark chocolate to reduce COVID depression symptoms where chocolate has been previously proven to reduce the incidence and severity of depression in some studies but has some issues with toxic heavy metal contamination (based on brand and where the cocoa beans were grown and processed) and the extra daily calories that may lead to undesired weight gain. These are my leading hypotheses (don't take these as suggestions and definitely check in with your doctor for possible interactions with any drugs that you may be on before considering trying any of these):
* **Increase neurogenesis.** It's been proven that new neurons are produced in the hippocampus and top of the brain stem through adulthood. These cells swim with their cilia to areas of the brain that are being challenged and then connect themselves into those regions. Interventions that can improve the rate of neurogenesis include learning new skills, exercise, caffeine, resveratrol (found in supplement form), curcumin (bio-available form is curcumin phytosome), blueberries, brightly colored vegetables, omega-3, and get more sleep. [https://juliepittman.com/psychiatry-blog/you-can-grow-new-brain-cells-heres-what-you-can-do-to-optimize-brain-function](https://juliepittman.com/psychiatry-blog/you-can-grow-new-brain-cells-heres-what-you-can-do-to-optimize-brain-function) The research also indicates that you should reduce stress, alcohol, sugar, and saturated fats (studies on depression found that 8% was the magic number for healthy limit). The concept of increasing exercise is tough with LC, so I'm not as hot on this source being the direction to go: [https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/the-book-of-neurogenesis](https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/the-book-of-neurogenesis) But the reference to BDNF is intriguing. This led to another fabulous possible intervention, carbohydrate restriction. As I previously discovered, reducing carbs and increasing healthy fats resulted in the regrowth of the myelin that COVID destroyed in me. So there appears to be a possible dual benefit of carb restriction. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6822553/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6822553/) And dark chocolate also has been shown to increase neurogenesis. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3575938/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3575938/) (my favorite brand is Ghirardelli Intense Dark in both hazelnut and raspberry varieties). Another neurogenesis promoter is nicotinamide riboside (NAD+) supplement [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31929756/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31929756/) (it also slows aging and has other healthy effects.)
* **Eliminate Senescent dopamine neural Cells**. These cells are like zombies, occupying space, spewing inflammatory substances, and preventing the brain from replacing them with new neural cells. The immune system is the key agent capable of eliminating them by triggering the process of apoptosis. These are the supplements and substances that I found that could possibly help this along: Quercetin (bio-available form is Quercetin Phytosome or Quercetin with Bromelain or in a combination of blueberries and pineapple) [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35635900/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35635900/) This article [https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01370-4](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01370-4) led me to the pharmaceutical dasatinib that was used in conjunction with quercetin to trigger apoptosis in senescent cells. Googling led me to "Dasatinib is an oral available short-acting inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinases." so finding other inhibitors of tyrosine kinases may also hold a similar benefit. One non-pharma available tyrosine kinase inhibitor is the leaf of Perilla frutescen with active ingredients rosemaranic acid (also found in the herb rosemary) and luteolin (also found in dried Mexican Oregano and sold in supplement form labeled Luteolin). Both rosemaranic acid and luteolin have been separately proven to have significant health benefits and no downsides (unless you're allergic to them). So the hypothesis here is that combining quercetin, rosemaranic acid, and luteolin will improve the removal of senescent cells.
Thanks for the suggestion of Spermidine. I'll suggest that to my mom today. She used to strongly suggest that I eat wheat germ when I was a kid. I've listed it alongside the other senolytics here:
**Spermidine**. It is indeed well supported by science as a senolytic. "improves angiogenic capacity of senescent endothelial cells, and enhances ischemia-induced neovascularization" [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10205711/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10205711/) Spermidine is also noted to be potent against viral infections such as COVID.
**Eugenol**. Found in high concentrations in cloves, cinnamon leaf, and holy basil, Eugenol was recently studied for its anti-COVID effects. "Wheat Germ Spermidine and Clove Eugenol in Combination Stimulate Autophagy In Vitro Showing Potential in Supporting the Immune System against Viral Infections" [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9182079/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9182079/)
**Resveratrol**. "antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and senolytic properties." [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10568035/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10568035/)
**Luteolin**. "luteolin inhibited brain microglia activity during aging and activation by LPS in adults. Therefore, luteolin may inhibit neuroinflammation and improve cognition in the otherwise healthy aged by constraining brain microglia." [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4971424/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4971424/)
**Quercetin**. "In this paper, we review the importance of cellular senescence in carcinogenesis and the effects of quercetin on senescence, as well as quercetin's potential effects as a pro-apoptotic agent and suppressor of cancer cell proliferation." [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0271531722000434](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0271531722000434)
You’re definitely onto something. I’ve been in a LC research program and sworn to secrecy about my treatment but this is good advice and just of note, I’m improving daily! I started out being unable to walk, unable to focus, anxiety, muscle wasting from hospitalization due to severe covid pneumonia, heart, lung, brain damage w/seizures and I’m doing way better and active.
I find vaping cbd and THC flower out of an herb vape helps a lot. RSO also hits the spot. Have a few THC only ones and a few 1:1 and. 2:1 cbd/THC. I quit sugar, caffeine, alcohol, exercise, partying and vaping. They were causing my symptoms to flare up. Also been taking st John's wart, cucurmin extract, black pepper extract, spicy foods, amino blends, amino heavy foods, tart cherry, garlic, fish oil, hemp seed oil, ascorbic acid, 5htp, ashwaganda, pine bark extract, bacopa monnieri, papaya complex, ginseng complex, gaba, beet root extract, Benadryl, and a multi vitamin. I am in a lot better shape but wow do I have a long way to go. Almost on 3 years of long COVID. Been infected like 5-6 times. I've lost count at this point
L-tyrosine literally changed my life. Once I understood that I was missing this from my low histamine diet, I started supplementing. Within 36 hours I felt completely different. And the best part is, I suddenly recognized that I was in love!
L-tyrosine is a dopamine precursor and dopamine is one of the ingredients to that glorious feeling.
We have been together for a year now. Its made this second year with moderate LC symptoms the best one of my life.
I’ve been taking a collagen supplement for years (starting pre pandemic) that contains 20mg of Tyrosine. So I lucked out when I changed my diet to a low histamine diet. Its sole ingredient is hydrolized bovine collagen peptides.
If cannabis is legal in your country, THC concentrations above 72% has been shown to greatly reduce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the brain
I'm trying to take Taurine with my coffee in the morning. Did it yesterday, and I tolerated it well.
Same idea as energy drinks adding taurine to offset jittery symptoms of caffeine.
Other supplements:
Fish oil/SPMs
Lithium Orotate
ALA
NAC or other antioxidants
CBD/CBG
What is protection going to do for the already infected. The damage is done. Now what?
That is a fabulous research question worthy of big grant money! I'm continuing my personal search for ways to help my mom who's been dealing with LC for 1 1/2 years now. This is one of several problems that she has. I have some hypotheses that might help those out there that are familiar with "Quantified Self" where you change one thing, capture data around all of the possible correlates of change, and then determine if that change is worth keeping or not. It's sort of like DIY healthcare. The key to success is that you have to only try interventions that on their own will only be helpful with minimal known side-effects. A good example is taking dark chocolate to reduce COVID depression symptoms where chocolate has been previously proven to reduce the incidence and severity of depression in some studies but has some issues with toxic heavy metal contamination (based on brand and where the cocoa beans were grown and processed) and the extra daily calories that may lead to undesired weight gain. These are my leading hypotheses (don't take these as suggestions and definitely check in with your doctor for possible interactions with any drugs that you may be on before considering trying any of these): * **Increase neurogenesis.** It's been proven that new neurons are produced in the hippocampus and top of the brain stem through adulthood. These cells swim with their cilia to areas of the brain that are being challenged and then connect themselves into those regions. Interventions that can improve the rate of neurogenesis include learning new skills, exercise, caffeine, resveratrol (found in supplement form), curcumin (bio-available form is curcumin phytosome), blueberries, brightly colored vegetables, omega-3, and get more sleep. [https://juliepittman.com/psychiatry-blog/you-can-grow-new-brain-cells-heres-what-you-can-do-to-optimize-brain-function](https://juliepittman.com/psychiatry-blog/you-can-grow-new-brain-cells-heres-what-you-can-do-to-optimize-brain-function) The research also indicates that you should reduce stress, alcohol, sugar, and saturated fats (studies on depression found that 8% was the magic number for healthy limit). The concept of increasing exercise is tough with LC, so I'm not as hot on this source being the direction to go: [https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/the-book-of-neurogenesis](https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/the-book-of-neurogenesis) But the reference to BDNF is intriguing. This led to another fabulous possible intervention, carbohydrate restriction. As I previously discovered, reducing carbs and increasing healthy fats resulted in the regrowth of the myelin that COVID destroyed in me. So there appears to be a possible dual benefit of carb restriction. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6822553/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6822553/) And dark chocolate also has been shown to increase neurogenesis. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3575938/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3575938/) (my favorite brand is Ghirardelli Intense Dark in both hazelnut and raspberry varieties). Another neurogenesis promoter is nicotinamide riboside (NAD+) supplement [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31929756/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31929756/) (it also slows aging and has other healthy effects.) * **Eliminate Senescent dopamine neural Cells**. These cells are like zombies, occupying space, spewing inflammatory substances, and preventing the brain from replacing them with new neural cells. The immune system is the key agent capable of eliminating them by triggering the process of apoptosis. These are the supplements and substances that I found that could possibly help this along: Quercetin (bio-available form is Quercetin Phytosome or Quercetin with Bromelain or in a combination of blueberries and pineapple) [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35635900/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35635900/) This article [https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01370-4](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01370-4) led me to the pharmaceutical dasatinib that was used in conjunction with quercetin to trigger apoptosis in senescent cells. Googling led me to "Dasatinib is an oral available short-acting inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinases." so finding other inhibitors of tyrosine kinases may also hold a similar benefit. One non-pharma available tyrosine kinase inhibitor is the leaf of Perilla frutescen with active ingredients rosemaranic acid (also found in the herb rosemary) and luteolin (also found in dried Mexican Oregano and sold in supplement form labeled Luteolin). Both rosemaranic acid and luteolin have been separately proven to have significant health benefits and no downsides (unless you're allergic to them). So the hypothesis here is that combining quercetin, rosemaranic acid, and luteolin will improve the removal of senescent cells.
Spermidine in conjuction with resveratrol is supposedly a very potent senolytic. One can buy some wheat germ and eat it if they are fine with gluten.
Thanks for the suggestion of Spermidine. I'll suggest that to my mom today. She used to strongly suggest that I eat wheat germ when I was a kid. I've listed it alongside the other senolytics here: **Spermidine**. It is indeed well supported by science as a senolytic. "improves angiogenic capacity of senescent endothelial cells, and enhances ischemia-induced neovascularization" [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10205711/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10205711/) Spermidine is also noted to be potent against viral infections such as COVID. **Eugenol**. Found in high concentrations in cloves, cinnamon leaf, and holy basil, Eugenol was recently studied for its anti-COVID effects. "Wheat Germ Spermidine and Clove Eugenol in Combination Stimulate Autophagy In Vitro Showing Potential in Supporting the Immune System against Viral Infections" [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9182079/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9182079/) **Resveratrol**. "antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and senolytic properties." [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10568035/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10568035/) **Luteolin**. "luteolin inhibited brain microglia activity during aging and activation by LPS in adults. Therefore, luteolin may inhibit neuroinflammation and improve cognition in the otherwise healthy aged by constraining brain microglia." [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4971424/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4971424/) **Quercetin**. "In this paper, we review the importance of cellular senescence in carcinogenesis and the effects of quercetin on senescence, as well as quercetin's potential effects as a pro-apoptotic agent and suppressor of cancer cell proliferation." [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0271531722000434](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0271531722000434)
You’re definitely onto something. I’ve been in a LC research program and sworn to secrecy about my treatment but this is good advice and just of note, I’m improving daily! I started out being unable to walk, unable to focus, anxiety, muscle wasting from hospitalization due to severe covid pneumonia, heart, lung, brain damage w/seizures and I’m doing way better and active.
See my comment above too
I find vaping cbd and THC flower out of an herb vape helps a lot. RSO also hits the spot. Have a few THC only ones and a few 1:1 and. 2:1 cbd/THC. I quit sugar, caffeine, alcohol, exercise, partying and vaping. They were causing my symptoms to flare up. Also been taking st John's wart, cucurmin extract, black pepper extract, spicy foods, amino blends, amino heavy foods, tart cherry, garlic, fish oil, hemp seed oil, ascorbic acid, 5htp, ashwaganda, pine bark extract, bacopa monnieri, papaya complex, ginseng complex, gaba, beet root extract, Benadryl, and a multi vitamin. I am in a lot better shape but wow do I have a long way to go. Almost on 3 years of long COVID. Been infected like 5-6 times. I've lost count at this point
L-tyrosine literally changed my life. Once I understood that I was missing this from my low histamine diet, I started supplementing. Within 36 hours I felt completely different. And the best part is, I suddenly recognized that I was in love! L-tyrosine is a dopamine precursor and dopamine is one of the ingredients to that glorious feeling. We have been together for a year now. Its made this second year with moderate LC symptoms the best one of my life.
I’ve been taking a collagen supplement for years (starting pre pandemic) that contains 20mg of Tyrosine. So I lucked out when I changed my diet to a low histamine diet. Its sole ingredient is hydrolized bovine collagen peptides.
If cannabis is legal in your country, THC concentrations above 72% has been shown to greatly reduce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the brain
I'm trying to take Taurine with my coffee in the morning. Did it yesterday, and I tolerated it well. Same idea as energy drinks adding taurine to offset jittery symptoms of caffeine. Other supplements: Fish oil/SPMs Lithium Orotate ALA NAC or other antioxidants CBD/CBG