Dr. Charles R. Sachatello, a retired physician, announced today that he has published his revised and updated version of his Liver-Brain-Theory online: www.Liver-Brain-Theory.com/
Dr. Sachatello believes that this is single most comprehensive theory ever developed attempting to identify the inciting causes and the reasons for the progressive course of neurodegenerative brain diseases, specifically including Alzheimer’s, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as “motor neuron disease”, Primary Dementia. (Non-Vascular Senile Dementias), Parkinson’s and Age Related Macular Degeneration and any or all degenerative brain diseases currently without an established proximate cause.
This multi year effort prompted Sachatello to propose that the degenerative brain diseases cited above have a common cause: “Neurotoxins” produced in each patient’s own liver. (Hepatic Generated Neurotoxins)
Hepatic generated neurotoxins most likely derive from the inability of the patient’s own liver to completely metabolize a variety of substrates including intact native protein complexes it encounters during the daily routine metabolic processes necessary to sustain life such as eating proteins.
The great majority of these incompletely metabolized substrates are innocuous. Others could well have varying degrees of neurotoxicity. Specific Alzheimer’s and ALS neurotoxins will vary in both the strength of their neurotoxicity and in the quantity produced by each patient’s own liver.
This basic premise of the Liver-Brain-Theory easily accounts for the prolonged, but variable length of the prodromal period of Alzheimer’s (5-10 years). Likewise it provides a ready explanation for the fact that prodromal period of ALS is much shorter than that of Alzheimer’s, most likely in the range of a year or two at most.
Dr. Charles Sachatello is acutely aware of the heretical nature of many of his ideas to the point that many will question his sanity.
Nevertheless the basic premise of the Liver-Brain-Theory is easily testable. The logical conclusion of this heretical theory is simple and straight forward.
A liver transplant (replacement) may very well immediately arrest the further production of these specific neurotoxins resulting in a dramatic decrease in any further loss of muscle strength typically seen in patients with ALS.
A liver transplant will not be able to restore previously lost muscle strength or strengthen atrophied muscles, but is very likely to give an ALS afflicted patient a more normal life expectancy. A liver transplant should have minimal effect in Alzheimer’s because of its extended prodromal course.
If only a single patient with ALS is confirmed to have documented cessation of additional muscle loss following a liver transplant, the basic premise of the Liver-Brain-Theory will have been validated: “Hepatic generated neurotoxins are the proximate cause(s) of ALS”.
Confirmation of the validity of this theory should encourage others to concentrate on isolating and identifying the exact chemical composition and structural configuration of the ALS neurotoxin(s). A secondary corollary of the heretical Liver-Brain-Theory is that very similar neurotoxins will be found to be the proximate cause(s) of Alzheimer’s and many forms of Primary Dementia in addition to age related macular degeneration.
Once the specific neurotoxin(s) causing ALS are identified with absolute certainty, worldwide attention must be directed to finding the nearly identical hepatic generated neurotoxins that Sachatello predicts will be confirmed to be the proximate cause of Alzheimer’s. All subsequent research efforts should focus on studies of the spinal fluid, hepatocytes, glial cell cultures and brains of recently deceased patients with Alzheimer’s attempting to isolate and identify the specific Alzheimer neurotoxin(s).
This theory also predicts that it should be relatively easy to synthesize protein blocking or neutralizing agents precluding the development of additional neurotoxins eliminating or minimizing their neurotoxic effects. Such agents should be able to prevent further symptomatic progression of both ALS and Alzheimer’s in currently afflicted or newly diagnosed patients.
(via email)
"January 5, 2016
Dr. Charles Sachatello
Dear Charles:
I always enjoy hearing from you and especially reports about your liver-brain-theory. As you have emphasized, the ultimate test of the hypothesis would be liver replacement.
Thus, it would be very difficult, particularly in today’s climate to justify liver transplantation for the indication of ALS. Be that as it may, I continue to watch you initiatives with lively interest.
With best regards,
Thomas E. Starzl, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Surgery
Starzl Transplant Institute
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA"
CRS, additional comments:
Repetitive Plasmapheresis (Plasma Exchange) has to potential to mimic a liver transplant with respect to neurodegenerative brain diseases on a short term basis by reducing the quantity of circulating neurotoxins as documented by a marked and measurable reduction in the rate of muscle loss and corresponding loss of muscle strength in patients afflicted with ALS.
In the authors opinion the primary reason that there has been minimal attempt to try a course of repetitive plasmapheresis in patients dying of ALS is probably the unverified statement that plasmapheresis would not be effective in patients dying of ALS published in the official records of the American Society of Neurology in 1986. (Section 10C)
Posted on line 9/25/2016, followed by multiple & frequent revisions;
Final revision: 8/14/2018
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