Dear Nareen,
Melatonin is an endogenous neuroprotector produced mostly by the pineal
gland. It is the sleep hormone and should be part of the broad hormone
replacement strategies in the future. Many use it now when a melatonin
deficiency/insufficiency state exists, particularly in the elderly. There
is a ton of research going on with it, now. Last year, my dissertation was
on
"RECOGNIZING DEVELOPMENTAL ALTERATIONS IN ENDOGENOUS PINEAL MELATONIN IN
GEROPSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT"
There has been so much research on it since I submitted it last April,
1994, that I would have to do an entire rewrite if I hadn't finished and
graduated last year. Check the bioscience databases. Sleep medicine and
sleep counseling, soon to be incorporated in mainstream clinical practice,
is in its infancy. I'm glad I was part of its growth and birthing.
Also, DHEA has recently received a lot of research attention also as being
an endogenous neuroprotector and there is a ton of research on that in the
databases as well. Guidelines are being developed now for DHEA
supplementation in neurodegenerative disease and their prevention.
Laboratories are starting to be licensed here in the USA for DHEA-S
urine-plasma screening for DHEA deficiency/insufficiency states.
