Thin, tan, and horny.
Ten years ago, in 2002, I read an article in WIRED magazine about an experimental drug called Melanotan. Early test results indicated that the drug could make a pale person tan, without sun exposure. Side effects included reduce appetite and weight loss, and a high frequency of spontaneous erections.
Thin, tan, and horny … WIRED dubbed Melanotan “the Barbie drug.”
The other day I came across an alarming video of what it’s like to drive in Poland. My first thought after watching the clip was “What’s the Toxoplasmosis gondii infection rate in Poland?” T. gondii is a brain parasite easily acquired from eating undercooked meat, or contact with cats, and is associated with a six-fold increase in traffic accidents (this association has been replicated a number of times, in different countries). Well, I looked it up, and found that the latent infection rate in 2003 was around 41% (at least among pregnant women). That’s quite high — in the U.S. the infection rate is only about 11%.
Is there anything to my hypothesis that terrible driving in Poland is related to the relatively high T. gondii infection rate? Probably not. The accident fatality rate in Poland is relatively high for a modern industrialized country. But France has a very low accident fatality rate, and a much higher rate of T. gondii infection. So while T. gondii might be a contributing factor, it’s probably not the most important variable.
I’m fascinated by latent/chronic biological infections, and how they affect human health and behavior. T. gondii in particular is linked to changes in personality, and even schizophrenia.
What’s shocking to me, as shocking as the driving in Poland video above, is that so few medical professionals are considering latent infections as part of their diagnostic process. The research is here, and so are the diagnostic tests. So why aren’t medical professionals taking advantage of them?
The Future Is Here, It’s Just Not Evenly Distributed -William Gibson
The above quote definitely applies to the medical profession. How many general practitioners are doing the following?
Your brain on civilization.
One way to think about our own brain, personality, and physiology is to consider our sensitivity levels to various neurotransmitters and hormones. Being desensitized or oversensitized to various aspects of our own chemical control systems will drive our behavior and emotions. This happens whether we’re aware of it or not, so we might as well try to understand what’s going on in our brains and endocrine systems.
Most people who live with artificial light, electronic devices, internet connections, abundant food, processed foods, and other conveniences of modern life will eventually experience some degree of being “out-of-whack” in terms of neurotransmitter and hormone sensitivity.
I just got my test results back from 23andMe, a service that analyzes your DNA. I paid $100 for the service and agreed to a one year, $10/month subscription for updates on genetic research.
I’m impressed by the report they provided. It includes sections for disease risks (increased and decreased), carrier traits, responses to drugs, and traits (in the Traits section I learned that I’m “fast caffeine metabolizer” and a “likely sprinter”).
Making the air make notes.
I’m fascinated by the relationship between mathematical ratios and what people perceive to be beautiful or pleasing. In music, simple ratios played as intervals like 2:1, 3:2, and 4:3 (an octave, fifth, and fourth, respectively) are generally considered to be pleasing (or boring, depending on your ear). Ratios that contain higher integers, like 5:4 (major third) and 9:5 (minor seventh) are consider more dissonant, complex, or “challenging,” depending on your personal taste and cultural background.
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