From the Foreword by Robert K. Murray, MD, PhD:
I came to know JC Spencer via his founding of The Endowment for Medical Research (Houston, Texas) and through his organization (and that of his many inspiring colleagues) of the first two Glycomics Medical Conferences sponsored by The Endowment. A major aim of these very successful and well attended Conferences was to inform healthcare workers and others of the new scientific area of Glycomics and its possible application to helping individuals suffering from chronic neurodegenerative conditions.

My impressions of JC were then, and are now, that he is a man with tremendous energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the goals of The Endowment. I believe that readers of this book will find these and other qualities of JC’s shine through as they peruse this significant work.

What will you find in this volume? I can say that you will encounter a myriad of various fascinating subjects. Directly concerning the brain, these include discussions of neurons, neurotransmitters, optimal nutrition for the brain, a host of relevant matters on basic psychology, savants, mental exercises and recovery from brain damage. Other subjects include pH, electrolytes, rogue electrons, mitochondria, aging, the value of placebos, fetal alcohol syndrome and tips regarding healthful nutrition. With regard to sugars, the reader will find valuable information on simple sugars, sugar chains, glycoproteins and the basic concept of Glycomics. The nutritional value of various sugars is discussed, with some being rated bad and others as “royal”.

A subject dear to JC’s heart and that of his colleagues, particularly Charles Eschweiler (affectionately known as Chad), is the sugar trehalose. This is a plant disaccharide made up of two molecules of glucose linked in a specific manner. Attention to this sugar was started by a report that it appeared to benefit mice suffering from a model of Huntington’s disease, a chronic neurodegenerative condition. The Endowment plans to conduct in-depth studies on the effects of this sugar on patients with several different chronic neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Funds raised from the sale of this book will be used to further such work. Could there be a better cause?

The book is sprinkled liberally with down-home anecdotes based on JC’s early life on a farm in Missouri. Throughout, JC emphasizes the therapeutic effect of humor. “Laugh and the world laughs with you, Weep, and you weep alone…” (Ella Wheeler Wilcox). Another theme dear to my own heart concerns the beneficial effects of good music.

The book is organized in three volumes. The first two volumes contain various Chapters covering the matters referred to above, as well as others. Volume Three contains a very substantial Glossary, various references and resources. The DSHEA Act, the Dietary Supplementary Health and Education Act of 1994, is presented and commented upon in some detail.

Well, enough of this Foreword. It is just keeping you back from getting on with reading this fascinating book. Keep your thinking cap on. Reading it will certainly stimulate your neurons!

Rob Murray, MD, PhD