Current Drinking Guidelines May Not Be Strong Enough
The number of dementia cases worldwide is expected to triple to more than 150 million by 2050. With no cure in sight there is an increasing focus on changing certain lifestyles habits including drinking habits.
Dr. Topiwala points out there are drugs that reduce iron in the brain, known as chelators. They are already being investigated as potential Alzheimers and Parkinsons treatments.
Alcohol-related brain iron may be partially mediated by higher systemic iron levels, but it is likely there are additional mechanisms involved. Poorer executive function and fluid intelligence and slower reaction speeds were seen with markers of higher basal ganglia iron, study authors write. Brain iron accumulation is a possible mechanism for alcohol-related cognitive decline.
Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adult men of legal age consume no more than two drinks in a day. They recommend adult women limit themselves to one drink a day.
South West News Service writer Mark Waghorn contributed to this report.
People With Parkinsons Who Eat A Diet Rich In Berries And Red Wine May Live Longer
3 or more servings per week of berries, red wine linked to better odds of survival.
A new study shows that people with Parkinsons disease who eat a diet that includes three or more servings per week of foods high in flavonoids, like tea, apples, berries, and red wine, may have a lower chance of dying during the study period than people who do not eat as many flavonoids. The research is published in the January 26, 2022, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study looked at several types of flavonoids and found that higher consumption of flavan-3-ols and anthocyanins, both before and after a Parkinsons diagnosis, was associated with lower risk of death during the study period.
Flavonoids are naturally occurring compounds found in plants and are considered powerful antioxidants. Previous research has shown that flavonoids may have a protective effect on the brain.
Our results are exciting because they suggest that people with Parkinsons in our study who did something as simple as including three or more servings per week of common foods like red berries, apples and orange juice may have improved chances of living longer, said study author Xiang Gao, MD, PhD, of The Pennsylvania State University in University Park.
After adjusting for factors like age and total calories, the group of highest flavonoid consumers had a 70% greater chance of survival compared to people in the lowest group.
Red Wine Polyphenols Reduce Oxidative Stress Through Direct Antioxidant And Iron
The central nervous system is highly susceptible to oxidative stress , mainly due to its high oxygen consumption and metabolic activity . Other reasons for the selective neuronal variability to OS include the presence of elevated amounts of redox-active metals, such as zinc, copper, and iron, and the enrichment of neuronal membranes with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids which are extremely sensitive to oxidation . Because of this, OS has been majorly implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and, hence, direct antioxidant and metal-complexing properties of RWP may be of significance .
It should be emphasized at this point that when considering the final antioxidant effect of red wine, possible synergistic/additive/antagonistic effects among the various polyphenol compounds in the mixture should be taken into account. In fact, a study on the interaction of three RWP quercetin, resveratrol, and caffeic acid in combination revealed markedly different antioxidant/scavenging potencies of the compounds when compared to the activity of individual polyphenols alone .
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Alcohol Intake And Parkinson’s Disease Risk In The Million Women Study
Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
Correspondence to:
TienYu Owen Yang MD, DPhil
Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
Rachel F. Simpson MB BCh
Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
David J. Hunter MBBS, ScD
Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
Correspondence to:
TienYu Owen Yang MD, DPhil
Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
Rachel F. Simpson MB BCh
Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
David J. Hunter MBBS, ScD
Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
Relevant conflicts of interest/financial disclosures:: Nothing to report.
Full financial disclosures and author roles may be found in the online version of this article.
Eating To Ease Symptoms
For some Parkinson’s symptoms, the first step in treatment is to adjust your diet.
- Constipation: Drinking more fluids and eating more fiber can help maintain regularity. Aim to drink six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. Warm liquids, especially in the morning, can stimulate bowel movements. Dietary sources of fiber consist of fruits , vegetables, legumes, whole grain breads and cereals. Most of these are high in antioxidants, as well.
Talk to your doctor or a dietitian to craft a diet that helps you manage your Parkinson’s symptoms and feel energized and healthy.
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Increasing Your Flavonoid Intake
Here are a few tips for increasing your flavonoid intake:
- Start your day with a cup of green tea
- Snack on berries for a sweet pick-me-up
- Choose red wine
- Top oatmeal and yogurt parfaits with sliced apples
For people with Parkinson’s, making any dietary changes can be tricky. People with the diagnosis often have trouble swallowing or have a hard time with tasks like holding cutleryboth of which make eating some foods more difficult.
If you or a loved one has Parkinson’s and wants to find safe ways to incorporate more flavonoid-rich foods into your diet, a registered dietitian can be a helpful resource.
Best Wines To Enjoy This Holiday Season
A toast to the season.
Bettmann Archive
As a wine lover I particularly look forward to this time of year. This is when the mastery of the modern wine maker is on full display. At countless family get togethers, holiday work parties, dinners out with loved ones, and a host of other occasions it seems that each bottle of wine opened only seems to get better. There has never been a better time to fall in love with the elixir of the gods.
Thanksgiving Day is the official kick off to the holiday sipping season, though Halloween certainly offers up several opportunities to imbibe too. Thats when elaborate menus start getting laid out, the holiday ornament boxes come out of storage, and everyone starts thinking about the best wines to pair with right dishes.
But there are more choices than ever these days offering interesting blends, new varietals, and old classics begging to be opened. To help make your holiday get togethers simpler here are some of the best wines I have had the privilege to sample this last year while forever in search of the perfect bottle to write about.
Cakebread Cellars 2020 Two Creeks Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley.
Cakebread Cellars
Cakebread Cellars 2020 Two Creeks Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley
Mayacamas 2019 Merlot
Siduri 2018 Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir
Algodon PIMA 2012.
Algodon Wine
Algodon PIMA 2012
Black Stallion Estates Gaspare Estate Vineyard 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
Penfolds 2021 Bin 311 Chardonnay
Ponzi Vineyards 2018 Laurelwood Chardonnay
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How Will My Daily Life Be Affected
Parkinsons is such an individual and personal condition, it affects everyone differently so it is difficult to say to how it will impact on your everyday life. Many people find they can carry on as usual with hardly any problems for some time, but as the illness progresses you will probably find that you need to adapt your routine to make life easier.
The type of symptoms you experience and how well your medication controls them will be a big factor, so keeping a close eye on how effective your medication is and communicating well with your doctor is crucial in managing your Parkinsons and enabling you to continue your usual activities. Keeping in contact with friends and doing the things you enjoy are also important in maintaining a positive attitude and ensuring that you continue to enjoy a good quality of life.
If over time you find some activities start to get difficult, talk to your doctor and other healthcare professionals, they may be able to suggest adaptations or specialist equipment that can help you continue to do these things for longer.
See also:
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Study Population And Exclusion Criteria
We included all men and women in Sweden who were hospitalized with either a diagnosis of an alcohol use disorder or appendicitis between January 1, 1972 and December 31, 2008, identified through the Swedish National Inpatient Register. This register is kept by the National Board of Health and Welfare and covers the entire Swedish population.
The study was approved by the Stockholm Regional Ethical Review Board, Sweden.
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Eat Plenty Of Protein But Not With Levodopa Medications
If youre taking a levodopa medication, your doctor may tell you to avoid protein when taking your meds. Both animal and plant protein can interfere with the absorption of levodopa medications.
But you should still eat plenty of protein. Just be strategic with the timing. Dont take levodopa medications with meals, Dr. Gostkowski says. Its best to take it on an empty stomach either 30 minutes before your meal or an hour after eating.
If you get nauseous from the medication, eat a small amount of starchy food with it, such as crackers. Make sure whatever you eat with your medicine doesnt have protein. Its a misunderstanding that people with Parkinsons should avoid protein, Dr. Gostkowski says. You definitely need protein in your diet. Just dont eat it when youre taking your levodopa medication.
Nutritional Support For Parkinsons Disease
#Parkinsons disease is the fastest growing #neurological condition in the world, it is progressive and chronic and currently there is no cure. In its most advance stages, it can necessitate around the clock care, with patients experiencing both #motor and non-motor impairments. Published in the Journal of Restorative Medicine researchers from Maryland University of Integrative Health have recently reviewed several potentially beneficial foods and bioactive substances for patients with Parkinsons disease , as well as those items that may contribute to or exacerbate symptoms.
The most important factor highlighted was the need for early detection of PD symptoms, even without a diagnosis, this early identification was shown to better enable nutritional and lifestyle changes that support reductions in #neuroinflammation and #neurodegeneration. Several studies have suggested that a diet focused on #whole foods, with a variety of vegetables, low sugar fruits, quality protein, healthy fat intake, and complex carbohydrates, can positively influence both motor and non-motor functions as well as protect against inflammation and neurodegeneration. Anti-inflammatory diets need to be tailored towards a patients symptoms and should include food groups that positively affect neural pathways, such as #omega-3 fatty acids, #curcumin, #flavonoids, #B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin E, #choline, antioxidant combinations, and #selenium.
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How Does Alcohol Affect Parkinsons Symptoms
In general, alcohol can be harmful to people with chronic conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , overconsuming alcohol can be a long-term risk factor for a weakened immune system, learning and memory problems, high blood pressure, digestive issues, and various types of cancer. When looking specifically at Parkinsons symptoms, however, reports differ on how alcohol and PD may be linked.
The type of alcoholic beverage consumed may affect whether drinking has an impact on PD. A 2013 study found that the risk for developing Parkinson’s disease appeared to increase depending on the amount of liquor consumed, although no link was conclusively found between drinking wine and the development of PD.
In terms of how long-term alcohol use affects the risk of PD, one study published in 2013 followed people who had been admitted to the hospital with alcohol use disorders for up to 37 years. The study authors found that a history of alcohol abuse increased the risk of admission into the hospital for Parkinsons for both men and women. The study authors suggested that chronically drinking too much alcohol can have neurotoxic effects on dopamine, the neurotransmitter in the brain that is relevant to Parkinson’s disease.
There may also be factors other than observable symptoms such as how alcohol interacts with your medication that are important to consider when making decisions about your lifestyle and drinking habits.
Can I Continue To Drink Alcohol
You will need to check with your doctor if alcohol can be consumed with the medication you are taking. In many cases, a moderate consumption may be fine.
Medication should not be taken with alcohol, and when building up the dose of a new medication, alcohol should generally be avoided.
Keep in mind that alcohol can make any incontinence problems worse and long drinks, such as beers and lagers, tend to have a worse effect than short drinks, such as spirits.
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Classification Of Alcohol Exposure
Each individual was considered to be exposed from the time of his or her first admission with a diagnosis of an alcohol use disorder recorded in the Swedish National Inpatient Register during the study period. Survival time was calculated as the interval between this date and the date of first admission with PD, administrative censoring on 31 December 2008, or as recorded in the National Cause of Death Register, whichever came first. The criteria for assignment to the cohort with alcohol diagnoses were: ICD-8: 291.00-.99 , 303.00-.99 ICD-9: 291A-X , 303 , 305A , 980A-X ICD-10: F10.0-9 , F10.0-.9 , T51.0-9 , X45 .
Can I Take Part In A Clinical Trial
Research is a key aspect of Parkinsons and there are many research projects and trials in various countries. But before considering taking part in one, always discuss this with your doctor and seek his or her advice as to whether or not your participation may have an impact on your current treatment plan. It could be very helpful to contact the national Parkinsons association1, 2 in your country as they may be able to provide further details so that you will have as much information as possible with you when you talk with your doctor.
For further information, including the trial process, benefits and risks to participating, see Clinical Trials.
References:
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Health Benefits Of Red Wine Are They Fact Or Fiction
The benefits of red wine have been extolled even before Roman times. In antiquity wine was widely used to treat everything from battle wounds, skin lesions, hair loss, cancers, a wide range of digestive disorders, and was used to purify contaminated drinking water because of the alcohol in wine . During the Middle Ages, wine was sometimes used during exorcisms because it was considered by some religious orders to have almost magical powers to remove demonic spiritual forces.
In more modern times, achieving the good health benefits from wine did not have to involve a priest. Traveling snake oil salesmen promised relief from all kinds of health and mental afflictions through secret elixirs and potions that were based on wine.
Even the Pope has been known to extoll the healing powers of wine concoctions.
Which Foods Are Good For Parkinsons Disease
For patients with Parkinsons disease, there is no medically proven singular food/diet that treats the symptoms of the disease. However, a patient is always recommended to have healthy & balanced diet in order to improve the general health. Intake of right amount of fruits and vegetables help patient to stay hydrated and energetic. It may happen so that food rich in fiber may help ease out the symptoms of low blood pressure and constipation. The Parkinsons disease medication regime impacts the diet too. It is essentially important to adjust the timings & composition of the meal, so that the medications may work better. The doctor may ask the patient to avoid specific food in order to eliminate side-effects.
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First Evidence Of Survival Advantage
Flavonoids are plant-derived polyphenolic molecules found in fruits such as berries, apples, and oranges vegetables such as kale and broccoli and beverages, including tea and red wine. They are the dietary components that give many foods their vibrant color.
Certain flavonoids have been shown previously to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
A previous study by Gao and colleagues showed that flavonoids were associated with a lower future risk for developing PD. However, it did not provide evidence these nutrients improved survival rates among PD patients.
The new analysis included participants from the ongoing Nurses’ Health Study of female registered nurses, which began in 1976, and male participants from the ongoing Health Professionals Follow-up Study , which began in 1986.
All participants answered questionnaires at baseline and then biennially to update information on demographics, lifestyle, medical history, and occurrence of chronic disease.
Using validated food-frequency questionnaires completed every 4 years, researchers assessed dietary intakes of total flavonoid, six flavonoid subclasses, and flavonoid-rich foods such as tea, apples, berries, oranges and orange juice, and red wine.
Frequency of consumption of flavonoid-rich foods was categorized into four groups: one or less servings per month , one to three servings per month, one to two servings per week, and three or more servings per week.