Sunday, March 24, 2024
Sunday, March 24, 2024
HomeQuestionsIs There A Way To Prevent Parkinson's Disease

Is There A Way To Prevent Parkinson’s Disease

Examine Environmentally Relevant Concentrations And Routes Of Exposure

How can we cure Parkinson’s?

In vivo toxicant models of PD historically fall into two categories: 1) models of neurodegeneration or 2) models of exposure. The former have been a major focus of basic PD research for the last several decades, where the significant loss of dopaminergic neurons from the SN and motor behavioral deficits are standard outcomes. For example, the toxin 6-hydroxydopamine causes severe dopaminergic cell death, which is ideal for unilateral lesioning of the SN or its projections to striatum . Similarly, differential dosing with MPTP can cause acute dopaminergic neurodegeneration or can be administered repeatedly to produce a progressive SN lesion in rodents and non-human primates . These models have been useful. Surgical treatments, such as deep brain stimulation , were developed based on animal models of PD , but this same success has not yet occurred for pharmacological treatments.

Box 1: Types of Mixtures to Consider in Neurodegenerative Research Models
Simple Mixture: Small number of chemicals with known composition.
Examples: pesticide cocktail , metals in drinking water ,
pharmaceutical treatments. The composition could be based on known human exposures but should also consider
related compounds in the same chemical class.
Complex Mixture: More than 10 of chemicals with unknown composition.
Examples: air pollution, welding fumes, oil spills, contaminated drinking water. The composition could be
equimolar or derived from human population data.
Table 1

Is There A Cure For Parkinsons

Theres currently no cure for Parkinsons, a disease that is chronic and worsens over time. More than 50,000 new cases are reported in the United States each year. But there may be even more, since Parkinsons is often misdiagnosed.

Its reported that Parkinsons complications was the

Complications from Parkinsons can greatly reduce quality of life and prognosis. For example, individuals with Parkinsons can experience dangerous falls, as well as blood clots in the lungs and legs. These complications can be fatal.

Proper treatment improves your prognosis, and it increases life expectancy.

It may not be possible to slow the progression of Parkinsons, but you can work to overcome the obstacles and complications to have a better quality of life for as long as possible.

Parkinsons disease is not fatal. However, Parkinsons-related complications can shorten the lifespan of people diagnosed with the disease.

Having Parkinsons increases a persons risk for potentially life threatening complications, like experiencing:

  • falls

Parkinsons often causes problems with daily activities. But very simple exercises and stretches may help you move around and walk more safely.

Physical Exercise Can Reduce Inflammation And Oxidative Stress

Accumulation of the -syn protein in neurons leads to inflammation in the brain . Aggregation of -Syn induced the production of proinflammatory cytokines, which are toxic and thus cause cell death of dopaminergic neurons . Therefore, reducing the inflammatory response may be an effective way to deal with PD. Several studies found that physical exercise can improve the oxidative metabolism and the expression of antioxidant enzymes in the brain of mice . Tuon et al. indicated that physical exercise was beneficial in reducing the production of proinflammatory proteins and inflammation in the brain of PD mice . This result is consistent with previous studies by Sung et al. and Al-Jarrah et al., which suggested that physical exercise could decrease the level of proinflammatory proteins in the striatum and hippocampus in the PD experimental model through reducing the activity of microglia .

Based on the above studies, we speculate that multiple pathways are involved in the regulation of physical exercise in PD animal experiments, such as alleviate the production of proinflammatory factors in the musculoskeletal muscle, reduce the expression of inflammatory factors in the brain, reduce the inflammatory response, and regulate oxidative stress .

Read Also: When Was Muhammad Ali Diagnosed With Parkinson’s Disease

How Is Parkinsons Disease Treated

There is no cure for Parkinsons disease. However, medications and other treatments can help relieve some of your symptoms. Exercise can help your Parkinsons symptoms significantly. In addition, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language therapy can help with walking and balance problems, eating and swallowing challenges and speech problems. Surgery is an option for some patients.

The Promise And Potential Of Stem Cells In Parkinsons Disease

Kayasetu

Neurosurgeon Viviane Tabar is co-leading a trial to inject stem cells into the brains of people with Parkinsons disease to restore dopamine levels.Credit: Courtesy of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Neurosurgeon Viviane Tabar has scrubbed in. In front of her is the first participant in a clinical trial to determine whether stem cells can be safely injected into the brains of people with Parkinsons disease. The cells had been frozen, but they are now thawed and sitting on ice, waiting for their moment.

Tabar, a physician-scientist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, makes an incision in her patients scalp and drills a small hole in their skull. She then uses a brain scan almost like a GPS, she says, to guide her to the putamen a part of the brain in which levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine are unusually low in people with Parkinsons. Once she has confirmed that shes reached the right spot, she injects the stem cells, then repeats the process on the other side of the brain. She hopes these cells will take hold and eventually begin to produce dopamine where otherwise there would be little or none. The surgery itself is minor enough that the patient can go home the next day.

Also Check: Parkinsons Disease Graphs

Naturalremedy For Parkinsons #7 Omega

Animal based omega-3 fatty acids are a powerful weapon inthe fight against Parkinsons disease. One of the main fatty acids, DHA, is oneof the essential building blocks for the human brain. Half of your brain andeyes are made up of fat and a large proportion of this is DHA fat.

Omega-3 fatty acids have the unique ability to cross theblood-brain barrier, something most conventional drugs cannot do. They helpincrease dopamine levels and reduce neuroinflammation in the brain, while atthe same time, stimulating neuron growth. So basically, EPA and DHA help preventbrain cell damage and keep the nervous system in tip top working order! 4

Best sources of animal based omega-3s are either fishoil, cod liver oil or krill oil. High strength krill oil is the preferred option as thiscontains a substance called Astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is a potent brain food nutrientthat has been shown to prevent neurodegeneration and inflammation of the brain.For dosages, take AT LEAST the highest recommended amount listed on the bottle the same goes with fish oil or cod liver oil. You cant overdose on thesesupplements so theres nothing to be concerned about. In fact, the more omega-3syou can get into you the better the results!

In addition to this, try and eat some cold water fattyfish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines or herring 3-4 times a week foran extra supply of DHA and EPA.

What Causes Parkinson’s Disease

No one knows for sure what makes these nerve cells break down. But scientists are doing a lot of research to look for the answer. They are studying many possible causes, including aging and poisons in the environment.

Abnormal genes seem to lead to Parkinson’s disease in some people. But so far, there is not enough proof to show that it is always inherited.

Recommended Reading: Sam Waterston Stroke

Natural Treatment For Parkinsons #3 Turmeric And Otherherbs And Spices:

A recent study published in the journal Stem Cell Research & Therapy, foundthat the extracts in turmeric, particularly curcumin and the newly discovered Ar-turmerone,can regenerate a damaged brain and reverse neurological disorders. Researchers said Ar-turmerone is a promising candidate to supportregeneration in neurologic disease. Michigan State University researcherBasir Ahmad also found that a compound in turmeric may help fight Parkinsonsdisease by disrupting the proteins responsible for the disease.

Another study published in the Pharmacognosy Magazine found that tumeric can prevent and evenreverse the toxic effects exerted on the brain from fluoride exposure. Fluorideis a nasty and dangerous heavy metal that destroys brain cells and the intricateworkings of the central nervous system. Fluoride poisoning has also beenimplicated in the development of neurological diseases such as Alzheimers,Parkinsons, ALS and multiple sclerosis. 7

Turmeric is also a very potent anti-inflammatory spice. Because Parkinsons is aninflammation type disease, turmeric will help immensely. A heaped teaspoon ofhigh quality turmeric powder taken 3 times daily in asmoothie will do the trick. Just make sure you combine it with 10-12 blackpeppercorns for enhanced absorption Turmeric is also fat soluble so youll need tocombine it with some coconut oil, red palm oil or fish/krill oil as well.

What Are The Symptoms Of Parkinsons Disease

Parkinson’s Disease: The BEST way to prevent falls

Symptoms of Parkinsons disease and the rate of decline vary widely from person to person. The most common symptoms include:

Other symptoms include:

  • Speech/vocal changes: Speech may be quick, become slurred or be soft in tone. You may hesitate before speaking. The pitch of your voice may become unchanged .
  • Handwriting changes: You handwriting may become smaller and more difficult to read.
  • Depression and anxiety.
  • Sleeping disturbances including disrupted sleep, acting out your dreams, and restless leg syndrome.
  • Pain, lack of interest , fatigue, change in weight, vision changes.
  • Low blood pressure.

Don’t Miss: Parkinsons Facial Expression

If You Have Parkinson’s Disease

If you have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, call your doctor if:

  • You notice any significant change in your symptoms, such as severe episodes of freezingâa sudden loss of mobilityâwhich may affect walking.
  • Your response to your medicine changes.
  • Any other symptoms occur, such as constipation, sexual problems, or incontinence.
  • You have symptoms of depression, such as feeling sad or hopeless and losing interest in daily activities.
  • You or your family notice that you have problems with memory and thinking ability.

Why Isnt Parkinsons Disease Curable

With decades of research into this illness, why havent scientists found a cure for Parkinsons disease? Unfortunately, the brain isn’t straightforward, and every case of Parkinson’s presents slightly differently. As such, there are no specific biomarkers for the disease, making it hard to diagnose and even harder to treat.

The bottom line is, there is still a lot about the brain that we don’t understand. Parkinson’s is a complex disease and many unanswered questions about Parkinson’s remain. On top of all of this, recruitment for clinical trials can be difficult, and many get delayed for this reason.

Read Also: Can You Die From Parkinson\’s Disease

Symptoms And Warning Signs

Symptoms of Parkinsons fall into two major categories: those related to motor functions, and those related to changes in someones mood. The four most common signs and symptoms of Parkinsons disease include:

  • Trembling: This usually presents itself in the arms, jaw, legs and face.
  • Rigidity: Most patients experience stiffness of the bodys core as well as their arms and legs.
  • Bradykinesia: This is the term for slowness of movement. Some patients pause or freeze when moving without being able to start again, and others begin to shuffle when trying to walk.
  • Postural instability : This results in loss of strength, loss of balance and problems with moving muscles or coordinating body parts.

Other symptoms that can also occur, which often impact someones moods and other behaviors, include:

  • Sexual dysfunction

Niacin Is A Protector With Metal Binding Properties

How to Prevent Parkinson

Vitamin B3, or niacin, also known as nicotinic acid, may alleviate certain types of early-onset PD symptoms . Niacin has been shown to attenuate neuroinflammation through an action on niacin receptor 1 , also known as GPR109A and may have a therapeutic potential toward PD . Although moderate amounts of niacin are found in a number of foods, including chicken, turkey, beef, peanut and mushrooms, the vitamin can be supplemented in therapeutic doses as tablets. In MPTP exposed rodents, the administration of nicotinamide gave a dose-dependent saving of striatal DA levels and SN neurons . Niacin, which is a precursor for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide needed for DA production, may serve several purposes, i.e., reduce inflammation through NIARC1-related mechanisms, increase DA synthesis in the striatum through NADPH supply and increase NAD/NADH ratio to restore complex 1 functions in mitochondria. Niacin can also bind transition metal ions including Fe into stable complexes .

Don’t Miss: What Are Early Warning Signs Of Parkinson’s Disease

Diet And Exercise May Play Key Roles

Parkinson’s disease results from the death of dopamine-producing nerve cells within an area of the brain called the substantia nigra.

Since dopamine regulates movement, depletion of it results in motor symptoms like shaking, stiffness, and walking problems. Non-motor symptoms, like depression, sleep problems, and loss of smell, also commonly occur.

While there is no definitive way yet to prevent Parkinson’s disease, eating a “brain-healthy” diet and incorporating physical activity into your daily routine might help reduce the risk or delay symptom onset. This article reviews the potential roles of diet and exercise in PD prevention.

Stopping Parkinson’s Disease Before It Starts

Date:
Osaka University
Summary:
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Characterized by accumulation of the protein alpha-synuclein, there is currently no cure for PD. Scientists have now developed a novel treatment effectively ameliorated disease symptoms in a mouse model of PD.

An Osaka University-led research team has recently published findings that provide a ray of hope for the millions of Parkinson’s disease sufferers worldwide. Although more common in those aged over sixty, PD can strike at any age, with an estimated prevalence of 41 per 100,000 people in their forties. And while not fatal in and of itself, the progressive neurodegeneration that is characteristic of PD can often cause secondary effects that lead to death.

The exact cause of PD is still a mystery, but researchers believe that both genetics and the environment are likely to play a part. Importantly though, all PD patients show a loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain and increased levels of a protein called -synuclein, which accumulates in Lewy bodies. Lewy bodies are a pathological feature of both familial and sporadic forms of the disease, as well as some types of dementia.

In the study published this month in Scientific Reports, the team led by researchers from Osaka University’s Graduate School of Medicine focused on -synuclein as a target for a novel PD treatment.

Story Source:

Also Check: Paroxysmal Kinesigenic Dyskinesia Prognosis

Risk Factors And Causes

There isnt one single cause of Parkinsons that has been proven at this time. Researchers believe a loss of the neurotransmitter dopamine, neurological damage, inflammation and brain cell deterioration are among the primary factors that trigger Parkinsons development. But why exactly patients develop these problems is a complex issue that remains up for debate.

What is known is that certain risk factors can make someone more susceptible to developing Parkinsons disease, which can include:

  • Being a man, especially during older age. Research suggests that men in their 50s and 60s are most likely to develop Parkinsons.
  • Genetic susceptibility: Studies have now identified several gene mutations that can put someone at a greater risk. Parkinsons has also been found to run in families, and having a sibling or parent increases someones risk.
  • Damage to the area of the brain called the substantia nigra, which produces brain cells that are responsible for making dopamine.
  • Toxicity and exposure to chemicals, including pesticides present on produce from non-organic farming. Living in a rural area and drinking well-water that might contain chemicals is another environmental risk factor.
  • Poor diet, nutrient deficiencies, food allergies and an unhealthy lifestyle.
  • Hormonal imbalances and other medical conditions that affect cognitive health and increase inflammation.

Myth : Aside From Medication There Isnt Much You Can Do

ð§ 4 Clinically Proven Ways To Avoid Parkinsonâs & Alzheimerâs – by Dr Sam Robbins

Fact: This it is what it is theres nothing I can do to help myself myth is counterproductive. There is a lot you can do chiefly, keeping as active as you can. A recent study found that patients with Parkinsons who took part in weekly, hourlong exercise sessions were able to do more in their daily lives than those who did not.

Read Also: Postural Instability In Parkinson’s Disease

Management Of Medical Problems

Poor health management may result in Parkinsons disease problems during later years of human life. Obesity has a close connection with altered levels of dopamine in the human brain and in midlife it triples the risk related to the development of Parkinsons disease. Manage your medical problems properly to prevent Parkinsons disease.

What Causes Parkinsons Disease

Parkinsons disease occurs when nerve cells in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra become impaired or die. These cells normally produce dopamine, a chemical that helps the cells of the brain communicate . When these nerve cells become impaired or die, they produce less dopamine. Dopamine is especially important for the operation of another area of the brain called the basal ganglia. This area of the brain is responsible for organizing the brains commands for body movement. The loss of dopamine causes the movement symptoms seen in people with Parkinsons disease.

People with Parkinsons disease also lose another neurotransmitter called norepinephrine. This chemical is needed for proper functioning of the sympathetic nervous system. This system controls some of the bodys autonomic functions such as digestion, heart rate, blood pressure and breathing. Loss of norepinephrine causes some of the non-movement-related symptoms of Parkinsons disease.

Scientists arent sure what causes the neurons that produce these neurotransmitter chemicals to die.

Recommended Reading: Sam Waterston Tremor

Eat Fresh Raw Vegetables

If you needed more reasons to eat your vegetables, this should be the clincher. Studies show that increased amounts of the B vitamin folic acid, found primarily in vegetables, can significantly reduce the risk of Parkinsons.

The best sources of folic acid are simultaneously some of the healthiest foods on the planet, namely dark green vegetables like broccoli, spinach, collard greens, brussels sprouts, asparagus and okra all of which can be grown in your backyard! This B vitamin can also be found in avocado, legumes and lentils.

RELATED ARTICLES

Popular Articles