Parkinsons Patients Less Likely To Catch Common Cold: Study
People with early-stage Parkinsons disease may be about 70% less likely to catch the common cold than those with other common brain diseases, a Japanese study suggests. The study, Are patients with Parkinsons disease at a lower risk of catching the common cold? Propensity score matching, was published
Blood Biomarkers Identified For Cognitive Changes With Parkinsons
Blood levels of small vesicles originating in neurons and containing proteins related to Parkinsons disease or Alzheimers disease alpha-synuclein, phosphorylated tau, or insulin receptor substrate 1 can be biomarkers of cognitive impairment in Parkinsons patients, a study reported. Changes in the levels of vesicles carrying these
What Tests Will Be Done To Diagnose This Condition
When healthcare providers suspect Parkinsons disease or need to rule out other conditions, various imaging and diagnostic tests are possible. These include:
New lab tests are possible
Researchers have found possible ways to test for possible indicators or Parkinsons disease. Both of these new tests involve the alpha-synuclein protein but test for it in new, unusual ways. While these tests cant tell you what conditions you have because of misfolded alpha-synuclein proteins, that information can still help your provider make a diagnosis.
The two tests use the following methods.
- Spinal tap. One of these tests looks for misfolded alpha-synuclein proteins in cerebrospinal fluid, which is the fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord. This test involves a spinal tap , where a healthcare provider inserts a needle into your spinal canal to collect some cerebrospinal fluid for testing.
- Skin biopsy. Another possible test involves a biopsy of surface nerve tissue. A biopsy includes collecting a small sample of your skin, including the nerves in the skin. The samples come from a spot on your back and two spots on your leg. Analyzing the samples can help determine if your alpha-synuclein has a certain kind of malfunction that could increase the risk of developing Parkinsons disease.
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Dont Use Ldn With Opiates
In Dr Phil Boyle LDN Prescribing Doctor Low Dose Naltrexone SD, Dr. Phil Boyle discusses the use of Low Dose Naltrexone for Crohns disease, fibromyalgia, systematic sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and cancer.
Dr. Boyle warns never to take Low Dose Naltrexone with an opiate! He says that its also important to confirm normal liver and kidney function before taking LDN.
What Are The Risk Factors For Parkinsons Disease
Risk factors for PD include:
- Older age people aged 60 or older have a higher risk than younger people
- Heredity if PD runs in the family, your risk of getting it is increased
- Gender men are more likely to get PD than women
- Environmental factors exposure to pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, and other toxic chemicals may increase the risk
- Head trauma blows to the head likely increases the risk of PD
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New Medications For Off Time
A number of new medications approved recently are designed to reduce OFF time. These medications fall into two major categories:
- Medications that lengthen the effect of a carbidopa/levodopa dose
- Medications that are used as needed if medication effects wear off
Well give specific examples below. In general, new medications that extend the length of a carbidopa/levodopa dose are used if OFF time is somewhat predictable and occurs prior to next dose. New medications that are used as needed are most beneficial when OFF time is not predictable.
New medications that lengthen the effect of a dose of carbidopa/levodopa
- Istradefylline is an adenosine A2A receptor antagonist which was approved in the US in 2019 as an add-on therapy to levodopa for treatment of OFF time in PD. Unlike many of the other medications, it has a novel mechanism of action and is the first medication in its class to be approved for PD. It acts on the adenosine receptor, which modulates the dopaminergic system, but is not directly dopaminergic. The drug was developed in Japan and underwent clinical trials both in Japan and in the US.
- Opicapone is a catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor that is taken once a day. It was approved in the US in 2020 as an add-on therapy to levodopa for motor fluctuations.
New formulations of levodopa designed to be used as needed if medication effects wear off
Other medications used as needed if medication effects wear off
To Slow Or Stop Disease Progression
The researchers found that the BMP5/7 protein hada significant protective effect against the misfolded alpha-synuclein proteins.
According to senior study author Dr. Claude Brodski, of the Israel-based Ben-Gurion University of the Negevs Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, We found that BMP5/7 treatment can, in a Parkinsons disease mouse model, efficiently prevent movement impairments caused by the accumulation of alpha-synuclein and reverse the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. He continues:
These findings are very promising, since they suggest that BMP5/7 could slow or stop Parkinsons disease progression. Currently, we are focusing all our efforts on bringing our discovery closer to clinical application.
The universitys technology transfer company, BGN Technologies, is currently looking to bring the development to the market.
Dr. Galit Mazooz-Perlmuter, the companys senior vice president of bio-pharma business development, notes that There is a vast need for new therapies to treat Parkinsons disease, especially in advanced stages of the disease.
Dr. Brodskis findings, although still in their early stages, offer a disease-modified drug target that will address this devastating condition. We are now seeking an industry partner for further development of this patent-pending invention.
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Why Does Pd Increase The Risk
The nervous system refers to the nerves in the body and how they work together. Our bodies have 2 kinds of nervous systems, autonomic and somatic. The somatic nervous system includes the nerves that we can control, like those that help move our muscles. The autonomic nervous system controls the things that happen without us thinking about them.3
PD causes damage to nerves in the brain that control movement. That same damage can occur to other parts of the brain, affecting the ANS. In PD, this can look like arrythmias and orthostatic hypotension.3
When we move from laying down to sitting or from sitting to standing, gravity pulls blood down to our feet. The body uses the ANS to prevent low blood pressure when this occurs. Orthostatic hypotension, or big drops in blood pressure when changing positions, happens when the ANS is not able to do its job.3
The ANS also controls our heart rate. When it is not working properly, it does not send the right signals to the heart. This can result in a heart rate that is too fast, too slow, or irregular. This can decrease the amount of blood reaching the brain and body.3
Fluids For Constipation In Parkinsons Disease
Be guided by your doctor, but general suggestions include:
- Try to drink six to eight glasses of fluid every day. Water is best, but you can also include fluid in the form of soup, juice, tea and coffee.
- Limit drinks that cause dehydration such as alcohol, tea and coffee.
- Spread your drinks throughout the day.
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Foods That Are Hard To Chew
Another Parkinsons symptom is difficulty chewing and swallowing. In fact, its estimated that 80% of people with this condition experience difficulty swallowing as the disease progresses .
Choosing foods that are easy to chew and swallow may be important, as may working with a speech language therapist.
A New Era For Parkinsons Disease Treatment
March 2, 2022 | By
A non-invasive ultrasound treatment for Parkinsons disease that was tested in a pivotal trial led by University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers is now broadly available at the University of Maryland Medical Center .
Howard Eisenberg, MD, Dheeraj Gandhi, MD, MBBS, Paul Fishman, MD, PhD, Bert W. OMalley, MD.
The device, called Exablate Neuro, was approved in November by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat advanced Parkinsons disease on one side of the brain. The approval was based on findings from the UMSOM clinical trial and effectively expands access to focused ultrasound beyond clinical trial participation.
Rapid Reversal of Symptoms
Focused ultrasound is an incisionless procedure, performed without the need for anesthesia or an in-patient stay in the hospital. Patients, who are fully alert, lie in a magnetic resonance imaging scanner, wearing a transducer helmet. Ultrasonic energy is targeted through the skull to the globus pallidus, a structure deep in the brain that helps control regular voluntary movement. MRI images provide doctors with a real-time temperature map of the area being treated. During the procedure, the patient is awake and providing feedback, which allows doctors to monitor the immediate effects of the tissue ablation and make adjustments as needed.
Patient: Focused Ultrasound Changed My Life
A New Era for Parkinsons Disease Treatment
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Low Dose Naltrexone May Be Your Answer
Low-dose Naltrexone is an off-label use of the FDA-approved drug Naltrexone. Rather than the traditional 50mg daily dose of Naltrexone for those addicted to narcotics or alcohol, LDN is used at doses no higher than 4.5mg and is generally taken at bedtime.
Naltrexone is an opiate blocking drug developed in the 1970s and approved by the FDA in 1984 for opiate and drug abuse treatment.
It may initially seem strange that a drug that blocks the effects of pain medication can have an opposite effect when given at a low dosage. However, there is a strong precedent for this concept.
When used at much lower doses in an off-label protocol referred to as low dose naltrexone , the drug has been shown to have an anti inflammatory properties in the treatment of chronic pain.
Additionally, there is some evidence of improvement in Crohns disease, multiple sclerosis, and neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinsons disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis .
Low Dose Naltrexone typically delivers a variety of benefits to patients.
Fights various autoimmune disease symptoms
Getting started is easy, just call us today for a personalized evaluation.
Philip Tindall Says He Tried To Ignore His Parkinsons
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Early symptoms of Parkinsons disease are usually mild and typically occur slowly and do not interfere with daily activities. You may experience signs in your feet and toes. Men aged 50 to 89 are 1.4 times more likely to be diagnosed with Parkinsons than women, according to Parkinsons UK charity.
Symptoms of Parkinsons disease and the rate of decline vary widely from person to person.
Common symptoms include muscle twisting, spasms or cramps, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
It adds: You may experience a painful cramp in your foot or curled and clenched toes.
The most common symptoms also include a tremor. Shaking tends to begin in your hands and arms, though it can also occur in your jaw or foot.
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The health site adds that people may also experience slowness of movement, rigid muscles and stiff limbs.
Rigidity is the inability of your muscles to relax normally.You may experience aches or pains in the affected muscles and your range of motion may be limited.
Some people will also find that they are unsteady when they walk.
Other signs include depression and anxiety, as well as memory issues.
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The Benefits Of Low Dose Naltrexone
What you should know about LDN:
- Low Dose Naltrexone works with endorphin and immune systems to reduce overall oxidative stress
- LDN relates to doses of 10mg per day or less
- LDN is shown to reduce chronic inflammation, autoimmunity, obesity, fatigue, and chronic pain
- LDN is a safe and effective treatment for over 40 years
My Experience with LDN
I first learned about Low Dose Naltrexone when I attended an integrative medicine conference as a medical student. I was naturally intrigued when I heard about the effects LDN has on autoimmunity and chronic inflammation. Individuals diagnosed with a disease falling under these two broad conditions often do not receive much relief from conventional therapiesand the conventional therapies typically come with detrimental side effects.
After much research and investigation, I decided that Low Dose Naltrexone was something that would highly benefit a large number of individuals who were seeking answers to their health issues. During my residency training, I was able to convince one of my supervising physicians to allow me to try LDN on a patientand there began my obsession with it.
LDN and Lyme Disease
Others who tend to fall into this category are those experiencing chronic migraines, and patients who are sensitive to multiple medications or foods. More recently, I have seen an uptick in MCAS consultations these patients also tend to require a lower initial dose and slower titration schedule.
LDN and Thyroid Diseases
Toilet Habits And Constipation In Parkinsons Disease
Suggestions for good toilet habits include:
- Go to the toilet as soon as you feel the urge to pass a bowel motion. Hanging on can contribute to constipation.
- Use the correct posture on the toilet to help you pass a bowel motion place your elbows on your knees, bulge out your stomach, straighten your spine and put your feet on a footstool.
- Avoid holding your breath and dont strain when you are on the toilet. Allow yourself plenty of time.
- Use a warm washcloth pressed against your back passage or gently massage with one or two fingers to help to relax the muscles.
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about medicines to help soften your bowel motions.
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Parkinsons Breakthrough Can Diagnose Disease From Skin Swabs In 3 Minutes
A new method to detect Parkinsons disease has been determined by analysing sebum with mass spectrometry.
The study, published today in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, have found that there are lipids of high molecular weight that are substantially more active in people suffering from Parkinsons disease.
The researchers from The University of Manchester used cotton swabs to sample people and identify the compounds present with mass spectrometry. The method developed involves paper spray ionisation mass spectrometry combined with ion mobility separation and can be performed in as little as 3 mins from swab to results.
Professor Perdita Barran at The University of Manchester, who led the research said: We are tremendously excited by these results which take us closer to making a diagnostic test for Parkinson’s Disease that could be used in clinic.
The research used a sample group of 79 people with Parkinsons compared with a heathy control group of 71 people.
The study has arisen from the observation of Joy Milne, who discovered that she can distinguish PD in individuals from a distinct body odour before clinical symptoms occur.
Joy has hereditary Hyperosmia a heightened sensitivity to smells which has been exploited to find that Parkinsons has a distinct odour which is strongest where sebum collects on patients backs and is less often washed away.
How Is Parkinsons Disease Treated
Theres no cure for PD, but medications are available to help control symptoms. These include carbidopa-levodopa, often in combination with other classes of medications such as dopamine agonists, MAO inhibitors, COMT inhibitors, and anticholinergic agents.
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy may be recommended, as well. Deep brain stimulation , which involves implanting an electrode into a specific part of the brain, may be indicated for those with advanced PD.
A healthy eating plan, regular physical activity, and therapies such as massage, tai chi, yoga, Alexander technique, and meditation are important, useful adjuncts to medications for managing PD.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Parkinsons Disease
Symptoms of PD usually develop slowly over years, and the Parkinsons Foundation says that the progression of symptoms can vary from person to person. Early signs of PD can be quite mild and even go unnoticed. Typical symptoms, however, include:
- Tremor in one hand, foot, or leg that eventually affects both sides of the body
- Slowed movement , which makes daily tasks more difficult
- Rigid or stiff muscles that may be mistaken for arthritis or an orthopedic injury
- Posture and balance problems that include an inability to stay upright or prevent a fall
- Unsteady walking and coordination problems
- Muscle twisting, spasm, or cramping
- Changes in facial expressions
- Problems chewing and swallowing
Other symptoms can occur, as well, such as cognitive decline, trouble sleeping, depression, and constipation.
There are five stages of PD, with stage one consisting of mild symptoms that usually dont interfere with daily activities. Stage five is the most advance stage and may include an inability to walk a person in this stage may need a wheelchair or be bedridden.
Most people with PD die with this condition, not from it, says the American Parkinson Disease Association. An increased risk of falls with resulting injury as well as aspiration pneumonia can lower the lifespan of someone with PD. However, PD is not fatal: by managing the condition and making healthy lifestyle choices, you can lead a full, happy life.
The Investigation In Mice
In their recent study paper, the scientists refer to research suggesting that neurotrophic factors molecules that help neurons survive and thrive could, in theory, restore the function of neurons that produce dopamine. However, the clinical benefit of these factors had yet to be proven.
The team focused on bone morphogenetic proteins 5 and 7 . They had previously shown that BMP5/7 has an important role in dopamine-producing neurons in mice.
In the latest study, the scientists wanted to see whether BMP5/7 could protect the neurons of mice against the damaging effects of misfolded alpha-synuclein proteins.
To do this, they injected one group of mice with a viral vector that caused misfolded alpha-synuclein proteins to form in their brains. They used other mice as a control group. The scientists then injected the mice with the BMP5/7 protein.
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