What is Parkinson’s disease (PD) ?
Parkinson’s disease is a type of neurodegenerative disease. (3)
Parkinson’s disease is a type of brain disease. (4)
Parkinson’s disease is a type of progressive disorder. (17)
Parkinson’s disease is a type of degenerative disorder of the central nervous system characterized by tremor and impaired muscular coordination (8)
What does Parkinson’s disease do?
In Parkinson’s disease, one type of neuron steadily degenerates. (2)
What causes Parkinson’s disease?
A pesticide called Rotenone, which is used in agriculture and in water management, has been linked to Parkinson’s disease. (11)
Rotenone may cause Parkinson’s diease to develop from both acute and prolonged exposure. (13)
The buildup of alpha-synuclein in addition to oxidative damage in the brain has been associated as a causative factor for Parkinson’s disease. (12)
Scientists say they’ve identified 10 pesticides that kill neurons involved in Parkinson‘s disease. (15)
Researchers found that exposure to combinations of pesticides used in cotton farming was more toxic than any single pesticide in that group. (15)
10 pesticides are directly linked to the dopaminergic neurons: Four are insecticides: dicofol, endosulfan, naled, propargite. Three are herbicides: diquat, endothall, trifluralin. Three are fungicide: both basic and pentahydrate copper sulfate and folpet. (15)
How to test for Parkinson’s disease?
“it is not possible to diagnose Parkinson’s disease until approximately 70% of the dopamine producing glial cells in the substantia nigra have been damaged.” (18)
What is affected by Parkinson’s disease?
dopamine imbalance
the body makes less dopamine (2)
What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?
tremor(2)
stiffness(2)
slowness of spontaneous movement(2)
poor balance(2)
poor coordination (2)
Parkinson’s disease can be associated with smell loss. (5)
Parkinson’s disease may affect your body’s ability to regulate body temperature. (6)
Chronic inflammation is considered one of the main contributors Parkinson’s disease. (7)
Parkinson’s disease is associated with elevated levels of MAO-B in the brain. (9)
What can reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease?
Brazil nuts
Some nutrients, such as flavonoids, omega-3 fatty acids, and coffee have been suggested to potentially reduce the risk or delay the progression of Parkinson’s disease. (20)
Treatment
MAO-B inhibitors are used alone or in combination to treat Parkinson’s disease. (10)
How many people have Parkinson’s disease?
Estimates are that roughly 1.5 million people in the USA currently have Parkinson’s disease, with approximately 60,000 American people receiving diagnosis each year. (17)
Who has Parkinson’s Disease?
Michael J. Fox (16)
Joe Williams, diagnosed in 2010, age 70 in 2023 (14)
What are some books about Parkinson’s disease?
Reverse Parkinson’s Disease by John Pepper (2011) (Amazon)
Rethinking Parkinson’s Disease: The definitive guide to the known causes of Parkinson’s disease and proven reversal strategies (2020) – (Amazon)
Diet Parkinson: Healing from Parkinson’s Disease by Waldo Hamiel (link)
Is there a cure?
As of 2023, there is no cure. (14)
What are medications for Parkinson’s?
Eldepryl (18)
Levodopa (19)
People with Parkinson’s disease are at higher risk for osteoporosis, so it is essential to get enough calcium and vitamin D, which are essential for bone health. (19)
Other resources:
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
Resources
1. https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-an-axon-5190652
2. https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-is-dopamine
3. https://www.goodrx.com/well-being/diet-nutrition/phytochemicals-types-benefits
4. https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20170112/link-seen-between-concussions-and-alzheimers
5. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/smell-disorders-when-your-sense-of-smell-goes-astray-2018121215539
6. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothermia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352682
7. https://www.enhancedvision.com/low-vision-info/eye-conditions/sugar-inflammation-and-macular-degeneration.html
8. https://news.therawfoodworld.com/this-wondrous-bean-is-a-natural-brain-booster/
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoamine_oxidase_B
10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoamine_oxidase
11. https://www.theparkinsonsplan.com/heavy-metals-and-parkinsons-disease/
12. https://www.theparkinsonsplan.com/heavy-metals-and-parkinsons-disease/
13. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotenone
14. https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/williams-continues-to-defy-parkinsons-rides-12th-ihbc/
15. https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2023/05/19/pesticides-Parkinsons/2441684504641/
16. https://sports.yahoo.com/michael-j-fox-helped-raise-194210571.html
17. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/dopamine-parkinsons
18. Book: Reverse Parkinson’s Disease by John Pepper
19. ChatGPT 4, 6/3/23
20, ChatGPT 4, 6/11/2023
