Thank you to all for listening in to the talk on Parkinson’s. As promised here is the summary. Next Tuesday talk will be a few handy Nutrition tips for supporting stress and reducing central fat deposition.
Overview
Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition. This means that it causes problems in the brain and gets worse over time. The number of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the UK is about 145,000, that is around 1 adult in every 350. Most people with Parkinson’s start to develop symptoms when they are over 50, although around 1 in 20 people with the condition first experience symptoms when they’re under 40. Men are slightly more likely to get Parkinson’s disease than women.
People with Parkinson’s do not have enough of the chemical dopamine because some of the nerve cells that make it have died. Dopamine enables neurons in your brain to communicate and control movement.
Causes
Exactly what causes the loss of nerve cells is unclear. Most experts think that a combination of genetic and environmental factors is responsible.There is substantial preliminary evidence that exposure to certain organochlorine insecticides (e.g., lindane [Kwell®, Kildane®, Scabene®] and dieldrin [Dieldrite]) may contribute to the development of Parkinson’s disease.
Symptoms
Three main symptoms
- involuntary shaking of particular parts of the body (tremor)
- slow movement
- stiff and inflexible muscles
A person with Parkinson’s disease can also experience a wide range of other physical and psychological symptoms, including:
- depression and anxiety
- balance problems – this may increase the chance of a fall
- loss of sense of smell (anosmia)
- problems sleeping (insomnia)
- memory problems
Treatment
Current medications can help to manage Parkinson’s symptoms. Although there are no treatments that can cure, slow, stop or reverse the progression of Parkinson’s. This means the condition continues to progress as do the symptoms and side effects of taking more medication.
Dopamine is a chemical messenger made in the brain. The symptoms of Parkinson’s appear when dopamine levels become too low. This is because many of the cells in your brain that produce dopamine have died or are dying. Unfortunately, taking dopamine as a drug doesn’t help, as it can’t cross into your brain where it’s needed. Doctors can get around this by using other treatments. One treatment option is to use levodopa, which is converted into dopamine in the brain. Another approach is to use dopamine agonist drugs, which act like dopamine to stimulate your nerve cells.
Levodopa is a chemical building-block that your body converts into dopamine. It replaces the dopamine that is lost in Parkinson’s. For some people with Parkinson’s, protein (which is found mainly in meat, fish, eggs, cheese, beans, and pulses) seems to interfere with how well levodopa is absorbed by the body. Taking your medication 30 – 60 minutes before you eat a meal may stop this issue. However, levodopa can sometimes make people feel sick when taken on an empty stomach. They may benefit from a protein redistribution diet, where you take most of your daily protein in the evening. This can help the levodopa treatment to be more effective in the daytime, when they are likely to need it more.
Other Medications:
- Dopamine agonists: act like dopamine to stimulate your nerve cells.
- COMT inhibitors can block an enzyme that breaks down levodopa.
- MAO–B inhibitors can help your nerve cells make better use of the dopamine that they do have. Used early on or in combination.
Other Treatments
- Physiotherapy
- Occupational Therapy
Food Supplements
Just a few which may support symptoms. Please consult with a health professional such as a Nutritional Therapist or GP, before taking food supplements. They may also make suggestions on targeted Nutrition support for anxiety and identify and remove dietary triggers;
Target: Tremors Muscle rigidity and tightness:
- Magnesium helps to support relaxation and quickly
becomes depleted during stress.
- Glutamine and taurine help regulate neuronal activity.
Target: Constipation
- High potency probiotic for bacterial balance can help
regulate bowel motions.
- Papaya puree regulates gastric motility and reduces IBS pain.
- Psyllium and apple pectin both cleanse the bowels and provide bulk.
Doctors recommend that people with Parkinson’s disease get lots of fibre and drink plenty of fluids to reduce constipation associated with this disease. Good sources include fruits and vegetables, fresh and cooked.
Key Points
- Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition. This means that it causes problems in the brain and gets worse over time
- People with Parkinson’s do not have enough of the chemical dopamine because some of the nerve cells that make it have died.
- Dopamine enables neurons in your brain to communicate and control movement
- No treatments that can cure, slow, stop or reverse the progression of Parkinson’s. all have potential side effects to watch out for.
- A healthy lifestyle may help slow/delay progression and/or support symptoms of the disease
Thank you for reading. Please do not start taking supplements without the advice of a trained health professional. My clinic is still running via social media platforms WhatsApp, Skype and Zoom, for more information please email at eatyourgreens@fionawaring.com
Fiona Waring
Dip Nut, BSc.(Hons), MSc
PHN, ANutr
Nutritional Therapist
M: +44 07957 267 964
eatyourgreens@fionawaring.com
‘Registered with the Association for Nutrition – www.associationfornutrition.org
Protecting the public and promoting high standards in evidence-based science and professional practice of nutrition.’
