Parkinson's Disease is a Neurological disease that effects the motor system of the body. It has also been called "The Shaking Palsy" due to the most common symptom of tremors that often occurs in the arm, hand, and face. These tremors are called "Pill Rolling" or "Resting" tremors because they occur when at rest, but often disappear while active. Other symptoms are rigidity of the trunk and extremities. This often results in a shuffling gait. Early signs are often subtle and get over looked, but a progressive disease can be disabling- a slow crippling death.
The symptoms are easily recognizable, however the cause remains a mystery. In the recent years there has been some light shed on this subject that may provide hope for those that suffer from this disease. Parkinson's is associated with a decrease in Dopamine. Dopamine is a hormone released by the substantia nigra of the brain that has several effects on the brain. Dopamine effects the prefrontal cortex- saying that it helps one see their future-or to look ahead with hope and ambition. Those that lack the effects of Dopamine in this area loses motivation and it is hard for them to see beyond that moment. Dopamine is also used to make Norepinephrine and Epinephrine- important neurotransmitters that help the nerves fire. Obviously a lack of Dopamine would effect the nerves dramatically.
What I would like to present is information that some recent discoveries may help in figuring out the cause of this disease and what can be done to help stop this disease from advancing.
- Neurotoxins - In an attempt to promote better food choices, especially to provide alternate sugars, we failed to see the effects of these chemicals in these products. Synthesized sugars such as Nutrasweet and Splenda are made from chemicals that are toxic to the brain and nerves. The most common is Aspartame which contains Aspartic Acid which is known as a Neurotoxin. Another name is also called Excitotoxin, which gives a better description of the effects it has on the nerves. The end effect is to make the nerves fire excessively until they give out. I'm not sure if they have a direct effect on the Substantia Nigra and the release of Dopamine, but there may be an indirect effect. If there's no need for Dopamine to help the nerves fire, since the excitotoxins are doing it, then it may inhibit and suppress that part of the brain- going by the term, "If you don't use it, you lose it."
- Lack of Extensor Stimulation- I have recently received the importance of extensors in our body. To help illustrate this, think of the arm. The muscle on the front of the arm, the Bicep, is a flexor, and the muscle of the back of the arm, the Tricep, is an extensor. When people work out, they mostly work out the Bicep, when people sit at a desk at work or home, they often have their arm flexed to write or type, and when people drive, their arms are in a flexed position. Our extensors are often ignored and lack stimulation. They soon become weak, and this can have dramatic results. This can result in Carpel Tunnel Syndrome, elbow and knee injuries, and cramps in our calfs- and possibly even Parkinson's Disease. The Bicep and Tricep work against and with each other to keep our arm stable. It seems like an equal relationship, but as a species that depends on our extensors to stand and walk, our extensors need more stimulis. The ratio between our extensors and flexors is really 3:1. But as our extensors weaken, the ratio soon becomes equal. This presents a problem. As the flexor works, it stretches the extensor, causing it to contract, in return stretching the flexor and causing that to contract. Soon, it is a battle of the two muscles going back and forth, that starts gradual at first, but soon becomes progressive and results in the Tremor we see classically in Parkinson's disease. How is this known? If the extensor of the tremor part is held and stimulated, the tremor ceases, as well as if there is an active movement of this part-stimulating the extensors to perform this action- the tremor as well ceases. The weakness of our extensors systemically is a neurological defect. I once talked with a Chiropractor who had researched certain conditions and uttered that someone with a Frozen Shoulder is more likely to have Parkinson's disease. At the time, it didn't make sense to me that a biomechanical dysfunction can be related to a neurological disease. Not until now. Frozen shoulder is a shoulder that has difficult raising the arm higher than the head, as well as having difficulty extending it back. These are roles of the extensors. If a Frozen Shoulder is treated, but there's nothing done to strengthen the extensors- it is clear by this logic how the symptoms of Parkinson's may manifest
- PQQ- This last item may be the most hopeful to understanding this disease. PQQ (Pyrroloquinolone-quinon) is a Vitamin-like substance first discovered in the 1960's, but has only recently been discovered how it effects the human body. http://www.vegsource.com/pahy/pqq---an-essential-micronutrient-that-helps-you-thrive.html. This recent research has shown that all neurological disorders show a lack of or a degradation of mitochondria in certain areas of the brain associated with that disease. The Mitochondria is the powerhouse and energy factory of the cell. Without Mitochondria, the cell becomes defective. One of the major roles of PQQ is to regenerate cells, more specifically the Mitochondria. PQQ as a supplement has shown to stop the progression of Parkinson's, and even possibly reverse it.
I have enjoyed this information, as it provides great hope. First, Parkinson's was just a term I had to learn for a test, but it has become more of a reality, and hopefully soon an afterthought with a possible cure.
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