April is Parkinson’s Disease (PD) Awareness month. I see only a few PD patients in my clinic but I wish that I would see more of them as there are many strategies to improve the disease rather than just looking at the drug approach. I hope I stimulate some to find other non conventional answers rather than waiting for further research on drug therapy or stem cell therapy to surface.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that causes tremors, stiffness, slow movements, and impaired balance and coordination, results from the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in part of the brain called the substantia nigra. PD is the most common disease of the motor system and after Alzheimer’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disease.

At present there are no accurate figures of how many people in Canada have Parkinson’s or how many are being diagnosed with the disease each year. Over 100,000 are estimated to have Parkinson’s and half a million are affected by the disease and 40 percent of cases may be undiagnosed at any one time. Over 6.3 million worldwide have Parkinson’s Disease. The average age of onset is 60 but it also affects people as young as 30 (Young Onset). Over time, people with Parkinson’s are robbed of their independence.  Many lose their ability to work and are forced to rely on disability benefits.  The costs for individuals with Parkinson’s increases dramatically as the disease progresses.

Broader options for long-term management of PD are urgently needed and different lines of evidence suggest PD is primarily an oxidative disease, fuelled by the body’s own inability to detoxify endogenous (made by the body) and exogenous (outside the body) oxidant stressors and environmental toxins. Known toxicants are: occupational exposure to manganese, trauma to the brain and viral inflammation ie encephalitis lethargica. Other exogenous toxins include heavy metals, pesticides, food additives, industrial and household chemicals.  These not only damage the liver and kidneys responsible for their elimination but also cross the blood brain barrier damaging brain cells.

Oxidative damage produces free radicals which destroy cell membranes and nerve cells and in the case of PD the nigral tissue of the brain. PD is also caused by atherosclerotic changes and nutritional deficiencies. In one study of 21 patients with early onset PD, taking vitamin C 3000mg and Vitamin E 3200IU’s per day allowed the use of conventional drug therapy to be delayed for 2-3 years.

Another common deficiency is riboflavin or B2. A Brazilian study found all 31 of its Parkinson's subjects to be deficient in riboflavin even though they were eating adequate amounts of food containing this vitamin. But after supplementing for six months they experienced a 30 percent improvement in motor skill capacity. Dr. Jonathon Wright M.D. has found that nearly all individuals with Parkinson's have trouble digesting animal protein, especially red meat, and discourages them from eating it. There is a strong gut/liver connection to the development of neurological diseases as toxins are absorbed here taxing the liver’s ability to detoxify.

He also recommends Coenzyme Q10, another antioxidant crucial for nerve health, which is profoundly deficient in PD patients. In one study of 80 people with Parkinson's, CoQ10 supplementation was shown to reduce the deterioration of function and the degree of disability. Dr. Perlmutter, M.D. neurologist, in his book “Brain Recovery”, also recommends CoQ10, alpha lipoic acid and antioxidants that promote glutathione production in the body. Vitamin D may be more potent than vitamin E in its brain protecting activity and ginkgo is a profound antioxidant herb for the brain.

There are a few drugs that can aggravate PD because of their affect on these antioxidants. The statin drugs not only lower CoQ10, but if they lower LDL cholesterol much below 3.0 mmol/L subjects had a 3.5-fold higher occurrence of Parkinson's than the participants with higher LDL levels greater than 3.57. Viagra works by enhancing nitric oxide which is brain damaging to those with PD and Alzheimer’s Disease.

There is also a breakthrough therapy since 2004, called MME (Magnetic Molecular Energizer). MME takes the technology of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and turns it around to transmit rather than receive powerful electromagnetic energy. This allows the body faster and previously unheard of healing. It is particularly effective with the nervous system, which is affected with both diabetic neuropathy and Parkinson's. For more information or to find an MME center contact the Advanced Magnetic Research Institute (AMRI) International at (800)265-1119 or visit www.amri-wa.com The head office is in Calgary.

Kinesiologist Quincy Almeida of Wilfred Laurier University has been conducting research on PD patients over the last two years using experimental exercises including slowly walking to a beat, wearing glow in the dark slippers to help people concentrate on how and where their feet are and using rubber bands to exercise.  The 12-week  exercise period has helped some to slow PD symptoms, keeping subjects limber and improving the ease of performing simple tasks such as tying up shoes. Hopefully Almeida’s pilot project will lead to exercise programs routinely offered at YMCA’s across Canada. This goes along the lines discussed in the April 9 2007 Macleans article on brain plasticity. Dr. Norman Doidge and his research team have developed a computerized “Brain Fitness” program that significantly increases the function of the brain with 10 years or more improvement on average. Currently, they are working on developing programs for improving visual processing and problem solving. Not only that, they're exploring potential for other applications for treating Alzheimer's, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Parkinson's, schizophrenia and chronic pain. His book “The Brain That Changes Itself” is to be published soon.