Information » Diseases » Parkinson’s Disease
This illness is named after James Parkinson, a British physician who described the shaking or tremor that is classically seen in patients with the disease. Parkinson’s affects a part of the brain called the substantia nigra, and it destroys neurons that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. Unfortunately, up to 80% of these neurons are gone by the time symptoms appear. It can be a very discouraging diagnosis, but a few therapies have been generating a lot of excitement among integrative neurologists.
The diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is usually made by an experienced neurologist and it is based on symptoms and a physical examination. MRI or CT scans are usually not helpful because they look normal. Newer PET and SPECT scans are available in some places and reveal typical changes that may help confirm the diagnosis.
Conventional treatment uses drugs like levodopa – which is converted to dopamine – or pramipexole – which stimulates dopamine receptors to release more dopamine from the remaining neurons. These drugs improve symptoms, but it does nothing to change the disease itself.
The central problem in Parkinson’s is destruction of neurons. The most likely reason is damage to mitochondria by toxins – either environmental or by-products of normal metabolism. Mitochondria are the engines of the body and brain, but their work generates byproducts that can be harmful if they are not removed. The key to this is glutathione – the major antioxidant in mitochondria.
The first link to glutathione is based on familial Parkinson’s, which is responsible for about 5% of cases and causes a more severe, early onset of the disease. Recent research has linked familial Parkinson’s to a glutathione problem. A gene called glutathione S-transferase pi gene – GSTP1 – makes it difficult for people with an abnormal form of this gene to maintain sufficient levels of glutathione. This allows damage to mitochondria to accumulate, leading to Parkinson’s.
People with the GSTP1 variant are at much greater risk when they are exposed to certain pesticides. A recent review of 31 studies concluded that they all demonstrated a consistent link between Parkinson’s and certain pesticides. Pesticides should not be permitted on our lawns, but unfortunately politicians don’t know much about science, so they are easily swayed into believing that it is acceptable to allow our children to be exposed to these harmful chemicals.
Another link comes from people who have developed symptoms of Parkinson’s after being exposed to certain drugs and other substances. These substances all get transformed in the brain into something called MPTP, which is toxic to mitochondria. When the mitochondria are damaged, neuronal death cannot be prevented and symptoms of Parkinson’s develop rapidly.
Where does this leave you, the patient? Research has been done on several therapies for Parkinson’s, including testosterone, coenzyme Q10, vitamin E and acupuncture. Although they have not shown consistent results, they are relatively cheap and safe, and should be considered.
The most promising therapy we have come across for treating Parkinson’s is glutathione. We deliver it intravenously based on a protocol developed by Dr David Perlmutter, a US neurologist, and adopted by hundreds of physicians. This has yielded dramatic results in hundreds of patients and we are hopeful that clinical trials will soon be underway. If you do not have access to intravenous glutathione, you should take N-acetylcysteine, which may be able to increase glutathione levels. Unfortunately, glutathione cannot be absorbed when taken orally.
Another source of damage may be toxic levels of mercury. A German study of 380 Parkinson’s patients found that they had significantly more mercury amalgam dental fillings than a similar number of people in the same neighborhood – to control for environmental factors. This is not yet a convincing link, but a growing number of researchers are concerned about mercury’s role in several neurological disorders. We are one of a few sources of accurate testing using a DMPS challenge test. Treatment involves intravenous infusions and a supplement program that promotes natural detoxification.
Another interesting option is Mucuna pruriens, also known as the Indian Velvet bean. While it does not affect the disease process, this plant contains naturally-occuring dopamine. It has a long history of use as a traditional medicine for brain-related health problems, and small studies have shown it to be more effective than levodopa with fewer side effects. It is difficult to find a reliable source of Mucuna, but some of our patients have used it with good results.
This is surprising, and we are not sure what to recommend. But here are the facts: A meta-analysis of 44 case-control and cohort studies (Ann Neurol 2002;52:276) found that smokers have a 60% lower risk of developing Parkinson's - and even former smokers are at 30% less risk. This may be related to how smoking changes the dopamine-dependent pleasure pathways of the brain or it may be because people with the most dopamine enjoy smoking more and get less Parkinson's. More likely, it is something in the cigarettes.
The same study reviewed 8 studies and concluded that coffee is also protective. Regular coffee drinkers are at 30% less risk. This may be due to the antioxidants coming from the coffee bean - or the effect of caffeine on adenosine in the brain, which in turn affects dopamine levels. Either way, we give our patients with Parkinson's the thumbs up on coffee drinking. When it comes to smoking, we're not so sure.
Any treatment of Parkinson’s should also focus on other parts of the body that can contribute to inflammation and toxic nerve damage:
Intravenous glutathione is our treatment of choice for Parkinson’s disease, but being aware of what causes it and what your options will help to understand and cope with your illness and maximize your quality of life.