Legendary National Football League quarterback Brett Favre was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), a progressive and debilitating nervous system disorder that affects cognitive and motor abilities. In its early stages, symptoms develop slowly, are mild, and can be overlooked. For instance, people with PD may experience an occasional tremor in their jaw, finger or foot.
However, as time progresses, Parkinson’s will rob them of their facial expressions, their arm swing as they walk, and their normal speech patterns. Additional symptoms include:
Currently, PD doesn’t have a cure – just medications, surgeries and supportive therapies that help control it. The number of new PD cases is rising in the United States. Before 2012, between 40,000 and 60,000 new PD cases were diagnosed every year; however, that number has risen to 90,000 per year. That's a 50 percent increase. Experts expect that number to double before 2040, according to American Scientist.
PD occurs when nerve cells in the brain break down or die. The loss of cells interferes with the brain’s ability to produce and distribute dopamine, a chemical that helps brain cells communicate with each other and the rest of the body.
A low dopamine level compromises brain activity, making it difficult for the body to function. As a result, many bodily systems don’t work properly, causing PD patients to struggle to move, think and communicate. There’s also a drop in norepinephrine levels, another chemical messenger responsible for attention, cognitive function and reaction to stress, causing anxiety, depression, headaches, loss of memory, sleeping issues, low blood pressure, low blood sugar and poor attention span.
There’s no definitive cause. Johns Hopkins Medicine explains that diagnoses are often a combination of risk factors that include:
Toxins such as illicit drugs, particularly those with amphetamines or MPTP are thought to raise the risk for PD. Alcohol is not fully understood. PD patients who have a drink can experience a short-term rise in dopamine levels in certain parts of the brain, temporarily easing some symptoms. However, PD patients who engage in long-term, chronic heavy drinking wind up with depleted dopamine levels and an exacerbation of symptoms.
Another risk factor is metabolic syndrome (MetS), an increasingly common condition that affects up to one-third of American adults, according to Mayo Clinic. This is a cluster of conditions -- unhealthy blood fat levels (cholesterol and/or triglyceride), insulin resistance, high blood pressure and excess abdominal weight -- that raise the risk for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, dementia and PD. Climbing MetS rates may be related to higher PD rates. In fact, people with MetS had a 24 percent higher risk of PD than individuals without MetS, according to a study published in PLOS Medicine.
Metabolic syndrome is associated with oxidative stress, which the Cleveland Clinic defines as an imbalance of free radicals (unstable molecules produced during normal cell functions) and antioxidants (substances that help protect the body from free radical damage). Oxidative stress causes free radicals to attack brain cells, which increases inflammation markers in the brain, blood and cerebrospinal fluid. This can lead to cognitive degeneration. PD patients have significantly higher levels of these inflammatory markers compared to people without PD, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation.
There’s also a connection between the individual conditions involved in metabolic syndrome and PD.
PD is not fully understood, so it’s not preventable. However, you can take steps to lowering your risk for developing it by incorporating these five lifestyle tactics.
Exercise. University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center promotes regular exercise as one of the best ways to prevent and/or delay the onset of PD. Exercise helps control MetS and its individual components. It also improves muscle strength/endurance, coordination and balance, as well as circulation, helping the brain develop protective mechanisms. Regular exercise also can help manage symptoms and slow the progression of the disease, according to Yale Medicine.
Drink caffeinated beverages. Coffee may lower the risk of PD. Studies suggest caffeine may protect your brain, possibly helping to delay the onset or improve certain symptoms. It also may help ease some side effects of PD. Keep the caffeine intake reasonable, though.
Maintain a healthy gut. Your gut affects your overall health and there is a connection between the brain and the gastrointestinal system, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation.
Eat a Healthy diet. A diet rich in plant foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes can help lower the risk for PD, according to a Mass General Brigham. An easy way to get enough plant foods into your diet is by following a Mediterranean-style diet.
Before you change your diet or exercise regimen, talk to your doctor. If you don’t have a doctor, consider joining an MDVIP-affiliated practice. MDVIP-affiliated physicians have more time to help you in your pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. Contact us to begin your partnered health journey
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