The compound below is showing great promise not only for the prevention of Parkinson’s disease, but also alleviating of the symptoms.

It’s cheap, naturally part of the food chain, and showing great promise with the treatment of a number of conditions in addition to Parkinson’s disease, from Depression to Alzheimer’s, as well as many others.

The compound is familiar to everyone and is:

Nicotine

Parkinson’s disease belongs to a group of conditions that occur less among cigarette smokers than in non-smokers.

Smoking is of course harmful, no one should take it up to prevent or alleviate the disease; however the specific compound in cigarette smoking that is believed to prevent and also provide relief for suffers is – Nicotine.

Nicotine in Pure Form is safe & non toxic

Nicotine removed from cigarettes in its natural state is a safe, non toxic and is found in many common foods and vegetables.

Nicotine is now showing great promise in medical research in terms of both prevention of Parkinson’s disease, and also for the alleviation of the symptoms.

Nicotine & Parkinson’s Disease Research

Research has suggested that some of the movement difficulties experienced by Parkinson suffers are less severe after smoking cigarettes, taking nicotine gum or using nicotine patches.

Researchers have been aware for over 30 years that fewer smokers get Parkinson’s diseases than non-smokers.

The observation was first made in the 1970’s and similar results have been shown in all subsequent tests.

The protective effect is large, active smokers have a 60% reduction in risk compared with those who have never been smokers.

Nicotine is not only showing great promise in its preventive affect but also in alleviating the symptoms of suffers who have the disease already.

How Nicotine can help

Prevention

Researchers believe that the main reason underlying the protective action of nicotine maybe its ability to increase the expression of neurotrophic factors that are known to help the survival of dopaminergic neurons, as nicotine increases the number of “nicotinic” receptors in the brain.

These receptors influence the production and release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Parkinson’s disease occurs when brain cells that produce dopamine, an important chemical messenger die.
People don’t get Parkinson’s disease until approximatley 80% to 90% of the dopamine-producing cells are dead.

Nicotine is believed to protect these cells against damage and as a consequence prevent the disease.
Alleviating the symptoms

Nicotine may help to lessen memory difficulties which occur in some people with Parkinson’s disease.

The number of nicotinic receptors are decreased in the brains of people who have Parkinson’s disease.

The nicotine in cigarette smoke, in the nicotine patch or in gum may lead to an extra stimulation of these remaining nicotinic receptors and thus alleviate the symptoms.

Products

Nicotine is available in patches and gum and several companies have looked at nicotine water as a safe delivery method for organic nicotine with no added chemicals.

Nicotine water is already being marketed and further products are being researched, all with the aim of delivering pure organic nicotine without harmful chemicals.

Nicotine natures wonder drug?

While nicotine has had an image problem due to its association with smoking.

There is however a lot of excitement about its potential to prevent and help with a number of medical conditions that include not only Parkinson’s disease, but also:

Alzheimer’s disease, Schizophrenia, obesity, depression and even some cancers.

Research is at an early stage with many conditions, but Nicotine could just be about to get public recognition for its significant health benefits.

By: Sacha Tarkovsky

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VeteransHealthAdmin asked:

This video shows how deep brain stimulation surgery helped a doctor regain some of his mobility lost due to Parkinsons Disease. It shows how surgery has helped him lead a much more independent life. For the Section 508 compliant version of this video, please see www.research.va.gov

ripley112 asked:

Parkinsons Disease Society advert

NONAME asked:


could the doctors find out if i have parkinsons disease ? if not what kind of doctors could find out , and does it take a certain amount of time to find out ? what would they have to do to find out . and what happens in the early stages of parkinsons disease ? for example , do you feel like moving ? does your hands feel twitchy . and yes im asking for the earlier stages .

Joe B asked:


Did anybody else pick up on this?Does he have Parkinsons disease does anybody know?

Mistah Mistah asked:


I was wondering what Parkinsons Disease stops you from and what it causes and how it effects you.

There are five stages of Parkinsons disease, which include symptoms that result from the difficulty of the brain to control muscle movement. These are progressive and may be a difficult experience for anyone, especially since doctors do not know a direct cure to the illness.

Early signs of Parkinsons disease are usually subtle and surface gradually. If you have this condition, you may start out getting tired too often or you could frequently feel weak. Shaking, speaking too softly, or having changes in your handwriting may also be some early signs of the condition.

The first of the five stages of the disease would start out with mild symptoms like having tremors or experiencing shaking in one of your limbs. This would then be followed by the next stage with symptoms affecting both sides of your body, so you may begin having problems walking or maintaining balance.

When the slowing down of your physical movements already start to become obvious, then this is a sign that your illness has progressed into the late third stage. And during fourth stage, you would already be having muscle stiffness and walking or going about your daily routines may be very difficult.

The last of the five stages of Parkinsons disease would be the hardest for you because by this time, the illness will have taken over your physical movements. Here, you may not be able to stand or walk during and may not be able to take care of yourself.

Life for someone who has Parkinson’s surely is not easy. But hopefully, by adapting more natural and healthier methods, then perhaps, these stages of Parkinsons disease can be lighter to handle and one of these days, a direct cure would be found to completely relieve such a condition.

By: Charlene Nuble

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Parkinson’s Disease (PD), a devastating illness, occurs in one of every 100 people over 65.

It is a slowly progressing disease of the nervous system that results in progressive destruction of brain cells (neurons) in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra. Death occurs usually as a result of secondary complications such as infection.

One of the mechanisms known to destroy neurons is damage by free radicals or reactive oxygen species – destructive molecules produced by oxidation of the neurotransmitter dopamine.

The Role of Dopamine

The cells of the substantia nigra use dopamine – a chemical messenger between brain or nerve cells – to communicate with cells in another region of the brain called the striatum.

When nigral cells are lost, nigral dopamine levels fall, resulting in a decrease in striatal dopamine.

The typical symptoms of PD – motor function deficiencies characterized by muscle rigidity, jerky movements, rhythmic resting tremors – are the result of low levels of striatal dopamine.

Most dopaminergic drugs used to treat PD, are aimed at temporarily replenishing or mimicking dopamine. They improve some symptoms, but do not restore normal brain function nor halt brain cell destruction.

Dopaminergic drugs are generally effective at first in reducing many PD symptoms, but over time they lose their effect.

They also cause severe side effects because they overstimulate nerve cells elsewhere in the body and cause confusion, hallucinations, nausea and fluctuations in the movement of limbs.

The Role of Antioxidants

When dopaminergic neurons are lost in the course of Parkinson’s disease, the metabolism of dopamine is increased – which in turn increases the formation of highly neurotoxic hydroxyl radicals.

The most important free radical scavenger in the cells of the substantia nigra is the powerful brain antioxidant, glutathione. Glutathione levels in PD patients are low.

And as we age, levels of glutathione in the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra decreases. This appears to hasten cell death and advance the progression of PD.

At least 80 percent of the substantia nigra cells are lost before symptoms of Parkinson’s disease become apparent. This is why it becomes essential to protect or maintain these cells under oxidative stress.

How does Glutathione help in Parkinson’s Disease?

Several factors explain why glutathione is so beneficial in Parkinson’s disease.

1. Glutathione increases the sensitivity of the brain to dopamine. So although glutathione doesn’t raise dopamine levels, it allows the dopamine in the brain to be more effective.

2. Glutathione’s powerful antioxidant activity protects the brain from free radical damage.

3. An even more intriguing benefit of glutathione lies in its powerful detoxification ability.

Its a well known fact that most Parkinson’s patients are deficient in their ability to detoxify chemicals to which they are exposed.

The unfortunate few who harbor an inherited flaw in their detoxification pathways are at far greater risk to the brain damaging effects of a wide variety of toxins.

Glutathione is one of the most important components of the liver’s detoxification system. Glutathione therapy is one of the most effective techniques for enhancing liver and brain detoxification.

Glutathione treatments considerably improve some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease including difficulties with rigidity, walking, movement, coordination and speech. A marked reduction of tremor has been observed as well as a decrease in depression.

Glutathione and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (a glutathione precursor) have been shown to be very effective in protecting the nerves in the substantia nigra from being destroyed by oxidative stress.

Glutathione Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease

The practical problem in increasing glutathione levels is that taking glutathione itself as a supplement does not boost cellular glutathione levels, since glutathione breaks down in the digestive tract before it reaches the cells.

However, intravenous glutathione therapy and taking glutathione precursors are both effective in boosting intracellular levels of glutathione.

Intravenous Glutathione Therapy:

Intravenous glutathione injections have been shown to have amazing and quick results.

Dr. David Perlmutter, a pioneer in this therapy, has developed a protocol utilized at the Perlmutter Health Center for administering intravenous glutathione to Parkinson’s patients.

Following even a single dosage of intravenous glutathione – often in as little as 15 minutes – the ability to walk, turn around and move their arms is almost completely restored.

Glutathione Precursors:

Dietary antioxidants and supplements that increase cellular glutathione, such as alpha lipoic acid, NAC, pycnogenol, the herb silymarin (milk thistle), are effective in restoring normal function.

N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) and un-denatured, whey protein both supply glutathione precursors intracellularly, enhance the body’s production of glutathione and aid the detoxification process.

Other nutritional supplements which aid the detoxification process include selenium, vitamins E and C.

By: Priya Shah

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herbheinz asked:

People with Parkinson’s.

MFLTV asked:

Lukey & the boys from MY FUTURE LIES drive from Sydney to Uluru to raise awareness for Parkinson’s Disease. More info on upcoming drives : www.myspace.com/myfuturelies