Progress and Promise in Parkinson’s Disease

03.07.10 / parkinsons disease / Author: Alex
Tags: Disease, parkinsons, Progress, Promise

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that affects nearly a million people in the United States. The symptoms include tremors, slow movement, muscle rigidity and less facial expression. No cure exists for the disease and current medications become less effective over time. William Langston, CEO and scientific director of the Parkinson’s Institute, discusses stem cell-based research strategies to better understand the disease and to find new therapies. The Parkinson’s Institute has an Early Translation grant from CIRM.

The Real Truth About Caffeine & Parkinson’s Disease

Caffeine’s Ties To Parkinson’s Disease

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Caffeine’s medical use for treating Parkinson’s sickness is a subject of much debate. Still, in my mind, caffeine will hurt along with helping. Beyond a moderate quantity, caffeine siphons off your dopamine somatic cell, as you will find out in my book, “The Truth About Caffeine”. And, even if a person consumes it moderately, sooner or later, he will increase his dosages. When the body gets used to caffeine it cancels its effect, like any drug, needing a growing consumption to regain its potency. Even still, a lot of caffeine can cause harm and take away life.

As our brain is stimulated from the ever so popular caffeine, dopamine is let out providing us with alertness, motivation and uplifted feelings. Similar to various drugs, caffeine is sought after for a fast surge of dopamine, as it stimulates our brain. Dopamine is the brain’s neuro-transmitter that is in charged of messages effecting our reaction speed, mental alertness, spontaneity, watchfulness and energy capabilities. Moreover, dopamine is responsible for our stimulant addiction.

Too much caffeine intake results in over-stimulation and reduced levels of dopamine and fewer dopamine creating brain cells. Afterwards, you have a feeling of no energy and exhaustion. And, consume more caffeine in order to feel better. Dopamine levels fall repeatedly with this relentless cycle.

Part of our aging is producing less dopamine, though caffeine consumption speeds up its depletion. Parkinson’s disease is defined as a severe lessoning of dopamine neurons. One advantage of caffeine is that it can help people with Parkinson’s disease because it stimulates sending out dopamine. A huge 70 to 80 percent of the dopamine neurons get lost for good, before the disease’s symptoms are noticed.

Various other health difficulties are caused by caffeine. While caffeine accelerate the production of stress hormones, the ductless glands become exhausted. Just one cup of a caffeine-containing beverage is enough to trigger the brain (pituitary glands) to send a message to the adrenal glands to release the hormonal stress chemicals cortisol and adrenalinto the bloodstream.

A warm sensation of blood overwhelms us as the anxiety hormones are released, during risky circumstances. Our surge of energy is the direct result of a anxiety hormone being released, not caffeine. Caffeine works as a potent stimulator and irritant which signals the body’s defense responses which then releases the anxiety hormones. Later on, this defense response gets worn out.

Relentless false adrenalin sent by caffeine consumption, wears out the glands until they can not release enough hormones. Caffeine addicts crave for more and more of the energy surge, even though the glands have increased stress already and trouble dealing with the ever growing demand. The logical results of this cycle will become apparent.

Eventually, caffeine consumers deplete their adrenal gland. Negative changes happen in the correct operation of the immune, endocrine, and nervous system as daily overproduction of tension hormones, which too much are poisonous, gradually altering the blood makeup.

Any or all of these situations may eventually happen; chronic fatigue, higher levels of blood sugar and insulin, weight gain, increased blood pressure, irritation, stress, depression, sleeping disorder, regular flu occurrences, ulcers, thinning of the skin, bone loss, thyroid problems, and other dangerous signs of severe health difficulties.

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St Albans Parkinson’s woman makes a leap of faith
PARKINSON’S disease sufferer Cecily Watson was flying high when she took part in a charity skydive earlier this month. Cecily, 54, of Marshalswick Lane, joined a team of fundraisers to jump from a plane in order to raise vital funds for Parkinson’s UK.
Read more on Herts Advertiser

Question by I’m in pieces…baby fix me: How long do people live after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease?
My grandfather is 80 years old, very tall and thin. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease about a year ago. He is on medication but it seems to have stopped working now. My grandparents live in a very desolate area and I doubt he will be able to get new medication.

How long does he have? On average?

Best answer:

Answer by Marielle
I am so sorry to hear of this. Parkinson’s disease as you know is not curable and hard to even treat. I wish I could give you an exact time frame but, not even a doctor knows. Some people I have taken care of had it for 20 yr before passing away. Other people have it for 6 mon. and pass away. Not to minimize your grandfather but only to help you understand…. he is 80 years old. He is at life expectancy. He has accomplished a lot in those 80 years and will leave a great legacy. So please start focusing on all that he has done. Start collecting pictures, awards, certificates, newspaper clippings, etc. Talk to family members and ask them questions and write down all that you can remember. Look forward to making a book that can be put together in a nice hard covered journal. If he served in any foreign wars find out if he has metals.
What a great memorial book you can make about your grandfather. You have a lot of work to do in a short time.
So the key thing is to focus on what he accomplished and done and let nature take its course in how much time he has left

What do you think? Answer below!

Press advert for Parkinson’s Disease Society


Image by HowardLake
The Parkinson’s Disease Society is trying to recruit new donors from cold audiences with a national ‘and-raiser’ direct marketing campaign devised by direct-to-digital agency TDA. The campaign aims to make contact and build a dialogue with people who have an empathy with the disease.

www.fundraising.co.uk/node/177038/