Tea Partiers Mocking Man With Parkinson’s Disease

01.09.10 / parkinsons disease / Author: Alex / Comments: (31)
Tags: Disease, Mocking, parkinsons, Partiers

In the future, will these men’s familes be like those who found out they’re forefathers were slave owners?

Yoga: Parkinson’s Disease

First described as “shaking palsy” the disease that now bears his name, medical science has thus far been unable to unravel the cause or causes of most Parkinson’s cases or to devise a cure. Nonetheless, dramatic progress has been made in treating the disease, which is known to afflict about half a million older Americans, or one person in 100 over age 50. This figure does not include the untold thousands with symptoms of the disease that are not severe enough to prompt them to seek a diagnosis. But early diagnosis is important. 

 

 

 

Diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is based on the patient’s symptoms and performance on certain neurological and neuropsychological tests, along with ruling out other possible causes of those symptoms. Some cases of what doctors call Parkinsonism are caused by potent drugs used in the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychiatric illnesses or they are a result of poisoning by manganese. 

 

 

 

Through medication, exercise regimens and tips on adaptive living measures, modern treatment can forestall or reduce the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, allowing patients to lead full and active lives for years after diagnosis and often for the rest of their lives because most of its victims are elderly. The late stages of the disease, however, can leave patients vulnerable to pneumonia, blood clots and bodywide infections that can be fatal.

 

 

 

Yoga has a major role in management of Parkinson’s as it has emerged as a beneficial alternative therapy and an ideal form of exercise for Parkinson’s patients because of its slow movements. Following the steps mentioned below could effectively help people with Parkinson’s: 

 

 

 

Concentrate on controlling your breath (Pranayama) as this form of yoga helps in moments of panic – such as feet sticking to the floor when walking.

 

 

 

In this form of yoga, the mind is always alert.

 

 

 

Few yoga exercises like back strengthening postures, lots of shoulder movements, breathing practices and some meditation definitely helps. 

 

 

 

One of the most useful forms of yoga used for Parkinson’s is Ashtanga Yoga. It works to strengthen the body and do increases blood circulation. 

 

 

 

Daily practice of yoga is essential since Parkinson’s itself does not necessarily weaken the muscles. Weakening of muscles is generally caused by lack of movement. Daily practice should be encouraged, but not enough to cause fatigue.

 

 

 

Parkinson’s also result in the loss of movement of the facial muscles. Pranayama and other yoga movements could help in relaxing those muscles and bring in smile on the faces of the patient.

 

 

J.K. Rowling gives millions for MS research
“Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling has donated £10 million (.5 million) to set up a new clinic to carry out research into multiple sclerosis (MS), the disease which killed her mother.
Read more on The Hollywood Reporter

Question by ♥Sakura 桜♥: Is there a support group or website for the families of people suffering from Parkinson’s disease?
My dad has PD and I’m having trouble copeing. My friend’s don’t understand what I’m going through and some even think I’m lieing about what my life is like!

Is there a support group or website for the families of people who have PD? Thank you.

Best answer:

Answer by AnnieO
wow. unfortuantly i dont have an aswer but my boyfriend is right there with you. He has been asking people this very same question. Im as curious as you to find out if there is. He is going through the same thing with his mom so ill be checkin back so see if someone can help not only you but me as well

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

PhotonQ-Aubrey de Grey and the Longevity of Economy =)


Image by PhOtOnQuAnTiQuE
At BIL 2009 conference, with Aubrey De Gray, showing a fun cartoon on the Financial Crisis =)

"Aubrey De Gray is a world-known British biomedical gerontologist, and author of the general-audience book "Ending Aging," a detailed description of how regenerative medicine may be able to defeat aging entirely within a few decades.
He is the chairman and chief science officer of the Methuselah Foundation.

He works on the development of what he has termed "strategies for engineered negligible senescence" ( SENS ) – a tissue-repair strategy intended to rejuvenate the human body and thereby allow an indefinite lifespan.

To this end, he has identified seven types of molecular and cellular "damage" caused by essential metabolic processes; SENS is a proposed panel of therapies to repair this damage

——————————————————–

The seven types of aging damage proposed by de Grey

1# Cancer-causing nuclear mutations/epimutations:

These are changes to the nuclear DNA (nDNA), the molecule that contains our genetic information, or to proteins which bind to the nDNA. Certain mutations can lead to cancer, and, according to de Grey, non-cancerous mutations and epimutations do not contribute to aging within a normal lifespan, so cancer is the only endpoint of these types of damage that must be addressed.

2# Mitochondrial mutations:

Mitochondria are components in our cells that are important for energy production. They contain their own genetic material, and mutations to their DNA can affect a cell’s ability to function properly. Indirectly, these mutations may accelerate many aspects of aging.

3# Intracellular aggregates:

Our cells are constantly breaking down proteins and other molecules that are no longer useful or which can be harmful. Those molecules which can’t be digested simply accumulate as junk inside our cells. Atherosclerosis, macular degeneration and all kinds of neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s disease) are associated with this problem.

4# Extracellular aggregates:

Harmful junk protein can also accumulate outside of our cells. The amyloid plaque seen in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients is one example.

5# Cell loss:

Some of the cells in our bodies cannot be replaced, or can only be replaced very slowly – more slowly than they die. This decrease in cell number causes the heart to become weaker with age, and it also causes Parkinson’s disease and impairs the immune system.

6# Cell senescence:

This is a phenomenon where the cells are no longer able to divide, but also do not die and let others divide. They may also do other things that they’re not supposed to, like secreting proteins that could be harmful. Immune senescence and type 2 diabetes are caused by this.[citation needed]

7# Extracellular crosslinks:

Cells are held together by special linking proteins. When too many cross-links form between cells in a tissue, the tissue can lose its elasticity and cause problems including arteriosclerosis and presbyopia. wiki "

Tea Partiers Mocking Man With Parkinson’s Disease

01.09.10 / parkinsons disease / Author: Alex / Comments: (0)
Tags: Disease, Mocking, parkinsons, Partiers

In the future, will these men’s familes be like those who found out they’re forefathers were slave owners?

Yoga: Parkinson’s Disease

First described as “shaking palsy” the disease that now bears his name, medical science has thus far been unable to unravel the cause or causes of most Parkinson’s cases or to devise a cure. Nonetheless, dramatic progress has been made in treating the disease, which is known to afflict about half a million older Americans, or one person in 100 over age 50. This figure does not include the untold thousands with symptoms of the disease that are not severe enough to prompt them to seek a diagnosis. But early diagnosis is important. 

 

 

 

Diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is based on the patient’s symptoms and performance on certain neurological and neuropsychological tests, along with ruling out other possible causes of those symptoms. Some cases of what doctors call Parkinsonism are caused by potent drugs used in the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychiatric illnesses or they are a result of poisoning by manganese. 

 

 

 

Through medication, exercise regimens and tips on adaptive living measures, modern treatment can forestall or reduce the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, allowing patients to lead full and active lives for years after diagnosis and often for the rest of their lives because most of its victims are elderly. The late stages of the disease, however, can leave patients vulnerable to pneumonia, blood clots and bodywide infections that can be fatal.

 

 

 

Yoga has a major role in management of Parkinson’s as it has emerged as a beneficial alternative therapy and an ideal form of exercise for Parkinson’s patients because of its slow movements. Following the steps mentioned below could effectively help people with Parkinson’s: 

 

 

 

Concentrate on controlling your breath (Pranayama) as this form of yoga helps in moments of panic – such as feet sticking to the floor when walking.

 

 

 

In this form of yoga, the mind is always alert.

 

 

 

Few yoga exercises like back strengthening postures, lots of shoulder movements, breathing practices and some meditation definitely helps. 

 

 

 

One of the most useful forms of yoga used for Parkinson’s is Ashtanga Yoga. It works to strengthen the body and do increases blood circulation. 

 

 

 

Daily practice of yoga is essential since Parkinson’s itself does not necessarily weaken the muscles. Weakening of muscles is generally caused by lack of movement. Daily practice should be encouraged, but not enough to cause fatigue.

 

 

 

Parkinson’s also result in the loss of movement of the facial muscles. Pranayama and other yoga movements could help in relaxing those muscles and bring in smile on the faces of the patient.

 

 

Obama Administration Asks Court to Unfreeze Embryonic Stem Cell Research
The Obama administration filed court papers on Wednesday asking a federal judge to suspend an order he issued last week that blocked the use of federal funds for embryonic stem cell research. Embryonic stem cell – Presidency of Barack Obama – Biotechnology – Stem cell – Biology
Read more on ABC News

Question by ♥Sakura 桜♥: Is there a support group or website for the families of people suffering from Parkinson’s disease?
My dad has PD and I’m having trouble copeing. My friend’s don’t understand what I’m going through and some even think I’m lieing about what my life is like!

Is there a support group or website for the families of people who have PD? Thank you.

Best answer:

Answer by AnnieO
wow. unfortuantly i dont have an aswer but my boyfriend is right there with you. He has been asking people this very same question. Im as curious as you to find out if there is. He is going through the same thing with his mom so ill be checkin back so see if someone can help not only you but me as well

Give your answer to this question below!

PhotonQ-Aubrey de Grey and the Longevity of Economy =)


Image by PhOtOnQuAnTiQuE
At BIL 2009 conference, with Aubrey De Gray, showing a fun cartoon on the Financial Crisis =)

"Aubrey De Gray is a world-known British biomedical gerontologist, and author of the general-audience book "Ending Aging," a detailed description of how regenerative medicine may be able to defeat aging entirely within a few decades.
He is the chairman and chief science officer of the Methuselah Foundation.

He works on the development of what he has termed "strategies for engineered negligible senescence" ( SENS ) – a tissue-repair strategy intended to rejuvenate the human body and thereby allow an indefinite lifespan.

To this end, he has identified seven types of molecular and cellular "damage" caused by essential metabolic processes; SENS is a proposed panel of therapies to repair this damage

——————————————————–

The seven types of aging damage proposed by de Grey

1# Cancer-causing nuclear mutations/epimutations:

These are changes to the nuclear DNA (nDNA), the molecule that contains our genetic information, or to proteins which bind to the nDNA. Certain mutations can lead to cancer, and, according to de Grey, non-cancerous mutations and epimutations do not contribute to aging within a normal lifespan, so cancer is the only endpoint of these types of damage that must be addressed.

2# Mitochondrial mutations:

Mitochondria are components in our cells that are important for energy production. They contain their own genetic material, and mutations to their DNA can affect a cell’s ability to function properly. Indirectly, these mutations may accelerate many aspects of aging.

3# Intracellular aggregates:

Our cells are constantly breaking down proteins and other molecules that are no longer useful or which can be harmful. Those molecules which can’t be digested simply accumulate as junk inside our cells. Atherosclerosis, macular degeneration and all kinds of neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s disease) are associated with this problem.

4# Extracellular aggregates:

Harmful junk protein can also accumulate outside of our cells. The amyloid plaque seen in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients is one example.

5# Cell loss:

Some of the cells in our bodies cannot be replaced, or can only be replaced very slowly – more slowly than they die. This decrease in cell number causes the heart to become weaker with age, and it also causes Parkinson’s disease and impairs the immune system.

6# Cell senescence:

This is a phenomenon where the cells are no longer able to divide, but also do not die and let others divide. They may also do other things that they’re not supposed to, like secreting proteins that could be harmful. Immune senescence and type 2 diabetes are caused by this.[citation needed]

7# Extracellular crosslinks:

Cells are held together by special linking proteins. When too many cross-links form between cells in a tissue, the tissue can lose its elasticity and cause problems including arteriosclerosis and presbyopia. wiki "

Tea Partiers Mock And Scorn Apparent Parkinson’s Victim

05.08.10 / parkinsons disease / Author: Alex / Comments: (25)
Tags: Apparent, Mock, parkinsons, Partiers, Scorn, Victim

Columbus Dispatch Outs “The Terrible Teabagger”: bit.ly COLUMBUS – In a scene reminiscent of non-violent civil rights confrontations from the 1960s, Ohio Tea Partiers quickly turned ugly when facing off with health care advocates in front of Ohio Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s office Tuesday. In shocking video taken by a Columbus Dispatch reporter Doral Chenowith yesterday, Tea Party protestors mock a seated counter-protestor with a sign indicating he has Parkinson’s disease. They then proceed to hurl wadded up bills at him shouting, “I’ll decide when to give you money!” On March 17th outside of Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s (D-OH15) district office teabaggers mocked and scorned a man who had a sign stating that he had Parkinson’s. They told him “he’s in the wrong end of town to ask for handouts”, called him a communist and threw dollar bills at him to “pay for his health care”.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Parkinson’s Disease — Prevention & Alleviating the Symptoms

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.

W5: Parkinson’s drug sends patients on orgy of gambling, shopping and sex
W5 uncovers shocking side effects of Mirapex, a drug used to treat Parkinson’s Disease, including hyper-sexuality and compulsive gambling.
Read more on CTV.ca

Question by Crafty Fashionista: Does Parkinson’s Disease cause a person to have frequent uncontrollable mood swings?
Are uncontrollable mood swings or irritable behavior a part of the disease’ symptoms or do mood swings play a part because of the other uncontrollable symptoms such as not being able to do things you used to do?
I know someone with Parkinson’s Disease who is usually a pretty nice person but sometimes will have this nasty irriatable attitude twards people for no reason, and was wondering if its part of the disease. I havent found much info online about this and I dont dare ask them!

Best answer:

Answer by Mags
First of all, thank you for asking this question because it is a very important one in regards to PD.

There are a few reasons for the mood swings in Parkinson’s disease patients. And this can be very disconcerting to friends and families who are often the victims of some rather nasty outbursts.

One thing to remember about depression is that it is often the outgrowth of fear; fear turned inward. But as the person with the depression, that is difficult to address. Sometimes it is easier just to lash out, to try to displace that fear by projecting the anger behind it onto someone else.

Sometimes the side effects of medications can be mood swings. This would depend upon the medication and/or interactions with other meds.

Depression is a very common symptom of PD in at least 50-60% of the patients. It is part of the disease. This depression often needs to be treated differently, some people can be helped by SAD lights, exercise which raises endorphin levels, therapy, certain anti-depressants, nutritional supplements. Still it is surprising how few suicides there are among PD patients

Depression can fluctuate depending upon the little successes or failures of daily activities. Today is a bad day in this house because of concerns about a family gathering tonight. And while I was trying to type this answer I became the focus of this PD anger.

From the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation: “researchers have found that people with Parkinson’s who were depressed had more trouble with daily activities, and were more likely to begin medication for motor symptoms sooner than those without depressive symptoms. Depression decreased their quality of life and made their motor symptoms worse—but treating the depression, rather than the motor symptoms, improved both quality of life and movement”

“Parkinson’s affects many parts of the brain that are important in controlling mood. One of these is the area that produces serotonin, a brain chemical implicated in depression. Another part of the brain important in regulating mood—the frontal lobe—is known to be under-active in Parkinson’s. Commonly prescribed antidepressants can help. In addition to medications, cognitive-behavioral therapy has also been shown to help some people with Parkinson’s.”

http://www.pdf.org/en/depression_pd

From the NeuroPsychiatry Review:
“Mood disturbances are a common problem in PD; depression or dysthymia may affect as many as half of patients. Often, however, these disorders are less disconcerting to patients than the mood swings that, in extreme cases, may shift from feelings of euphoria to suicidal urges within the same day. “For some people, it’s their predominant complaint, more so than the motor fluctuations,” said study author Irene Hegeman Richard, MD, an assistant professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center. “When their emotions are literally out of control, it’s very disturbing to them.” Approximately two thirds of patients with advanced PD and motor fluctuations also experience mood fluctuations.”

The above is from a very informative article: Parkinson’s Disease – Do Mood and Motor Fluctuations Match?

http://www.neuropsychiatryreviews.com/apr00/npr_apr00_pd.html

Not only can depression by a by-product symptom of PD, it is often a precursor symptom of the brain loss of homeostasis long before the appearance of the obvious symptoms which send a person for diagnosis.

The problem is getting it treated, treated for what it is – which is not mainstream depression. The discussion probably needs to begin with the neurologist. But how to get the patient to see the need to discuss it…..

I’m sorry that you have to endure this. It takes a huge reserve of patience to be on the receiving end when the abuse is coming from a disease and not an essentially nasty person. That is why there are support groups for caregivers.

I can be reached through Yahoo Answers and through Contact Us at the site below.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Getting ready for the Parkinson’s 5K Walk & Fun Run 2008


Image by gebl
(C)Gebl 2008

Tea Partiers Mock And Scorn Apparent Parkinson’s Victim

05.08.10 / parkinsons disease / Author: Alex / Comments: (0)
Tags: Apparent, Mock, parkinsons, Partiers, Scorn, Victim

Columbus Dispatch Outs “The Terrible Teabagger”: bit.ly COLUMBUS – In a scene reminiscent of non-violent civil rights confrontations from the 1960s, Ohio Tea Partiers quickly turned ugly when facing off with health care advocates in front of Ohio Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s office Tuesday. In shocking video taken by a Columbus Dispatch reporter Doral Chenowith yesterday, Tea Party protestors mock a seated counter-protestor with a sign indicating he has Parkinson’s disease. They then proceed to hurl wadded up bills at him shouting, “I’ll decide when to give you money!” On March 17th outside of Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s (D-OH15) district office teabaggers mocked and scorned a man who had a sign stating that he had Parkinson’s. They told him “he’s in the wrong end of town to ask for handouts”, called him a communist and threw dollar bills at him to “pay for his health care”.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Parkinson’s Disease — Prevention & Alleviating the Symptoms

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.

W5: Parkinson’s drug sends patients on orgy of gambling, shopping and sex
W5 uncovers shocking side effects of Mirapex, a drug used to treat Parkinson’s Disease, including hyper-sexuality and compulsive gambling.
Read more on CTV.ca

Question by Crafty Fashionista: Does Parkinson’s Disease cause a person to have frequent uncontrollable mood swings?
Are uncontrollable mood swings or irritable behavior a part of the disease’ symptoms or do mood swings play a part because of the other uncontrollable symptoms such as not being able to do things you used to do?
I know someone with Parkinson’s Disease who is usually a pretty nice person but sometimes will have this nasty irriatable attitude twards people for no reason, and was wondering if its part of the disease. I havent found much info online about this and I dont dare ask them!

Best answer:

Answer by Mags
First of all, thank you for asking this question because it is a very important one in regards to PD.

There are a few reasons for the mood swings in Parkinson’s disease patients. And this can be very disconcerting to friends and families who are often the victims of some rather nasty outbursts.

One thing to remember about depression is that it is often the outgrowth of fear; fear turned inward. But as the person with the depression, that is difficult to address. Sometimes it is easier just to lash out, to try to displace that fear by projecting the anger behind it onto someone else.

Sometimes the side effects of medications can be mood swings. This would depend upon the medication and/or interactions with other meds.

Depression is a very common symptom of PD in at least 50-60% of the patients. It is part of the disease. This depression often needs to be treated differently, some people can be helped by SAD lights, exercise which raises endorphin levels, therapy, certain anti-depressants, nutritional supplements. Still it is surprising how few suicides there are among PD patients

Depression can fluctuate depending upon the little successes or failures of daily activities. Today is a bad day in this house because of concerns about a family gathering tonight. And while I was trying to type this answer I became the focus of this PD anger.

From the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation: “researchers have found that people with Parkinson’s who were depressed had more trouble with daily activities, and were more likely to begin medication for motor symptoms sooner than those without depressive symptoms. Depression decreased their quality of life and made their motor symptoms worse—but treating the depression, rather than the motor symptoms, improved both quality of life and movement”

“Parkinson’s affects many parts of the brain that are important in controlling mood. One of these is the area that produces serotonin, a brain chemical implicated in depression. Another part of the brain important in regulating mood—the frontal lobe—is known to be under-active in Parkinson’s. Commonly prescribed antidepressants can help. In addition to medications, cognitive-behavioral therapy has also been shown to help some people with Parkinson’s.”

http://www.pdf.org/en/depression_pd

From the NeuroPsychiatry Review:
“Mood disturbances are a common problem in PD; depression or dysthymia may affect as many as half of patients. Often, however, these disorders are less disconcerting to patients than the mood swings that, in extreme cases, may shift from feelings of euphoria to suicidal urges within the same day. “For some people, it’s their predominant complaint, more so than the motor fluctuations,” said study author Irene Hegeman Richard, MD, an assistant professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center. “When their emotions are literally out of control, it’s very disturbing to them.” Approximately two thirds of patients with advanced PD and motor fluctuations also experience mood fluctuations.”

The above is from a very informative article: Parkinson’s Disease – Do Mood and Motor Fluctuations Match?

http://www.neuropsychiatryreviews.com/apr00/npr_apr00_pd.html

Not only can depression by a by-product symptom of PD, it is often a precursor symptom of the brain loss of homeostasis long before the appearance of the obvious symptoms which send a person for diagnosis.

The problem is getting it treated, treated for what it is – which is not mainstream depression. The discussion probably needs to begin with the neurologist. But how to get the patient to see the need to discuss it…..

I’m sorry that you have to endure this. It takes a huge reserve of patience to be on the receiving end when the abuse is coming from a disease and not an essentially nasty person. That is why there are support groups for caregivers.

I can be reached through Yahoo Answers and through Contact Us at the site below.

Add your own answer in the comments!

FIona running at the Parkinson’s 5K Walk & Fun Run 2008


Image by gebl
(C)Gebl 2008

Tea Partiers Mock And Scorn Apparent Parkinson’s Victim

04.08.10 / parkinsons disease / Author: Alex / Comments: (0)
Tags: Apparent, Mock, parkinsons, Partiers, Scorn, Victim

Columbus Dispatch Outs “The Terrible Teabagger”: bit.ly COLUMBUS – In a scene reminiscent of non-violent civil rights confrontations from the 1960s, Ohio Tea Partiers quickly turned ugly when facing off with health care advocates in front of Ohio Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s office Tuesday. In shocking video taken by a Columbus Dispatch reporter Doral Chenowith yesterday, Tea Party protestors mock a seated counter-protestor with a sign indicating he has Parkinson’s disease. They then proceed to hurl wadded up bills at him shouting, “I’ll decide when to give you money!” On March 17th outside of Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s (D-OH15) district office teabaggers mocked and scorned a man who had a sign stating that he had Parkinson’s. They told him “he’s in the wrong end of town to ask for handouts”, called him a communist and threw dollar bills at him to “pay for his health care”.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Parkinson’s Disease — Prevention & Alleviating the Symptoms

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.

Celebrities walk red carpet in Portland for Parkinson’s
Former Trail Blazer Brian Grant hosted a fundraiser for Parkinson’s Disease in Portland Sunday and some big stars walked the red carpet at the Rose Garden.
Read more on KGW NewsChannel 8 Portland

Question by Crafty Fashionista: Does Parkinson’s Disease cause a person to have frequent uncontrollable mood swings?
Are uncontrollable mood swings or irritable behavior a part of the disease’ symptoms or do mood swings play a part because of the other uncontrollable symptoms such as not being able to do things you used to do?
I know someone with Parkinson’s Disease who is usually a pretty nice person but sometimes will have this nasty irriatable attitude twards people for no reason, and was wondering if its part of the disease. I havent found much info online about this and I dont dare ask them!

Best answer:

Answer by Mags
First of all, thank you for asking this question because it is a very important one in regards to PD.

There are a few reasons for the mood swings in Parkinson’s disease patients. And this can be very disconcerting to friends and families who are often the victims of some rather nasty outbursts.

One thing to remember about depression is that it is often the outgrowth of fear; fear turned inward. But as the person with the depression, that is difficult to address. Sometimes it is easier just to lash out, to try to displace that fear by projecting the anger behind it onto someone else.

Sometimes the side effects of medications can be mood swings. This would depend upon the medication and/or interactions with other meds.

Depression is a very common symptom of PD in at least 50-60% of the patients. It is part of the disease. This depression often needs to be treated differently, some people can be helped by SAD lights, exercise which raises endorphin levels, therapy, certain anti-depressants, nutritional supplements. Still it is surprising how few suicides there are among PD patients

Depression can fluctuate depending upon the little successes or failures of daily activities. Today is a bad day in this house because of concerns about a family gathering tonight. And while I was trying to type this answer I became the focus of this PD anger.

From the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation: “researchers have found that people with Parkinson’s who were depressed had more trouble with daily activities, and were more likely to begin medication for motor symptoms sooner than those without depressive symptoms. Depression decreased their quality of life and made their motor symptoms worse—but treating the depression, rather than the motor symptoms, improved both quality of life and movement”

“Parkinson’s affects many parts of the brain that are important in controlling mood. One of these is the area that produces serotonin, a brain chemical implicated in depression. Another part of the brain important in regulating mood—the frontal lobe—is known to be under-active in Parkinson’s. Commonly prescribed antidepressants can help. In addition to medications, cognitive-behavioral therapy has also been shown to help some people with Parkinson’s.”

http://www.pdf.org/en/depression_pd

From the NeuroPsychiatry Review:
“Mood disturbances are a common problem in PD; depression or dysthymia may affect as many as half of patients. Often, however, these disorders are less disconcerting to patients than the mood swings that, in extreme cases, may shift from feelings of euphoria to suicidal urges within the same day. “For some people, it’s their predominant complaint, more so than the motor fluctuations,” said study author Irene Hegeman Richard, MD, an assistant professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center. “When their emotions are literally out of control, it’s very disturbing to them.” Approximately two thirds of patients with advanced PD and motor fluctuations also experience mood fluctuations.”

The above is from a very informative article: Parkinson’s Disease – Do Mood and Motor Fluctuations Match?

http://www.neuropsychiatryreviews.com/apr00/npr_apr00_pd.html

Not only can depression by a by-product symptom of PD, it is often a precursor symptom of the brain loss of homeostasis long before the appearance of the obvious symptoms which send a person for diagnosis.

The problem is getting it treated, treated for what it is – which is not mainstream depression. The discussion probably needs to begin with the neurologist. But how to get the patient to see the need to discuss it…..

I’m sorry that you have to endure this. It takes a huge reserve of patience to be on the receiving end when the abuse is coming from a disease and not an essentially nasty person. That is why there are support groups for caregivers.

I can be reached through Yahoo Answers and through Contact Us at the site below.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

FIona running at the Parkinson’s 5K Walk & Fun Run 2008


Image by gebl
(C)Gebl 2008

Tea Partiers Mock And Scorn Apparent Parkinson’s Victim

04.08.10 / parkinsons disease / Author: Alex / Comments: (0)
Tags: Apparent, Mock, parkinsons, Partiers, Scorn, Victim

Columbus Dispatch Outs “The Terrible Teabagger”: bit.ly COLUMBUS – In a scene reminiscent of non-violent civil rights confrontations from the 1960s, Ohio Tea Partiers quickly turned ugly when facing off with health care advocates in front of Ohio Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s office Tuesday. In shocking video taken by a Columbus Dispatch reporter Doral Chenowith yesterday, Tea Party protestors mock a seated counter-protestor with a sign indicating he has Parkinson’s disease. They then proceed to hurl wadded up bills at him shouting, “I’ll decide when to give you money!” On March 17th outside of Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s (D-OH15) district office teabaggers mocked and scorned a man who had a sign stating that he had Parkinson’s. They told him “he’s in the wrong end of town to ask for handouts”, called him a communist and threw dollar bills at him to “pay for his health care”.

Parkinson’s Disease — Prevention & Alleviating the Symptoms

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.

‘Ty-D-Bol man’ Dan Resin dead at 79
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 2 (UPI) — U.S. actor and TV pitchman Dan Resin has died of complications of Parkinson’s disease, his family said. He was 79. Parkinson’s disease – Dan Resin – Health – Conditions and Diseases – Neurological Disorders
Read more on UPI

Question by Crafty Fashionista: Does Parkinson’s Disease cause a person to have frequent uncontrollable mood swings?
Are uncontrollable mood swings or irritable behavior a part of the disease’ symptoms or do mood swings play a part because of the other uncontrollable symptoms such as not being able to do things you used to do?
I know someone with Parkinson’s Disease who is usually a pretty nice person but sometimes will have this nasty irriatable attitude twards people for no reason, and was wondering if its part of the disease. I havent found much info online about this and I dont dare ask them!

Best answer:

Answer by Mags
First of all, thank you for asking this question because it is a very important one in regards to PD.

There are a few reasons for the mood swings in Parkinson’s disease patients. And this can be very disconcerting to friends and families who are often the victims of some rather nasty outbursts.

One thing to remember about depression is that it is often the outgrowth of fear; fear turned inward. But as the person with the depression, that is difficult to address. Sometimes it is easier just to lash out, to try to displace that fear by projecting the anger behind it onto someone else.

Sometimes the side effects of medications can be mood swings. This would depend upon the medication and/or interactions with other meds.

Depression is a very common symptom of PD in at least 50-60% of the patients. It is part of the disease. This depression often needs to be treated differently, some people can be helped by SAD lights, exercise which raises endorphin levels, therapy, certain anti-depressants, nutritional supplements. Still it is surprising how few suicides there are among PD patients

Depression can fluctuate depending upon the little successes or failures of daily activities. Today is a bad day in this house because of concerns about a family gathering tonight. And while I was trying to type this answer I became the focus of this PD anger.

From the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation: “researchers have found that people with Parkinson’s who were depressed had more trouble with daily activities, and were more likely to begin medication for motor symptoms sooner than those without depressive symptoms. Depression decreased their quality of life and made their motor symptoms worse—but treating the depression, rather than the motor symptoms, improved both quality of life and movement”

“Parkinson’s affects many parts of the brain that are important in controlling mood. One of these is the area that produces serotonin, a brain chemical implicated in depression. Another part of the brain important in regulating mood—the frontal lobe—is known to be under-active in Parkinson’s. Commonly prescribed antidepressants can help. In addition to medications, cognitive-behavioral therapy has also been shown to help some people with Parkinson’s.”

http://www.pdf.org/en/depression_pd

From the NeuroPsychiatry Review:
“Mood disturbances are a common problem in PD; depression or dysthymia may affect as many as half of patients. Often, however, these disorders are less disconcerting to patients than the mood swings that, in extreme cases, may shift from feelings of euphoria to suicidal urges within the same day. “For some people, it’s their predominant complaint, more so than the motor fluctuations,” said study author Irene Hegeman Richard, MD, an assistant professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center. “When their emotions are literally out of control, it’s very disturbing to them.” Approximately two thirds of patients with advanced PD and motor fluctuations also experience mood fluctuations.”

The above is from a very informative article: Parkinson’s Disease – Do Mood and Motor Fluctuations Match?

http://www.neuropsychiatryreviews.com/apr00/npr_apr00_pd.html

Not only can depression by a by-product symptom of PD, it is often a precursor symptom of the brain loss of homeostasis long before the appearance of the obvious symptoms which send a person for diagnosis.

The problem is getting it treated, treated for what it is – which is not mainstream depression. The discussion probably needs to begin with the neurologist. But how to get the patient to see the need to discuss it…..

I’m sorry that you have to endure this. It takes a huge reserve of patience to be on the receiving end when the abuse is coming from a disease and not an essentially nasty person. That is why there are support groups for caregivers.

I can be reached through Yahoo Answers and through Contact Us at the site below.

What do you think? Answer below!

FIona running at the Parkinson’s 5K Walk & Fun Run 2008


Image by gebl
(C)Gebl 2008

Tea Partiers Mock And Scorn Apparent Parkinson’s Victim

03.08.10 / parkinsons disease / Author: Alex / Comments: (0)
Tags: Apparent, Mock, parkinsons, Partiers, Scorn, Victim

Columbus Dispatch Outs “The Terrible Teabagger”: bit.ly COLUMBUS – In a scene reminiscent of non-violent civil rights confrontations from the 1960s, Ohio Tea Partiers quickly turned ugly when facing off with health care advocates in front of Ohio Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s office Tuesday. In shocking video taken by a Columbus Dispatch reporter Doral Chenowith yesterday, Tea Party protestors mock a seated counter-protestor with a sign indicating he has Parkinson’s disease. They then proceed to hurl wadded up bills at him shouting, “I’ll decide when to give you money!” On March 17th outside of Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s (D-OH15) district office teabaggers mocked and scorned a man who had a sign stating that he had Parkinson’s. They told him “he’s in the wrong end of town to ask for handouts”, called him a communist and threw dollar bills at him to “pay for his health care”.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Parkinson’s Disease — Prevention & Alleviating the Symptoms

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.

‘Ty-D-Bol man’ Dan Resin dead at 79
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 2 (UPI) — U.S. actor and TV pitchman Dan Resin has died of complications of Parkinson’s disease, his family said. He was 79. Parkinson’s disease – Dan Resin – Health – Conditions and Diseases – Neurological Disorders
Read more on UPI

Question by Crafty Fashionista: Does Parkinson’s Disease cause a person to have frequent uncontrollable mood swings?
Are uncontrollable mood swings or irritable behavior a part of the disease’ symptoms or do mood swings play a part because of the other uncontrollable symptoms such as not being able to do things you used to do?
I know someone with Parkinson’s Disease who is usually a pretty nice person but sometimes will have this nasty irriatable attitude twards people for no reason, and was wondering if its part of the disease. I havent found much info online about this and I dont dare ask them!

Best answer:

Answer by Mags
First of all, thank you for asking this question because it is a very important one in regards to PD.

There are a few reasons for the mood swings in Parkinson’s disease patients. And this can be very disconcerting to friends and families who are often the victims of some rather nasty outbursts.

One thing to remember about depression is that it is often the outgrowth of fear; fear turned inward. But as the person with the depression, that is difficult to address. Sometimes it is easier just to lash out, to try to displace that fear by projecting the anger behind it onto someone else.

Sometimes the side effects of medications can be mood swings. This would depend upon the medication and/or interactions with other meds.

Depression is a very common symptom of PD in at least 50-60% of the patients. It is part of the disease. This depression often needs to be treated differently, some people can be helped by SAD lights, exercise which raises endorphin levels, therapy, certain anti-depressants, nutritional supplements. Still it is surprising how few suicides there are among PD patients

Depression can fluctuate depending upon the little successes or failures of daily activities. Today is a bad day in this house because of concerns about a family gathering tonight. And while I was trying to type this answer I became the focus of this PD anger.

From the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation: “researchers have found that people with Parkinson’s who were depressed had more trouble with daily activities, and were more likely to begin medication for motor symptoms sooner than those without depressive symptoms. Depression decreased their quality of life and made their motor symptoms worse—but treating the depression, rather than the motor symptoms, improved both quality of life and movement”

“Parkinson’s affects many parts of the brain that are important in controlling mood. One of these is the area that produces serotonin, a brain chemical implicated in depression. Another part of the brain important in regulating mood—the frontal lobe—is known to be under-active in Parkinson’s. Commonly prescribed antidepressants can help. In addition to medications, cognitive-behavioral therapy has also been shown to help some people with Parkinson’s.”

http://www.pdf.org/en/depression_pd

From the NeuroPsychiatry Review:
“Mood disturbances are a common problem in PD; depression or dysthymia may affect as many as half of patients. Often, however, these disorders are less disconcerting to patients than the mood swings that, in extreme cases, may shift from feelings of euphoria to suicidal urges within the same day. “For some people, it’s their predominant complaint, more so than the motor fluctuations,” said study author Irene Hegeman Richard, MD, an assistant professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center. “When their emotions are literally out of control, it’s very disturbing to them.” Approximately two thirds of patients with advanced PD and motor fluctuations also experience mood fluctuations.”

The above is from a very informative article: Parkinson’s Disease – Do Mood and Motor Fluctuations Match?

http://www.neuropsychiatryreviews.com/apr00/npr_apr00_pd.html

Not only can depression by a by-product symptom of PD, it is often a precursor symptom of the brain loss of homeostasis long before the appearance of the obvious symptoms which send a person for diagnosis.

The problem is getting it treated, treated for what it is – which is not mainstream depression. The discussion probably needs to begin with the neurologist. But how to get the patient to see the need to discuss it…..

I’m sorry that you have to endure this. It takes a huge reserve of patience to be on the receiving end when the abuse is coming from a disease and not an essentially nasty person. That is why there are support groups for caregivers.

I can be reached through Yahoo Answers and through Contact Us at the site below.

What do you think? Answer below!

FIona running at the Parkinson’s 5K Walk & Fun Run 2008


Image by gebl
(C)Gebl 2008

Tea Partiers Mock And Scorn Apparent Parkinson’s Victim

03.08.10 / parkinsons disease / Author: Alex / Comments: (0)
Tags: Apparent, Mock, parkinsons, Partiers, Scorn, Victim

Columbus Dispatch Outs “The Terrible Teabagger”: bit.ly COLUMBUS – In a scene reminiscent of non-violent civil rights confrontations from the 1960s, Ohio Tea Partiers quickly turned ugly when facing off with health care advocates in front of Ohio Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s office Tuesday. In shocking video taken by a Columbus Dispatch reporter Doral Chenowith yesterday, Tea Party protestors mock a seated counter-protestor with a sign indicating he has Parkinson’s disease. They then proceed to hurl wadded up bills at him shouting, “I’ll decide when to give you money!” On March 17th outside of Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s (D-OH15) district office teabaggers mocked and scorned a man who had a sign stating that he had Parkinson’s. They told him “he’s in the wrong end of town to ask for handouts”, called him a communist and threw dollar bills at him to “pay for his health care”.

Parkinson’s Disease — Prevention & Alleviating the Symptoms

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.

Participants agree that Brian Grant fundraiser is a great cause to fight a nasty disease in Parkinson’s
The fundraiser hits home for former Colorado Rockies player Ben Petrick.
Read more on The Oregonian

Question by Crafty Fashionista: Does Parkinson’s Disease cause a person to have frequent uncontrollable mood swings?
Are uncontrollable mood swings or irritable behavior a part of the disease’ symptoms or do mood swings play a part because of the other uncontrollable symptoms such as not being able to do things you used to do?
I know someone with Parkinson’s Disease who is usually a pretty nice person but sometimes will have this nasty irriatable attitude twards people for no reason, and was wondering if its part of the disease. I havent found much info online about this and I dont dare ask them!

Best answer:

Answer by Mags
First of all, thank you for asking this question because it is a very important one in regards to PD.

There are a few reasons for the mood swings in Parkinson’s disease patients. And this can be very disconcerting to friends and families who are often the victims of some rather nasty outbursts.

One thing to remember about depression is that it is often the outgrowth of fear; fear turned inward. But as the person with the depression, that is difficult to address. Sometimes it is easier just to lash out, to try to displace that fear by projecting the anger behind it onto someone else.

Sometimes the side effects of medications can be mood swings. This would depend upon the medication and/or interactions with other meds.

Depression is a very common symptom of PD in at least 50-60% of the patients. It is part of the disease. This depression often needs to be treated differently, some people can be helped by SAD lights, exercise which raises endorphin levels, therapy, certain anti-depressants, nutritional supplements. Still it is surprising how few suicides there are among PD patients

Depression can fluctuate depending upon the little successes or failures of daily activities. Today is a bad day in this house because of concerns about a family gathering tonight. And while I was trying to type this answer I became the focus of this PD anger.

From the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation: “researchers have found that people with Parkinson’s who were depressed had more trouble with daily activities, and were more likely to begin medication for motor symptoms sooner than those without depressive symptoms. Depression decreased their quality of life and made their motor symptoms worse—but treating the depression, rather than the motor symptoms, improved both quality of life and movement”

“Parkinson’s affects many parts of the brain that are important in controlling mood. One of these is the area that produces serotonin, a brain chemical implicated in depression. Another part of the brain important in regulating mood—the frontal lobe—is known to be under-active in Parkinson’s. Commonly prescribed antidepressants can help. In addition to medications, cognitive-behavioral therapy has also been shown to help some people with Parkinson’s.”

http://www.pdf.org/en/depression_pd

From the NeuroPsychiatry Review:
“Mood disturbances are a common problem in PD; depression or dysthymia may affect as many as half of patients. Often, however, these disorders are less disconcerting to patients than the mood swings that, in extreme cases, may shift from feelings of euphoria to suicidal urges within the same day. “For some people, it’s their predominant complaint, more so than the motor fluctuations,” said study author Irene Hegeman Richard, MD, an assistant professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center. “When their emotions are literally out of control, it’s very disturbing to them.” Approximately two thirds of patients with advanced PD and motor fluctuations also experience mood fluctuations.”

The above is from a very informative article: Parkinson’s Disease – Do Mood and Motor Fluctuations Match?

http://www.neuropsychiatryreviews.com/apr00/npr_apr00_pd.html

Not only can depression by a by-product symptom of PD, it is often a precursor symptom of the brain loss of homeostasis long before the appearance of the obvious symptoms which send a person for diagnosis.

The problem is getting it treated, treated for what it is – which is not mainstream depression. The discussion probably needs to begin with the neurologist. But how to get the patient to see the need to discuss it…..

I’m sorry that you have to endure this. It takes a huge reserve of patience to be on the receiving end when the abuse is coming from a disease and not an essentially nasty person. That is why there are support groups for caregivers.

I can be reached through Yahoo Answers and through Contact Us at the site below.

Give your answer to this question below!

Getting ready for the Parkinson’s 5K Walk & Fun Run 2008


Image by gebl
(C)Gebl 2008

Tea Partiers Mock And Scorn Apparent Parkinson’s Victim

03.08.10 / parkinsons disease / Author: Alex / Comments: (0)
Tags: Apparent, Mock, parkinsons, Partiers, Scorn, Victim

Columbus Dispatch Outs “The Terrible Teabagger”: bit.ly COLUMBUS – In a scene reminiscent of non-violent civil rights confrontations from the 1960s, Ohio Tea Partiers quickly turned ugly when facing off with health care advocates in front of Ohio Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s office Tuesday. In shocking video taken by a Columbus Dispatch reporter Doral Chenowith yesterday, Tea Party protestors mock a seated counter-protestor with a sign indicating he has Parkinson’s disease. They then proceed to hurl wadded up bills at him shouting, “I’ll decide when to give you money!” On March 17th outside of Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s (D-OH15) district office teabaggers mocked and scorned a man who had a sign stating that he had Parkinson’s. They told him “he’s in the wrong end of town to ask for handouts”, called him a communist and threw dollar bills at him to “pay for his health care”.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Parkinson’s Disease — Prevention & Alleviating the Symptoms

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.

Lazarus Therapeutics receives 0,000 loan to help develop Parkinson’s Disease drug
The Bethlehem startup received funding through Ben Franklin Technology Partners of northeastern Pennsylvania.
Read more on The Express-Times

Question by Walt1: How do people with Parkinson’s disease finally die?
My wife has Parkinson’s disease. She is in constant pain. She is losing her ability to do even the most ordinary actions of living. We wonder how Parkinson’s patients finally die.

Best answer:

Answer by pottersclay75
Parkinson’s by itself does not directly cause people to die. With the treatment that is now available to treat Parkinson’s, life expectancy for someone with Parkinson’s is fairly normal and none of the drugs that are used for Parkinson’s have any serious side effects that could cause death.
However, occasionally in people who are seriously disabled (usually those who have had Parkinson’s for many years), their general physical and mental condition can either cause or exacerbate other illnesses and so contribute to the final cause of death.

What do you think? Answer below!

Getting ready for the Parkinson’s 5K Walk & Fun Run 2008


Image by gebl
(C)Gebl 2008

Tea Partiers Mock And Scorn Apparent Parkinson’s Victim

02.08.10 / parkinsons disease / Author: Alex / Comments: (0)
Tags: Apparent, Mock, parkinsons, Partiers, Scorn, Victim

Columbus Dispatch Outs “The Terrible Teabagger”: bit.ly COLUMBUS – In a scene reminiscent of non-violent civil rights confrontations from the 1960s, Ohio Tea Partiers quickly turned ugly when facing off with health care advocates in front of Ohio Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s office Tuesday. In shocking video taken by a Columbus Dispatch reporter Doral Chenowith yesterday, Tea Party protestors mock a seated counter-protestor with a sign indicating he has Parkinson’s disease. They then proceed to hurl wadded up bills at him shouting, “I’ll decide when to give you money!” On March 17th outside of Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s (D-OH15) district office teabaggers mocked and scorned a man who had a sign stating that he had Parkinson’s. They told him “he’s in the wrong end of town to ask for handouts”, called him a communist and threw dollar bills at him to “pay for his health care”.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Parkinson’s Disease — Prevention & Alleviating the Symptoms

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.

Expectation May Affect Placebo Response in Parkinson’s Patients
Being told there was a 75% chance of getting drug spurred neurochemical response: study.
Read more on Health Scout

Question by Walt1: How do people with Parkinson’s disease finally die?
My wife has Parkinson’s disease. She is in constant pain. She is losing her ability to do even the most ordinary actions of living. We wonder how Parkinson’s patients finally die.

Best answer:

Answer by pottersclay75
Parkinson’s by itself does not directly cause people to die. With the treatment that is now available to treat Parkinson’s, life expectancy for someone with Parkinson’s is fairly normal and none of the drugs that are used for Parkinson’s have any serious side effects that could cause death.
However, occasionally in people who are seriously disabled (usually those who have had Parkinson’s for many years), their general physical and mental condition can either cause or exacerbate other illnesses and so contribute to the final cause of death.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Getting ready for the Parkinson’s 5K Walk & Fun Run 2008


Image by gebl
(C)Gebl 2008

Tea Partiers Mock And Scorn Apparent Parkinson’s Victim

02.08.10 / parkinsons disease / Author: Alex / Comments: (0)
Tags: Apparent, Mock, parkinsons, Partiers, Scorn, Victim

Columbus Dispatch Outs “The Terrible Teabagger”: bit.ly COLUMBUS – In a scene reminiscent of non-violent civil rights confrontations from the 1960s, Ohio Tea Partiers quickly turned ugly when facing off with health care advocates in front of Ohio Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s office Tuesday. In shocking video taken by a Columbus Dispatch reporter Doral Chenowith yesterday, Tea Party protestors mock a seated counter-protestor with a sign indicating he has Parkinson’s disease. They then proceed to hurl wadded up bills at him shouting, “I’ll decide when to give you money!” On March 17th outside of Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s (D-OH15) district office teabaggers mocked and scorned a man who had a sign stating that he had Parkinson’s. They told him “he’s in the wrong end of town to ask for handouts”, called him a communist and threw dollar bills at him to “pay for his health care”.

Parkinson’s Disease — Prevention & Alleviating the Symptoms

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.

Telemedicine program focuses on Parkinson’s disease
JOHNSON CITY — Outside of big cities, it can be tough to find a specialist in Parkinson’s disease.
Read more on Press & Sun-Bulletin

Question by Walt1: How do people with Parkinson’s disease finally die?
My wife has Parkinson’s disease. She is in constant pain. She is losing her ability to do even the most ordinary actions of living. We wonder how Parkinson’s patients finally die.

Best answer:

Answer by pottersclay75
Parkinson’s by itself does not directly cause people to die. With the treatment that is now available to treat Parkinson’s, life expectancy for someone with Parkinson’s is fairly normal and none of the drugs that are used for Parkinson’s have any serious side effects that could cause death.
However, occasionally in people who are seriously disabled (usually those who have had Parkinson’s for many years), their general physical and mental condition can either cause or exacerbate other illnesses and so contribute to the final cause of death.

Add your own answer in the comments!

FIona running at the Parkinson’s 5K Walk & Fun Run 2008


Image by gebl
(C)Gebl 2008

Tea Partiers Mock And Scorn Apparent Parkinson’s Victim

31.07.10 / parkinsons disease / Author: Alex / Comments: (0)
Tags: Apparent, Mock, parkinsons, Partiers, Scorn, Victim

Columbus Dispatch Outs “The Terrible Teabagger”: bit.ly COLUMBUS – In a scene reminiscent of non-violent civil rights confrontations from the 1960s, Ohio Tea Partiers quickly turned ugly when facing off with health care advocates in front of Ohio Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s office Tuesday. In shocking video taken by a Columbus Dispatch reporter Doral Chenowith yesterday, Tea Party protestors mock a seated counter-protestor with a sign indicating he has Parkinson’s disease. They then proceed to hurl wadded up bills at him shouting, “I’ll decide when to give you money!” On March 17th outside of Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s (D-OH15) district office teabaggers mocked and scorned a man who had a sign stating that he had Parkinson’s. They told him “he’s in the wrong end of town to ask for handouts”, called him a communist and threw dollar bills at him to “pay for his health care”.

Parkinson’s Disease — Prevention & Alleviating the Symptoms

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.

Envoy To Seek New Parkinson’s Disease Therapy With Scripps
Envoy Therapeutics Inc., a recently formed drug discovery company, announced that it has begun a research collaboration with The Scripps Research Institute to identify new drugs for Parkinson’s disease (PD) that have greater efficacy and safety compared to current therapies. Using funding provided by Envoy, scientists at the two organizations will apply Scripps – Florida’s high-throughput …
Read more on Medical News Today

Question by Crafty Fashionista: Does Parkinson’s Disease cause a person to have frequent uncontrollable mood swings?
Are uncontrollable mood swings or irritable behavior a part of the disease’ symptoms or do mood swings play a part because of the other uncontrollable symptoms such as not being able to do things you used to do?
I know someone with Parkinson’s Disease who is usually a pretty nice person but sometimes will have this nasty irriatable attitude twards people for no reason, and was wondering if its part of the disease. I havent found much info online about this and I dont dare ask them!

Best answer:

Answer by Mags
First of all, thank you for asking this question because it is a very important one in regards to PD.

There are a few reasons for the mood swings in Parkinson’s disease patients. And this can be very disconcerting to friends and families who are often the victims of some rather nasty outbursts.

One thing to remember about depression is that it is often the outgrowth of fear; fear turned inward. But as the person with the depression, that is difficult to address. Sometimes it is easier just to lash out, to try to displace that fear by projecting the anger behind it onto someone else.

Sometimes the side effects of medications can be mood swings. This would depend upon the medication and/or interactions with other meds.

Depression is a very common symptom of PD in at least 50-60% of the patients. It is part of the disease. This depression often needs to be treated differently, some people can be helped by SAD lights, exercise which raises endorphin levels, therapy, certain anti-depressants, nutritional supplements. Still it is surprising how few suicides there are among PD patients

Depression can fluctuate depending upon the little successes or failures of daily activities. Today is a bad day in this house because of concerns about a family gathering tonight. And while I was trying to type this answer I became the focus of this PD anger.

From the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation: “researchers have found that people with Parkinson’s who were depressed had more trouble with daily activities, and were more likely to begin medication for motor symptoms sooner than those without depressive symptoms. Depression decreased their quality of life and made their motor symptoms worse—but treating the depression, rather than the motor symptoms, improved both quality of life and movement”

“Parkinson’s affects many parts of the brain that are important in controlling mood. One of these is the area that produces serotonin, a brain chemical implicated in depression. Another part of the brain important in regulating mood—the frontal lobe—is known to be under-active in Parkinson’s. Commonly prescribed antidepressants can help. In addition to medications, cognitive-behavioral therapy has also been shown to help some people with Parkinson’s.”

http://www.pdf.org/en/depression_pd

From the NeuroPsychiatry Review:
“Mood disturbances are a common problem in PD; depression or dysthymia may affect as many as half of patients. Often, however, these disorders are less disconcerting to patients than the mood swings that, in extreme cases, may shift from feelings of euphoria to suicidal urges within the same day. “For some people, it’s their predominant complaint, more so than the motor fluctuations,” said study author Irene Hegeman Richard, MD, an assistant professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center. “When their emotions are literally out of control, it’s very disturbing to them.” Approximately two thirds of patients with advanced PD and motor fluctuations also experience mood fluctuations.”

The above is from a very informative article: Parkinson’s Disease – Do Mood and Motor Fluctuations Match?

http://www.neuropsychiatryreviews.com/apr00/npr_apr00_pd.html

Not only can depression by a by-product symptom of PD, it is often a precursor symptom of the brain loss of homeostasis long before the appearance of the obvious symptoms which send a person for diagnosis.

The problem is getting it treated, treated for what it is – which is not mainstream depression. The discussion probably needs to begin with the neurologist. But how to get the patient to see the need to discuss it…..

I’m sorry that you have to endure this. It takes a huge reserve of patience to be on the receiving end when the abuse is coming from a disease and not an essentially nasty person. That is why there are support groups for caregivers.

I can be reached through Yahoo Answers and through Contact Us at the site below.

What do you think? Answer below!

Getting ready for the Parkinson’s 5K Walk & Fun Run 2008


Image by gebl
(C)Gebl 2008