Diet and Exercise – Can They Really Slow down Parkinson’s?

Parkinson’s disease is an age-related, progressive, neurodegenerative illness that affects about one in every one hundred people over the age of 50. The disease is related to the loss of dopamine-producing cells in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra. A natural chemical, dopamine acts as a liaison or communication tool between the brain cells that control body movement and function. According to experts in the health care field, about 80 percent of dopamine-producing cells have already been affected by the time a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is made in most patients. Symptoms and the severity of the progression of the disease are unique to each person, and therefore, so are the therapeutic options.

Research into the causes of and potential cures for Parkinson’s disease are ongoing, with many promising avenues of treatment being explored, but at the moment there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease. There are, however, a number of disease-managing therapies available to help people with Parkinson’s disease cope with their symptoms and improve their quality of life. In fact, with early diagnosis and intervention, many people with Parkinson’s disease can function virtually normally and independently. While these treatments, both medical and lifestyle-based, can be effective aids in managing symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, it is important to understand that they do not slow the progression of the disease, and that treatment must be adjusted as the disease changes.

Among the medical options available to people with Parkinson’s disease who wish to manage their symptoms are a number of drug therapies, including those to boost dopamine levels in the brain or to imitate dopamine in the brain. Others help to reduce problematic symptoms such as tremors and dyskinesia. Often, drugs are combined for maximum therapeutic benefit.

Surgery is another medical option for very severe or rapidly progressing cases of Parkinson’s disease. Several surgical procedures, including pallidotomy, thalamotomy, which involve destroying small areas of the brain, and deep brain stimulation, which involves using electrical impulses in the brain in a similar manner as a pacemaker uses them for the heart, can help quell symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The risks of undergoing brain surgery, however, are often greater than the potential benefits, particularly since brain damage can be irreversible.

Natural therapeutic alternatives, such as utilizing a specialized diet and exercise program, are attractive to many people who want to complement their medical treatments with overall good health. As with any person starting a new diet or exercise program, it is wise for a person with Parkinson’s disease to check in with his or her doctor before beginning. He or she may have specific advice to accommodate the illness or to help alleviate symptoms. Some general tips for diet and exercise include:

Cut food into smaller portions and chew thoroughly. Parkinson’s often affects an individual’s ability to chew and swallow, so doing these simple tasks reduces the chance of choking and aids in digestion

Follow your food guide for maximum health

Try eating an oatmeal cookie with medications that upset the stomach

Exercise in bed when doing it on foot is too difficult

Try bending, stretching and breathing exercises

Exercise jaw and facial muscles

Walk whenever possible, even if with assistance

Exercise in the water; many municipalities offer special classes at community pools

Talk to your doctor about non-Western-style options such as massage or acupuncture for temporary relief

The bottom line is that neither medical options nor good diet and exercise can cure Parkinson’s, but they can certainly make dealing with the illness much more bearable.