Parkinson disease

Parkinson disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative conditions that decreases quality of life for millions of people worldwide.

Patients with Parkinson experience difficulties with motor functions and mental health issues.

Usually starting with tremors (shaking) in one hand, Parkinson progresses to difficulties with movements in the entire body. Along with decreased functions of the muscles, depression, concentration difficulties, and memory deficits also develop.

There are no tests considered “diagnostic” for Parkinson disease, but doctors order multiple tests to rule out other conditions that may cause similar symptoms.

Currently we know that patients suffering from Parkinson lose the dopamine producing neurons in certain areas of their brain. This loss of neurons and dopamine leads to a significant imbalance in brain pathways.

We also know that affected areas of the brain show accumulation of certain protein, called Synuclein. It’s a normal protein present in many neurons, but for not yet fully known reason, it is not properly destroyed and recycled in patients with Parkinson. When accumulating in large amounts, the protein becomes toxic to neurons and leads to their destruction.

Mainstream medicine addresses all steps of dopamine loss by choosing one or more of the following approaches:

• Add medication that mimics dopamine behavior- dopamine agonists
• Add dopamine itself
• Slow down normal process of dopamine destruction by inhibiting enzymes responsible for dopamine breakdown

When disease progresses and no longer responds to the approach above, surgical introduction of electrodes to the brain helps with deep brain stimulation.

So, what can a Naturopathic physician offer in addition to these approaches?

We look deep into a known pathophysiologic mechanisms of dopaminergic neuron injuries.

Currently, we know about several contributing mechanisms of Parkinson development.

• Environmental exposures: it has been proven that exposure to pesticides and herbicides significantly increases risk of Parkinson. Also, living in rural areas and drinking well water stood out as risk factors, which also tie into environmental exposures. NDs can offer labs that help evaluate an overall toxic burden exerted by many environmental factors and, if detected, design the plan to help reduce that burden
• Oxidative stress: it is known that lipid peroxidation rate in affected areas of the brain in Parkinson patients is higher. Naturopathic approach offers many options in reducing the overall oxidative stress.
• Mitochondrial dysfunction: studies show that mitochondrial activity is decreased in the areas affected by Parkinson. NDs can suggest measures improving mitochondrial health and function.
• Iron metabolism abnormalities: there are excessive iron depositions in the brain of Parkinson patients. Naturopathic doctor can look into body iron status and assess potential measures to address excessive tissue deposition.
• Synuclein misfolding. This can happen due to genetic mutations, which are a very rare cause of Parkinson, or a change in chemical parameters in the brain, such as pH abnormalities. While NDs can’t do much about genetic reasons for synuclein abnormalities, we can help bring internal environment of the body to physiologically preferred balance.

Currently, there is no cure to Parkinson disease. But we can and should extend. At Fairfield Family Health, our naturopathic physician, Dr. Medeya Tsnobiladze focuses on neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease using natural medicine. Please contact us at (203) 254-9957 or email info@fairfieldfamilyhealth.com