Parkinson's Disease and Toxic Substances

Parkinsons and Toxic Substances

Parkinson’s Disease is a neurological disease that is compounded by the absence of the neurotransmitter dopamine. The symptoms of this disease vary according to individuals and can be mild to severe. Normally this is a progressive disease that runs its course through 5 stages where physical, cognitive and emotional well-being is increasingly compromised. Although in many instances no reason for the disease can be given (Idiopathic) in some cases Parkinson’s can be linked with several factors. For example, some studies link toxic exposure, head traumas, drugs and genetics may be causative factors in the disease.

It is believed that a trauma to this region of the brain may lead to the onset of Parkinson’s symptoms। In fact, studies suggest that people with Parkinson’s disease are more likely to have suffered a traumatic brain injury than the rest of the population (National Parkinson’s foundation).

Another factor that seems to be strongly linked as a cause of Parkinson’s Disease is toxic exposure to chemicals or minerals that in excess become damaging to brain tissue. For example, iron in excessive quantities may damage normal cells in the brain. These cells are often key to the manufacture of dopamine which seems to be a determining factor in the onset of Parkinson’s.
Researchers don’t use the word “cause” when linking environmental exposures to a disease. Instead, epidemiologists look for clusters and patterns in people, and neurobiologists test theories in animals. If their findings are repeatedly consistent, that is as close to proving cause and effect as they get.Now, with Parkinson’s, this medical detective work has edged closer to proving the case than with almost any other human ailment. In most patients, scientists say, Parkinson’s is a disease with environmental origins.Scientists are “definitely there, beyond a doubt, in showing that environmental toxicants have to be involved” in some cases of Parkinson’s disease, said Freya Kamel, an epidemiologist with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences who has documented a high rate of neurological problems.

In order to unravel the mystery of forever increasing cases of Parkinson’s, researchers from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute have studied the levels of some toxic chemicals in the brain of mice and recorded their affect। They exposed the mice to the insecticide Permethrin and found that the insecticide provoked a reduction in the level of dopamine, the neuro-transmitter whose deficit is implicated in Parkinson disease. They also found that this insecticide stimulates the production of a protein called alpha-synuclein which is a component of the fibrous tangles called Lewis bodies common in the brain of people suffering with Parkinson. The most interesting and frightening finding was the fact that, low level exposure, seemed to have a more immediate effect than high level exposure.

The researchers postulated that the high level exposure probably overwhelmed the alarm system of the brain so that the body refused to respond to the stimulus whether the low level chronic exposure was more insidious and capable of activating the Lewis’s bodies.

Whatever the reason it is important to realize that researchers are finally bringing attention to the fact that low level chronic exposure to toxic substances can harm our brain.
The fact that the researchers studied a specific chemical in rats does not mean that other toxic substances are not equally damaging.

Treatment

It is very difficult to treat Parkinson in the advanced stage. At best we can halt the progression of the disease. In the very early stages, before extensive damage to the basal ganglia responsible for the production of dopamine has occurred, we can do much better.

Interventions

GLUTATHIONE intravenous and the supplementation with tyrosine, the amino acid precursor of dopamine, are the main tools.

The intestine is the major site of introduction of toxic substances from the outside and creation of toxic substances from the inside. They both need to be removed as fast as possible.

In case of well demonstrated high toxic metal load, appropriate Chelation Therapy is also necessary.
Many of our patients with advanced Parkinson conditions, have sought Cell and stem cell therapy in Europe and elsewhere, after we removed the toxic load, for maximum results.

In summary

Parkinson syndrome is a disease on the increase, mostly because of a variety of toxic substances that find their way to the brain. Since it is almost impossible to avoid exposure, it is most important to do both oral and parenteral (IV infusions or intramuscularly injections) of antioxidants especially glutathione.

The bowel scrubbing program and the probiotics are also part of the protective as well of the interventive treatment. In the most severe cases, stem cell therapy, after appropriate cleansing, does offer great hope.