Environment And Exogenous Toxins
It has also been hypothesized that exposure to some exogenous agents may contribute to the development of Parkinsons disease. In fact, some studies conducted in the 1980s had observed that drug addicts who took synthetic heroin whose co-product was MPTP developed a parkinsonian syndrome that showed lesions, both anatomically and pathologically, at the substantia nigra level and which responded well to L-DOPA. MPTP is neurotoxic, but in itself, it would be harmless. Once introduced into the body, at the level of the central nervous system, it is taken up by cells which, through the activity of type B monoamine oxidase , metabolize it leading to the production of an active ion, 1methyl-4phenylpyridine or MPP +. So once produced, this ion accumulates within dopaminergic neurons, using the dopamine reuptake system.
Once re-captured, it concentrates at the mitochondria level, where it acts as a selective inhibitor of respiratory complex I . Following this inhibition, there is a reduction in ATP production and, consequently, a decrease in the efficiency of the Na + / Ca ++ proton pump. Then there is an increase in the intracellular concentration of Ca ++ ions, an increase in oxidative stress due to the increase in electron dispersion in complex I, and an increase in the production of superoxide ions by the mitochondria. All this then consequently leads to cell death.
Support Groups For Parkinsons With Or Without Dementia
Parkinsons disease is tough to live with, both for the person affected and their family. Support groups are filled with people who are going through very similar experiences. Theyre a great place to safely vent frustrations, get new ideas for how to cope or solve problems, and learn about helpful resources.
Check with these organizations to find a support group in your area:
Prl Expression And Memory Cognition And Learning
PRL can enhance memory, cognition, and learning by several mechanisms. First, PRL regulates Drd2 gene expression , which has been related to hippocampus-dependent plasticity, and thus, to hippocampal memory and learning . Second, PRL might favor neuronal survival under conditions of kainic acid-induced excitotoxicity by increasing the expression of vesicular glutamate transporter 1, which is associated with Glu transport in neurons and contributes to the survival and plasticity of hippocampal neurons .
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What Causes Parkinson Disease
Parkinson disease arises from decreased dopamine production in the brain. The absence of dopamine makes it hard for the brain to coordinate muscle movements. Low dopamine also contributes to mood and cognitive problems later in the course of the disease. Experts don’t know what triggers the development of Parkinson disease most of the time. Early onset Parkinson disease is often inherited and is the result of certain gene defects.
Key Brain Changes Are Different
The key brain changes linked to Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s-related dementia are abnormal deposits of common brain proteins called alpha-synuclein. These deposits are known as Lewy bodies, named after the doctor who discovered them. As more of these proteins clump in the brain, normal brain cells begin to die off.1
In Alzheimer’s disease, the key brain changes include the buildup of different brain proteins, called amyloid and tau. When amyloid proteins clump together, they form abnormal structures known as plaques. Abnormal groups of tau proteins form tangles.3
Over time, the buildup of these proteins causes normal brain cells to die, and affected parts of the brain may shrink.5
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Serious Infections Linked To Early Alzheimer’s Parkinson’s Disease
Batya Swift Yasgur MA, LSW
Patients in early- and mid-life who contract with infections that require hospitalization appear to be at increased risk for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease at a relatively young age, new research suggests.
Investigators in Sweden analyzed data from several large national registries, and compared individuals diagnosed with AD, PD, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to randomly selected age- and sex-matched controls from the general population.
They found that those who had a hospital-treated infection 5 or more years earlier were at a 16% increased risk for AD and a .04% increased risk for PD. Multiple infections before age 30 years conferred more than a 2.5-fold increased risk for AD and a 1.5-fold increased risk for PD before age 60 years.
Increased risks for AD and PD were associated with bacterial, viral, other infections and different sites of infection, including gastrointestinal, and genitourinary infections.
“Our study suggested that individuals with hospital-treated infections, especially in those occurring in early- and mid-life, had an increased risk of developing AD and PD, attributable to cases diagnosed before 60 years,” the investigators, led by Jiangwei Sun, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, write.
The study was published online September 15 in PLOS Medicine.
Dementia Caused By Huntingtons Disease
Huntingtons disease is an inherited degenerative brain disease that affects the mind and body. It usually appears between the ages of 30 and 50, and is characterised by intellectual decline and irregular involuntary movement of the limbs or facial muscles. Other symptoms include personality change, memory disturbance, slurred speech, impaired judgement and psychiatric problems.There is no treatment available to stop the progression of this disease, but medication can control movement disorders and psychiatric symptoms. Dementia occurs in the majority of people with Huntingtons disease.
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Ad Patients Are At Higher Risk Of Covid
Although our results show that patients with AD, PD and vascular dementia are at increased risk of contracting COVID-19, it remains unclear whether the presence of neurodegenerative disorders may exacerbate the risk of mortality in COVID-19 patients. To address this issue, we examined the characteristics and outcomes of all COVID-19 patients in the cohort using a binary multivariable regression model . In terms of neurodegenerative diseases, a diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia was associated with the largest risk of COVID-19 death, but this observation suffers from a small sample size , so we did not explore frontotemporal dementia further in our analysis. We observed that diagnoses of AD were associated with COVID-19 death but not diagnoses of PD or vascular dementia. In our model, a pre-existing diagnosis of cancer was negatively associated with COVID-19 death , and no significant association was found with diabetes, C-reactive protein levels or ethnicity and COVID-19 death . We also found that a higher TSDI increased the risk of COVID-19 adverse outcomes , while an increased waist-to-hip ratio or male sex were positively associated with COVID-19 death, but this relationship did not reach statistical significance.
What Causes Parkinsons Disease Dementia
A chemical messenger in the brain called dopamine helps control and coordinate muscle movement. Over time, Parkinsons disease destroys the nerve cells that make dopamine.
Without this chemical messenger, the nerve cells cant properly relay instructions to the body. This causes a loss of muscle function and coordination. Researchers dont know why these brain cells disappear.
Parkinsons disease also causes dramatic changes in a part of your brain that controls movement.
Those with Parkinsons disease often experience motor symptoms as a preliminary sign of the condition. Tremors are one of the most common first symptoms of Parkinsons disease.
As the disease progresses and spreads in your brain, it can affect the parts of your brain responsible for mental functions, memory, and judgment.
Over time, your brain may not be able to use these areas as efficiently as it once did. As a result, you may begin experiencing symptoms of Parkinsons disease dementia.
You have an increased risk of developing Parkinsons disease dementia if:
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Are There Medicines To Treat Pdd
Though there is no cure for PDD yet, there are medications that help manage the symptoms. These medications are called cholinesterase inhibitors, and they can help if a person with PDD is having memory problems. Some examples of these medicines are donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine. Sleep problems may be managed by sleep medications such as melatonin.
Because people with PDD are usually very sensitive to medications, any new medication, even one that is not being used for the brain, needs to be reviewed with the persons provider to avoid potential contraindication.
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What Causes Lewy Body Dementia
The causes of LBD are not yet well understood, but research is ongoing in this area. There are probably multiple factors involved, including genetic and environmental risk factors that combine with natural aging processes to make someone susceptible to LBD.
For more information, visit www.lbda.org.
Modified with permission from the Lewy Body Dementia Association
To learn more about motor symptoms related to Parkinsons, visit here.
To learn more about non-motor symptoms related to Parkinsons, visit here.
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Advances In Alzheimers Therapy
Recent studies indicating that therappeutic drugs and gene therapy are advanced techniques to control alzheimers diseaseGenomics therapy is most recent advances in AD research, when the disease was first described. Researchers are looking for new therapy treatments for dementia. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s But these alzheimers products may show a good results to cure memory loss.
Related Journals of Advances in Alzheimers Therapy
Journal of Dementia & Mental health, Rehabilitation in Movement Disorders, Stress Alzheimers, Neuron, American Journal of Occupational Therapy, Journal of Alzheimer’s & Dementia, Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy, Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, International journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & associated disorders, International Journal of Alzheimers Disease, Advances in Alzheimer’s Disease, American Journal of Alzheimers Disease, Current Alzheimer Research.
How Is Parkinsons Disease Dementia Diagnosed
No single test can diagnose Parkinsons disease dementia. Instead, doctors rely on a series or combination of tests and indicators.
Your neurologist will likely diagnose you with Parkinsons and then track your progression. They may monitor you for signs of dementia. As you get older, your risk for Parkinsons dementia increases.
Your doctor is more likely to conduct regular testing to monitor your cognitive functions, memory recall, and mental health.
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Diagnosis: Parkinsons Dementia Or Dementia With Lewy Bodies
During assessment, a specialist may look at when the dementia symptoms first appeared before reaching a diagnosis of Parkinsons dementia or dementia with Lewy bodies.
If there have been motor symptoms for at least one year before dementia symptoms occur, specialists will often give a diagnosis of Parkinsons dementia.
If dementia symptoms occur before or at the same time as motor symptoms, specialists will usually give a diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies.
However, it should be noted that in some cases of dementia with Lewy bodies, no motor symptoms develop at all.
Theres no single test diagnosis is made through several different assessments, usually starting with an appointment with your GP or Parkinsons nurse.
Some people find it helps to go to the appointment with someone who knows them well, who can give the GP or Parkinsons nurse information about changes theyve noticed.
Your GP can discuss your symptoms with you and carry out a physical examination, including blood and urine tests, to rule out other potential causes of the symptoms .
Your GP may also review your medication, in case your symptoms are side effects.
If your GP thinks you have dementia, they can refer you to a specialist, such as a neurologist, psychiatrist or geriatrician.
You might be referred to a memory clinic or memory service. In some areas of the country, you can refer yourself to these services.
But if you feel you need to see the specialist again, you can ask to be referred back.
Is Parkinsons Disease Inherited
Scientists have discovered gene mutations that are associated with Parkinsons disease.
There is some belief that some cases of early-onset Parkinsons disease disease starting before age 50 may be inherited. Scientists identified a gene mutation in people with Parkinsons disease whose brains contain Lewy bodies, which are clumps of the protein alpha-synuclein. Scientists are trying to understand the function of this protein and its relationship to genetic mutations that are sometimes seen in Parkinsons disease and in people with a type of dementia called Lewy body dementia.
Several other gene mutations have been found to play a role in Parkinsons disease. Mutations in these genes cause abnormal cell functioning, which affects the nerve cells ability to release dopamine and causes nerve cell death. Researchers are still trying to discover what causes these genes to mutate in order to understand how gene mutations influence the development of Parkinsons disease.
Scientists think that about 10% to 15% of persons with Parkinsons disease may have a genetic mutation that predisposes them to development of the disease. There are also environmental factors involved that are not fully understood.
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Probable Treatments For Parkinsons And Alzheimers Disease
There is still no definitive cure for Alzheimers or Parkinsons disease. However, with proper treatment and precautions, it is possible to keep the symptoms tolerable.
Early treatments can help the patients a lot in this manner. Lets discuss a few ways to decrease the risk of these diseases:
- Hearing Aids:Hearing loss-induced dementia can often be reversible withhearing aids. Consult a doctor to identify the underlying cause of hearing loss. If it is caused due to hearing loss, patients should buy a good pair of hearing aids.Nano Hearing Aids has some of the best hearing aids to help Alzheimers and Parkinsons patients.
- Healthy Diet:A balanced diet can go a long way to keep the brain healthy. Include fresh vegetables, fruits, seeds, and nuts to get the necessary nutrients. It is advisable to avoid processed foods, saturated fats and reduce sugar intake as much as possible from the diet.
- Exercising:Physical activity has shown significant benefits to help Alzheimers and Parkinsons patients. Patients should include at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise in their daily routine. Building a habit of daily exercise contributes to a patient’s good health.
- Adequate Sleep:Insomnia and sleep quality have significant effects on brain health. Without proper health, the brain can get damaged. Seven to eight hours of sleep at night is highly recommended for better brain health.
Availability Of Data And Materials
Data are available from the Korea National Health Insurance Sharing service Institutional Data Access/Ethics Committee for researchers who meet the criteria for the access to confidential data. Researchers can apply for the National Health Insurance data sharing service upon approval by the Institutional Review Board of their institution. After a review by the Korea National Health Insurance Sharing Service Institutional Data Access/Ethics Committee, the authors are required to pay a data access fee and confirm that other researchers will be able to access the data in the same manner as the authors.
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What Is The Self
Protein in the diet may affect the absorption of levodopa, the major medication used to treat Parkinsons disease. Fluctuations in the level of levodopa may worsen some behavioral and cognitive symptoms. A low-protein diet may reduce fluctuations in dopamine levels. In some patients with these fluctuations, dietary changes can improve symptoms. However, it is important to ensure that the person is getting adequate calories and other nutrients.
People with Parkinsons disease should remain as active as possible. Physical therapy helps the person maintain mobility.
In general, people with Parkinsons disease plus dementia should no longer drive vehicles. Movement problems may prevent quick reactions in hazardous driving situations. Certain medications, especially those given to treat symptoms of dementia, may make them less alert. However, this should be determined on an individual basis and in compliance with the laws of the state.
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The Difference Between Parkinsons & Vascular Dementia
The biggest difference between vascular dementia and Parkinsons disease is that Parkinsons doesnt always lead to dementia. Parkinsons affects mobility, similar to vascular dementia, and both are brain disorders that may stem from vascular problems. Parkinsons disease may also affect memory like vascular dementia but not in every case.
Vascular dementia symptoms include memory loss, reduced ability to organize thoughts or actions, confusion and trouble concentrating, trouble paying attention.
Parkinsons disease symptoms include slowed movement, muscle rigidity, shuffled walking, quiet speech, issues with swallowing.
During the end-stage of all types of dementia, the symptoms tend to be the same across the board.
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What Causes Parkinsons Disease: Genetics
Looking at genetics instead, about Parkinsons disease, there is great interest in trying to find out which gene is responsible for the majority of cases of the disease. Studies of homozygous twin pairs were conducted between 1969 and 1983 by several groups of researchers. These independent research results revealed that genetic factors played a weak if not small role in the causes of what causes Parkinsons disease. In recent years, however, some genealogies have been described in which the disease is transmitted in an autosomal way.
Medically reviewed by Heidi Moawad, M.D. Written by Beth Sissons
Parkinsons and Alzheimers are disorders of the brain. Damage to the brain affects how the nerve cells work, leading to movement, cognition, and behavior changes.
Parkinsons disease
Parkinsons disease is a neurodegenerative disorder of the brain. Symptoms of Parkinsons usually appear gradually and progress over time.
The National Institute on Aging notes that Parkinsons affects dopamine-producing nerve cells in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra. Death or impairment of nerve cells leads to a decrease in dopamine production which affects movement.
Parkinsons may also affect other neurotransmitters that regulate functions such as blood pressure, digestion, and sweating.
A loss of nerve endings decreases norepinephrine, which can lead to symptoms of Parkinsons, including fatigue and changes in blood pressure.
Alzheimers disease
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What To Know About Taking These Drugs
The medications work by blocking acetylcholine, a chemical that helps relax and contract your muscles.
When this chemical is blocked, peoples memory and attention can become impaired which is the reason so many people complain of acute confusion and memory loss while taking these medications.
Its thought that over time anticholinergics can inhibit these cognitive functions and eventually make certain people more vulnerable to the type of degeneration that occurs in dementia.
Long-term blockage of the transmitter may lead to an acceleration of memory loss or even potentially degeneration of these types of cells in the brain, Dr. David Merrill, a neurologist and geriatric psychiatrist at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, told Healthline.
Still, more research is needed to better understand exactly why anticholinergic drugs may increase peoples risk of dementia.
While there may be other factors at play, the researchers suspect that anticholinergics may cause about 10 percent of all new dementia cases.
If youre on any anticholinergics drugs, you may want to check in with your doctors about these risks, health experts warn.
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