Etiology Of Parkinsons Disease: Current Concepts
Numerous genetic and environmental factors have been associated with Parkinsons disease , which is thought to be caused by a complex interplay of multiple factors unique to an individual. In the past decade, the number of known genetic risk factors has greatly increased with 90 risk alleles now identified . However, these known loci account for only approximately 20%of PD risk , leaving a substantial proportion of PD unexplained on the bases of currently known genetic associations. There is an urgent need to identify the missing etiologic fraction, to develop preventive and therapeutic strategies.
There is consistent or mostly consistent evidence for several environmental associations with risk of PD and a large number of associations with less consistent evidence spanning multiple categories, including dietary factors, chemical exposures, physical and emotional trauma . One of the more controversial categories of risk factors is infection, bacterial or viral.
Subacute Parkinsonism As A Complication Of Lyme Disease
Medicine is always on the lookout for reversible causes of common illnesses. And while parkinsonism has been reported in a few patients with Lyme disease, the relationship between the Borrelia burgdorferi infection and parkinsonism has been questioned. In the review Subacute parkinsonism as a complication of Lyme disease, published in the Journal of Neurology, the authors describe two cases where patients developed reversible subacute parkinsonism due to Lyme basal ganglia ischemic or inflammatory lesions.
The article describes a 55-year-old patient with a 2-month history of chronic neck pain with progressive marked asthenia. Clinical examination revealed a dysarthria which disappeared in less than 1 hour, a left upper limb cerebellar ataxia and a bilateral asymmetric mild akineto-hypertonic parkinsonism, according to Pische´ from the Department of Neurology, CHRU Strasbourg, Strasbourg Cedex, France.
The second case involves a 63-year-old woman who developed a rapidly deteriorating severe walking disorder over a 6-month period. Clinical examination revealed lower limbs weakness, increased reflexes, bilateral extensor plantar, and dysuria, as well as a left akineto-hypertonic syndrome. Facial palsies were also described.
Brain MRIs showed vascular demyelination, typically seen in inflammatory, infectious, drug induced, or paraneoplastic vasculitis conditions.
References:
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What is Parkinsons Disease ?
Parkinsons is a disease of the central nervous system. The main feature is progressive loss of voluntary motor control. Ultimately, PD interferes with daily life activities.
The symptoms of Parkinson’s are due to nerve cell damage in the brain, which causes dopamine levels to drop. Low levels of dopamine cause problems with movement . Nerve cells fire and there isn’t enough dopamine to transmit messages so the brain cannot transmit the signals to coordinate movement. This is when the PD symptoms of tremor and stiffness start to happen.
- PD frequently starts with a tremor in one hand. Other symptoms include diminished motor activity, slow movement, stiffness and loss of balance.
- Progression of the disease leads to stooped posture, difficulty walking and difficulty talking. Patients may also have mental and behavioral changes, sleep problems, depression, memory difficulties and fatigue.
- People usually start to show Parkinson’s symptoms around age 60.
- Patients typically live between 10 and 20 years after diagnosis.
- The actor Michael J. Fox is a well-known sufferer of Parkinson’s.
Parkinsons Disease Facts
What Causes Parkinsons Disease?
The precise cause of PD is unknown. It is a combination of genetic and epigenetic risk factors:
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What Happened To The Classic Bull’s
An initial bite from a tick can cause a rash that will appear in three months to a year. While the characteristic “bull’s-eye” rash is associated with Lyme disease, the rash only appears in an estimated 50% of infected individuals, or it may appear in a different form. If this rash does appear, it will generally wane over a two to a four-week period. 70 percent of all patients who do present with Lyme disease complex never recall such a rash.
Fact: Stem Cells Are A Possible Treatment For Parkinsons Disease
Stem cells have the potential to lead to better treatments for Parkinsons disease, but were not there yet.
These special cells are grown in a lab and can be turned into almost any type of cell. Researchers have been able to turn them into dopamine producing cells to replace those lost to Parkinsons.
However, before becoming an available treatment doctors need to provide more proof stem cells are safe and effective.
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Read Also: How To Cure Parkinson’s Naturally
Lyme Disease: Resolving The Lyme Wars
Its finally getting warm here in New England, and most of us have plans to enjoy the beautiful weather. And thats why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a report raising awareness about how to prevent the tickborne infections that typically occur during this time of the year. Lyme disease is probably the most well-known, and the one for which diagnosis and treatment are most controversial.
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What Causes Parkinsons Disease
Parkinsons disease is a chronic, progressive neurological disease that currently affects about 1 million Americans. Parkinsons disease involves a small, dark-tinged portion of the brain called the substantia nigra. This is where you produce most of the dopamine your brain uses. Dopamine is the chemical messenger that transmits messages between nerves that control muscle movements as well as those involved in the brains pleasure and reward centers. As we age, its normal for cells in the substantia nigra to die. This process happens in most people at a very slow rate.
But for some people, the loss happens rapidly, which is the start of Parkinsons disease. When 50 to 60 percent of the cells are gone, you begin to see the symptoms of Parkinsons.
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Lyme Disease And Parkinsons Symptoms
- Sharon Vander ZylParticipant
Does anyone know if any research is being done linking Parkinsons symptoms with long haul Lyme and EBV?
- June 2, 2022 at 9:53 pm#24139Susan SchlagerParticipant
Yes, I had heard that Lyme disease, the great mimicker, can manifest itself as Parkinsons disease, MS, Alzheimers, etc, My husbands neurologist refused to entertain that thought, actually made me feel stupid for thinking is could be a possibility. I would like to know what others have heard.
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- Active 4 hours, 4 minutes ago
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Want More Information About Ldn As A Treatment Protocol
If you are interested in LDN as a treatment protocol you can get the full scoop from a video of Lexies Santa Fe Summit presentation which is now available as a DVD. For more information visit:
Keep in mind that LDN is not a quick fix. Lexie has been taking LDN for several years now. Also keep in mind that no therapy exists that will help everyone reverse their symptoms. What helps one person may not necessarily help you. What does help everyone is to release any and all trauma and stress that is trapped in the tissues of the body.
Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Question:
Hi Robert,Do you have any information on Lymes disease and Parkinsons? I was bitten by a tick in 1998 and diagnosed with Parkinsons 30 months later.
Thank you in advance,
Response:
Oh my goodness. This sounds like a huge clue regarding a probable cause of your symptoms. The symptoms of Lyme disease are very similar to those of Parkinsons. Many people get mis-diagnosed with Parkinsons when the true culprit is a Lyme infection.
The treatment for Lyme is a long term use of antibiotics. The challenge of the treatment is that antibiotics destroy the immune system and the digestive system which cause other problems of their own.
Let us all know the outcome of your investigation into Lyme disease as a possible cause of your symptoms.
Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Question:
Response:
Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
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Searching For The Root Cause Led To A Surprising Discovery
As with all our new patients, I sat down with Tim to learn more about his story. We discussed his full medical history, and from this information it was clear that there was some additional testing to try.
At GrassRoots, we typically recommend a more extensive range of testing than traditional providers do and as a result we can pick up on things that are easily missed otherwise. In our work with patients, weve seen that this comprehensive testing allows us to see the bigger picture more clearly and ultimately provide our patients with a more complete and effective diagnosis and treatment plan.
Tims tests revealed that he was positive for active Lyme Disease and other infections. He had seen multiple doctors and specialists during the previous four years, yet no one had suggested testing for Lyme disease.
Lyme disease and its co-infections mimic over 300 other diseases, fooling doctors into treating patients for: Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, Lou Gehrigs disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome , Lupus, Anxiety, Gastro diseases, Psychological illnesses, and many other diagnoses. With the right testing, we were able to pinpoint the root cause of Tims issues and create a treatment plan that would help him.
Primary Symptoms That Are Reported Todiagnose Parkinson’s Disease
- Slow intentional movement — if you want to go to another room it is hard to initiate this action, and once you are moving it is hard to keep going and get to the kitchen.
- Tremors in almost any part of the body when you are resting.
- Rigid or Stiff muscles — one of the reason’s folks with Parkinson’s have frozen expressions
- Poor balance — my grandfather had Parkinson’s from the influenza in the 1910’s and this was a serious problem. He would finally get moving and he could not keep his balance and would fall.
- Eccentric walking — features include a wide based gait, with poor arm movement and tiny steps.
Also Check: Does Alan Alda Have Parkinson’s
What Is Parkinsons Disease
Parkinsons disease affects the way you move. It happens when there is a problem with certain nerve cells in the brain.
Normally, these nerve cells make an important chemical called dopamine. Dopamine sends signals to the part of your brain that controls movement. It lets your muscles move smoothly and do what you want them to do. When you have Parkinsons, these nerve cells break down. Then you no longer have enough dopamine, and you have trouble moving the way you want to.
Parkinsons is progressive, which means it gets worse over time. But usually this happens slowly, over many years. And there are good treatments that can help you live a full life.
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Can You Prevent Lyme Disease
The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to protect yourself from ticks. Cover up as much skin as you can when youre going to be in wooded or grassy areas. Wear a hat, a long-sleeved shirt, and long pants with the legs tucked into your socks. And keep in mind that its easier to see ticks on light-coloured clothes.
Use a bug repellent that has the chemical DEET to keep away ticks. Use products that contain 0.5% permethrin on your clothing and outdoor gear, such as your tent. You can also buy clothing already treated with permethrin. Permethrin is not available as an insect repellent in Canada, but travel health clinics may be able to advise you on how to buy permethrin or permethrin-treated gear.
Check your pets for ticks after theyve been outside. You cant get Lyme disease from your pet. But your pet can bring infected ticks inside. These ticks can fall off your pet and attach to you. Check your clothing and outdoor gear after you have been outside. Remove any ticks you find. Then put your clothing in a clothes dryer on high heat for 1 hour to kill any ticks that might remain.
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Lyme Disease And Alzheimers Disease By Location
Two groups of researchers wondered if there were any links between deaths from Alzheimers disease and LD. If there was a link between AD and LD, then states that have the highest numbers of cases of LD should also have the highest numbers of AD deaths.2,3 The information was easy to find. States keep records of the number of cases of LD that are diagnosed each year. States also keep records of the cause of death on a persons death certificate. The researchers looked at states where the cases of LD were the highest and states where the cases of LD are the lowest. They looked at the number of deaths caused by AD in those same states.3 They found that there was no link between the deaths because of AD and the number of cases of LD. In fact, the number of deaths from AD was actually higher in many states with the lowest number of cases of LD.2,3
No research is perfect. The researchers know that their information doesnt take into consideration people who have LD that may have moved to different states after they are diagnosed. It also cant account for how different states record the cause of death on a certificate.2 Both of these factors have the potential to change some of the results. Even with these problems, these studies do show that there is very little link between Lyme and deaths due to AD.2,3
Bacterial Infections And Pd Risk
The ample spectrum of bacteria that may acutely or permanently infect the tissues of humans has been associated with the development and, to a lesser extent, with the progression of PD. Bacterial production of pro-inflammatory and neurotoxic factors might play a major role in the development and/or in the cascade of neurotoxic events leading to degeneration. One key player in such events is the bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide . LPS stimulates production of several inflammatory factors that may contribute to neurodegeneration. Tumor necrosis factor- is released from microglia nitric oxide is released by microglia and astrocytes in and there is hyperproduction of prostagladins. All of these phenomena may lead to neurodegeneration and gliosis . Given that LPS is the endotoxin of Gram-negative bacteria, theoretically, every Gram-negative infection can induce a cascade that could trigger PD however, the evidence on bacteria is limited to a number of specific organisms.
Notably, there is minimal evidence for associations between more severe infection such as sepsis and the future risk of PD. A recently published case-control study reported that there was no association between severe infections that required hospitalization and sepsis and the risk of PD later in life . However, it is not yet clear whether an infectious condition proximate to the onset of PD or before the onset of PD can trigger or lower the threshold for the upcoming neurodegenerative process.
Recommended Reading: Parkinson’s Disease Progression Stages
Infection And Pd: An Epidemiologic Perspective
Additional evidence for a role of an infectious trigger or risk factor for PD is found in studies showing a relationship between specific occupational exposures and PD. In some studies, occupations where there is higher interpersonal exposures show an increased risk of developing PD . There is also a significant body of literature on specific infections and subsequent risk of PD, which will be discussed later in this paper. However, there are significant challenges interpreting epidemiological evidence for etiology in PD. The very long prodromal period, spanning decades, makes measurement of initiating factors difficult due to inadequate availability of records or poor recall. In addition, there is undoubtedly a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors influenced by the neurodegenerative process during the prodromal period that make interpretation difficult. These general challenges are amplified by the complexity of considering the timing and relative impact of multiple short infectious exposures over a lifetime, the widely varying types of infectious agents, variable severity of infections and the inevitable presence of unrecognized infections. For example, a recent epidemiological study tested the multiple microbe hypothesis and reported that PD risk was increased compared to healthy controls in individuals who were seropositive for five or six of the pathogens studied but not less .
Is It Parkinson’s Or Lymeare Young Adults Regularly Misdiagnosed
Michael was a smart man in his 30’s who was an actor with moderate success. He was, however, a little too impressed with Ivy. Meaning, anyone who worked as part of an “Ivy League” faculty was like a great heavenly Gnostic sage, offering the great pearls of truth. If he only knew the reality.
He was from New York and had enjoyed a wide range of vacations in the past, including hiking in the lovely New York mountains.
Lets look at the simple basic symptoms of Lyme disease.
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How A Parkinsons Diagnosis Uncovered Hidden Lyme Disease: Tims Success Story
It is incredibly common for one disease to be confused with another because of common or overlapping signs and symptoms. These diagnosis errors can lead to improper treatment and years of frustration when symptoms dont improve or even worsen.
This was Tims story. After struggling with increasingly debilitating symptoms for four years, he was ultimately diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. This was a hard blow, as Tim is very passionate about leading an active lifestyle and these symptoms were restricting his ability to do the activities he loves. He wasnt satisfied with the prognosis he received from other providers so he sought out GrassRoots Functional Medicine for an alternative approach that would hopefully allow him to live life to the fullest OR that would hopefully help him to recover instead of managing his illness .
If youve been in a situation like Tim, where you suffer for months or years with symptoms that cant be explained or you want to explore treatment options, let this story be your inspiration to try a different approach!