Parkinson's Disease, the Plague of the Modern Age!

Cellular based therapy for Parkinson Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a terrifying disease that mainly, although not solely, affects those later in life. While the symptoms are quite mild in the beginning, sometimes completely overlooked, they will progressively worsen over time and may lead to complications that will dramatically shorten the lifespan of affected individuals.

The four primary symptoms of Parkinson’s are

• Impaired balance and coordination, causing reduced mobility

• Trembling in the extremities, jaw, or head.

• Slowed movements

• Stiffness in the body and limbs

While this may seem like enough, other symptoms may include depression and other emotional changes; difficulty swallowing, chewing, and speaking; urinary problems; constipation; skin problems; and sleep disruptions.

What causes Parkinson's Disease?

In Parkinson's disease, specific nerve cells, also known as neurons, in the brain gradually break down or die. One of the functions of these neurons is to produce a chemical messenger called dopamine. When dopamine levels decrease, it causes abnormal brain activity, leading to symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

While the cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, several factors appear to play a role, including:

• ·Your genes. Research has indicated that specific but uncommon; genetic mutations may signal a higher risk of contracting Parkinson's disease.

• ·Environmental triggers. It has been noted pollutants like pesticides, solvents, or heavy metals by-produced in industrialized countries may contribute to the rising rates of Parkinson's disease. Countries that underwent the most rapid industrialization have seen the most significant increase in the rates of Parkinson's disease.

Cellular based therapy for Parkinson disease

1. Supplement and Diet

The close connection between Parkinson’s and a lack of dopamine cells in your body has led researchers to look for ways to increase the body’s dopamine levels through your diet and supplement. The secondary symptoms, such as dementia and confusion, might also be improved through lifestyle changes like diet, supplement, and exercise.

Antioxidants, supplements and Parkinson disease

Current research focuses on reducing “oxidative stress” that aggravates Parkinson’s and similar conditions by eating a diet high in antioxidants while relying on proteins, flavonoids, and gut bacteria to improve Parkinson’s symptoms.

2. Chelation therapy

Parkinsonism is reported to rapidly develop in patients subjected to the exposure of high levels of manganese (Mn), and a role in Parkinsonism onset has also been suggested for copper (Cu). Other elements that have occasionally been linked with Parkinson's Disease have been aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), bismuth (Bi), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), thallium (Tl), and titanium (Ti).

Metal chelation therapy was proposed more than 50 years ago for the treatment of pathologies produced in the body by an overload of a metal. Metal chelation therapy involves the use of a chelating agent, a molecule that forms stable coordination complexes with the target metal ion. Once administered to the patient, the chelation agent acts as a scavenger removing the metal from its stores and favoring its de-corporation from the body.

Conservative chelation, instead of more aggressive metal removal, appears to be particularly suitable in Parkinson's disease.

3. Stem cell therapy

Umbilical mesenchymal stem cells are also being investigated in the development of regenerative treatments for Parkinson's disease. However, although it is possible to generate TH-positive cells, it hasn’t been consistently possible to create authentic midbrain dopaminergic neurons from mesenchymal stem cells. These TH-positive cells, on the other hand, have been postulated to aid in the management of symptoms through anti-inflammatory properties and neuroprotective potential through paracrine activity.

by Dr. Chontirot Srikasedsarakul

Dr. Chontirot Srikasedsarakul is a specialist in Genomics, Dermatology and Aesthetics. She has received qualifications from numerous educational institutions like Stanford University, U.S.A.; the University of Queensland, Australia; Chulalongkorn University, Thailand and the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine.