What I did when shocked by the diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease.

What I did when shocked by the diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease; it was a massive blow when still in my early forties. The changes to my lifestyle that I made have meant that all is still well; but I dare not drop my guard. It is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world.

The symptoms and signs of advanced Parkinson's Disease are well documented. We all know people with the condition; a tremor, rigidity and an unusual shuffling gait known as festination. What wasn't understood back then, 35 years ago, was that the early indications occur decades before the textbook symptoms that are so recognisable.

It's an incurable disease; only prevention and amelioration of the early signs and symptoms makes any sense. So what are they?

Constipation

Parkinson's Disease does not begin with the classic "motor" signs of tremors and a slow, unusual gait; it starts decades earlier with constipation. Three-quarters of those suffering from the condition will have a long history of difficult bowel movements.

The problem of course is that constipation is so nonspecific; one-third of those over 60 enjoying typical grocery store food.

What is also uncertain is whether constipation is a symptom of Parkinson's Disease or whether it may be a part of the cause of the condition.

There is research showing that the alpha-synuclein accumulation begins in the colon long before affecting the brain. It spreads they say like a "prion" via the neural pathways from the gut throughout the nervous system, including that part controlling the motility of the intestines. 

Moreover it's also now known that more than half of the dopamine produced in the body actually comes from the gut; classically it was believed that all was synthesised in a nucleus in the brain called the Substantia Nigra.

Anecdote

Scientifically anecdotes count for nothing; zero. But in my case I suffered from severe constipation from early childhood despite having a mother who was a vegetarian; fibre-rich food was daily on the table. A poor diet was not the cause of my unhappy bowel. My theory is that previously those dopaminergic neurons in my brain were damaged though exposure to some toxin; perhaps from diphtheria as a baby.

At age 40 a tremor started in my right hand; a neurologist said it could turn into Parkinson's Disease. He was unable to predict whether it was possible or probable. Drinking soup became increasingly difficult.

Through happenstance my wife attended a lecture on the importance of more fibre in the diet; I believe it may have rescued me from the ravages of full-blown Parkinson's Disease.

The recommended dietary allowance of fibre for a male is 35 grams per day; only 5% of those enjoying typical grocery store food achieve that. But in my case it's only when I consume more than 40g that I have a normal easy bowel movement; the long, thin and soft snake described in the Bristol Stool Scale^[1].

Sleep Behaviour Disorder

If constipation is the one very common general early "prodromal" signs of PD, the other far more specific manifestation is vivid dreaming accompanied by violent shouts and movements such as kicking and punching. It's rare in the general population but 10 times more common in those who go on to full-blown Parkinson's Disease.

Luckily that did not affect me personally. But 80% of those who show these Sleep Behaviour Disturbances early on will develop PD within ten to fifteen years.

Loss of smell

Loss of smell is another of these early symptoms of Parkinson's Disease.

There is a hypothesis that a pathogen enters the body via the nose, is then swallowed initiating the the formation of those alpha-Synuclein proteins in the olfactory bulb and the colon from where they spread through the nervous system. Loss of the sense of smell, long before the dopaminergic neurons in the Substantia Nigra are damaged is another of the early signs that may herald Parkinson's Disease in the future^[2].

Here too I was luckily unaffected.

Handwriting

As the alpha-Synuclein proteins begin to infect the dopaminergic neurons in that nucleus in the brain, early motor signs begin to show. Handwriting is often affected with the script becoming cramped and smaller.

That certainly is beginning to happen in my case.

The swing of the arms whilst walking may also decrease; it has not affected me.

The microbiome

There is research showing that a significant amount of dopamine is produced in the gut by the friendly flora. These bugs feed primarily on dietary fibre; both the mass of bacteria and their diversity are affected making an easier entrance for pathogens such as E. Coli that initiate the alpha-Synuclein proteins. They then spread to the nervous system, especially via the Vagus to the brain where they cause such damage.

But also to the "enteric" nervous system affecting the muscles of the gut; and playing a major role in constipation.

Through a second happenstance I was introduced to kefir, probably the easiest probiotic to make in one's own kitchen. Within weeks there was a vast improvement in my own gut. First a stubborn helicobacter infection of the stomach that was causing severe pain was overcome; and secondly the whole of the abdomen became happier.

• Kefir benefits
  

Broad beans

Broad beans also known in many countries as favas are the only common source of pharmacological amounts of L-dopa, the precursor of the hormone. But they are particularly unpleasant unless young seeds are consumed on the day they are harvested.

I had a lifelong aversion to them having been exposed to tough, chewy old broad beans as a child. The third lucky happenstance was being invited to dinner with friends who served a delicious dish unbeknown to me. I asked for seconds.

Imagine my surprise when I was told they were broad beans. I was none the wiser at that stage that they were a source of dopamine. I started growing them and to my surprise found that the debilitating tremor in my hand immediately lessened noticeably. Soon I was to discover that if I ate them daily the irritating shake almost stopped completely.

But I had to consume them daily. And so began my journey with broad beans; growing, blanching and freezing them for year-round daily consumption.

You will almost never find broad beans at the grocery store; and if you do they are unlikely to be pleasant. They are not difficult but they are certainly finicky to grow. They have to be staked and tied. The crop is simply enormous and from every point of view worth the time and effort.

They are also the only plant reported to have all the essential amino acids as protein from eggs, dairy products and meat have.

Eggs Parkinson's Disease is a common breakfast in our home; the broad beans look like large grey ticks.

Probiotics

We now ferment many different fruits and vegetables for homemade probiotics; this sauer-susu is more like a kimchi.

Fermented mulberry honey mead and spicy peppadews are two more examples of probiotics that I prepare to help the friendly flora in the gut produce more dopamine. Yes, it takes time and energy but hey it's fun and here I am at nearly 77 little worse off than three decades ago. In fact in many ways I am happier and healthier.

There is a symbiosis in life where one hobby often enhances another. The fascination of bees had meant there is plenty of honey for brewing mead, perhaps my most important probiotics. The love of gardening provides exercise, plenty of vitamin D from sunshine and so many fresh foods that can be easily fermented.

A deep respect for science has enabled me to delve into the medical and nutritional research; that has enabled the good wife and I to approach old age with confidence. Neither of us take any chronic medication.

What you have read above is based on strong science.

What I did when shocked by the probable diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease.

What I did when shocked by the diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease. By the grace of God I was guided into the three important steps to prevent full-on PD.

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