Introducing your Parkinson’s Parent to you!

Dalia Gamil

B.Sc.Pharm. MBA

Your parent used to be active!

May be working until his/her 70s!

Full of life, and suddenly, he/she started to withdraw!

Not interested in any of the activities that he/she used to do, and maybe he/she is already misdiagnosed and mistreated for depression.

You might need a second opinion!

Your parent may be suffering Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination, and in many cases many clinicians confuse it with long term complications of diabetes, where the first symptom; barely noticeable is a tremor in just one hand. Mostly the right hand, which causes frustrations to right-handed patients, especially if they are still working. Constipation, cramping and bloating are common among people with Parkinson’s.
Most people with Parkinson’s have no known genetic link.

Parkinson’s disease is not fatal, and many patients live actively with good care more than 20 years after diagnosis.
It is healthy for Parkinson’s patients to:

• Avoid sugary foods and drinks, where sugar can impact their immune system.
• Optimize their protein intake.
• Decrease sodium intake, and unhealthy fats, like trans fats, cholesterol, and saturated fats.
• Keeping in consideration that antipsychotic medications worsen a person’s Parkinson’s disease symptoms.

It is extremely important to have medical care, where untreated Parkinson’s can lead to serious falls, even at home. On the other hand, it is beneficial to engage in meaningful activities. Keeping up with routine daily activities like dishwashing, folding laundry, yard work, and shopping which keep the patients on their feet and delays the progression of the disease. The ability to drive with Parkinson’s depend on individual circumstances.

Parkinson’s disease patients are showing better rates of recovery. Medicines can help control the symptoms. the healthcare teams may recommend lifestyle changes like aerobic exercise, where Parkinson’s patients might develop dementia on the long run. There are also new treatments that are being tested in clinical trials showing potential to slow, stop or even reverse Parkinson’s. These include Stem Cell Therapies, that aim to use healthy, living cells to replace or repair that damage in the brains of Parkinson’s patients.

Parkinson’s patients are prone to low blood pressure. Hence hydration is important. It is beneficial for them to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day.

Parkinson’s disease has 5 stages. The timeline for the stages varies, but most patients go one stage up every couple of years. Not all patients with Parkinson’s disease will experience severe symptoms. Many patients respond to treatment and stay on mild symptoms. Although there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, it is possible to live a full and active life with this condition.

Bananas are good for Parkinson’s disease patients. Salmon, soybean, kidney beans and flaxseed are considered superfood for Parkinson’s patients. Caffeine and chocolate can delay the onset of progression in a dose dependent manner.

What we eat directly influences our overall wellbeing. These foods help Parkinson’s patients live healthy:

• Fish.
• Poultry.
• Dairy products.
• Berries.
• Green leafy vegetables.
• Green tea.
• Eggs.
• Nuts.

Parkinson’s patients show rapid improvement with vitamin C replacement therapy. On the other hand, exposure to sun reasonably and vitamin D intake increases the capacity of developing neurons to release dopamine, the main neurotransmitter that regulates the medical condition.

It is recommended that bathtubs and shower stalls should have at least two handrails, so that the patient can hold on to while getting out, and to lower water temperature to less that 120/49 degrees.

Since the early 1900s Parkinson’s disease patients have been described as industrious, devoted to hard work, inflexible, punctual, cautious and moralist. These psychological characteristics have been constantly reported that the concept of “Parkison’s personality” emerged. This might be a good reason for you to be proud of your Parkinson’s parent.