Medical experts believe that environmental causes may help trigger Parkinson's disease. Exposure to farming chemicals, like pesticides and herbicides; Vietnam-era exposure to Agent Orange; and working with heavy metals, detergents and solvents have all been implicated and studied for a clearer link.
The main risk factor is age, because Parkinson's disease is most commonly found in adults over the age of 50 (although diagnoses can occur in much younger people). Men also have a higher risk of Parkinson's disease than women.
Tremors, muscle stiffness and slowness of movement are all common early symptoms of Parkinson's – but there are also other signs to be aware of. Sleep and night-time problems are common in Parkinson's.
Many researchers now believe that Parkinson's results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors, such as exposure to toxins.
Parkinson's disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in the part of the brain called the substantia nigra. Nerve cells in this part of the brain are responsible for producing a chemical called dopamine.
While people are diagnosed with Parkinson's at an average age of 60, anything younger than 50 is considered young-onset Parkinson's, or YOPD.
Research suggests that stressful life events may increase the risk of Parkinson's disease. In addition, animal studies indicate that stress damages dopamine cells, resulting in more severe parkinsonian symptoms. In humans, acute stress can worsen motor symptoms, including bradykinesia, freezing, and tremor.
Berries, green leafy vegetables, eggs, fish and oil have neuroprotective properties which can reduce cognitive decline and improve memory function. Yogurt, kefir and raw sauerkraut, natural probiotics, can also increase natural dopamine production.
Because the cause of Parkinson's is unknown, there are no proven ways to prevent the disease. Some research has shown that regular aerobic exercise might reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease.
It's possible for non-motor symptoms to start occurring up to a decade before any motor symptoms emerge. Years can pass before symptoms are obvious enough to make a person to go to the doctor.
There are a number of foods that a person can eat that may reduce their Parkinson's symptoms. These include fish oils, fava beans, foods that are high in antioxidants, and foods that are rich in vitamins B1, C, and D.
Nuts and seeds
In order to produce dopamine, your body needs to break down an amino acid known as tyrosine, which is present in abundance in nuts such as almonds and walnuts, and seeds such as flax seeds. Snacking on a handful of them during the day can up your dopamine levels and help you a great deal.
Meanwhile, because there's an established link between anxiety and Parkinson's disease, patients and their families should be upfront with their doctors about anxiety symptoms. Behavioral therapy and medications — for example, anti-anxiety meds or antidepressants — can effectively treat anxiety disorders.
Though mild to moderate alcohol use does not increase the risk of Parkinson's, heavy drinking may. People with Parkinson's may develop worsening associated symptoms, such as depression or sleep issues, when consuming alcohol. Another consideration is the use of medications to treat Parkinson's and alcohol.
It should be noted that the life expectancy of Parkinson's disease can be normal or near normal. However, a number of factors can shorten life expectancy. According to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, patients usually live between 10 and 20 years after diagnosis.
Fox says he's suffered numerous injuries as a result of his Parkinson's. Michael J. Fox has suffered from a number of injuries as a result of his Parkinson's disease, which he was diagnosed with in 1991 at age 29, the actor revealed in an interview with Variety this week.
You may not need any treatment during the early stages of Parkinson's disease as symptoms are usually mild. But you may need regular appointments with your specialist so your condition can be monitored. You might be offered a device to wear at home that monitors your symptoms.
PSP is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease, especially early in the disorder, as they share many symptoms, including stiffness, movement difficulties, clumsiness, bradykinesia (slow movement), and rigidity of muscles. However, PSP progresses more rapidly than Parkinson's disease.
Fox, who was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 29, believes Parkinson's to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. “Most likely I think is that I was exposed to some kind of chemical. What we say is that genetics loads the gun and environment pulls the trigger,” added the “Teen Wolf” star.
Parkinson's disease (PD), like most common disorders, involves interactions between genetic make-up and environmental exposures that are unique to each individual. Caffeinated-coffee consumption may protect some people from developing PD, although not all benefit equally.