Parkinson’s is said to be the disease of the elderly. This owes to the fact that many factors are thought to be responsible for the progression of this disease. Since it takes a lot of time for this disease to present itself, there is not much that can be done to cure oneself off of it.
Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disorder, and the main cause for its presence is still under investigation. There have been many clues and signs that suggest its progress, but nothing concrete has yet been established.
Parkinson’s and its effect on the human body
It is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder globally. There are many problems in people diagnosed with this condition, with many genetic and environmental factors playing their roles.
The main pathology in this disease lies in the substantia nigra of the brain, which fails to take up dopamine into the system. The degeneration of dopamine neuronal fibers is what later results in the formation of Lewy bodies. These inclusion masses are what mark the presence of Parkinson’s and are often the best diagnostic criteria.
People with Parkinson’s often experience slowing movements of their voluntary muscles, tremors on their hands that are present at rest, as well as twitching of their muscles.
It has also been seen that such individuals do not just suffer physically, but there are also many other non-motor aspects of this disease. They complain of visual disturbances, cannot hold urine, problems while sleeping, and constipation. Clinical studies on such patients have shown the presence of the latter symptoms before the motor symptoms.
Individuals who suffer from the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease often find it very hard to travel and do their daily life activities. Hence, this greatly hinders their quality of life, making them dependent on others for their day-to-day activities.
A lot of research has been in progress about this disease, and a singular cause for this disease and its progression has not been established. Therefore, Parkinson’s disease is understood to be multifactorial in origin. Many theories are proposing genetic factors, environmental factors, mitochondrial disorders, and oxidative stress to be the main ones.
How can supplementshelp anyone with Parkinson’s
People diagnosed with Parkinson’s are offered many different therapeutic medications, but these medications are not enough to slow the progression of the disease.
This is why supplementshave widely been in use to decrease the chances of acquiring Parkinson’s disease. Since one of the factors responsible for the progression of this disease is oxidative stress, it is essential to control that process somehow.
Oxidative stress is used when the cells are deprived of oxygen. This leads to an increase in the number of free radicals, which cause a lot of destruction in the body. They bind with the many different molecules and do not let them function. Therefore, this oxidative stress can lead to the degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons, resulting in Parkinson’s disease.
However, supplements such as vitamins are biochemical products that are produced that fight naturally off oxidative stress. The many different compounds present in many vitamins are also responsible for eliminating all the free radicals because of their antioxidant properties. They are also known to alter gene expression and hence prevent degeneration of neuronal fibers that can later cause Parkinson’s disease.
Natural constituents responsible for improving brain health
It has been seen that these natural supplements have had a great role in improving the functions of the whole nervous system. They have also been linked to the decrease in the progression of Parkinson’s in individuals who take these supplements from early on in their life.
Following is a list of natural supplements that can help improve brain health.
Vitamin B
Vitamin B is a family of vitamins that had many important forms. With slight changes in its shape and structure, their functions also alter accordingly.
Niacin (vitamin B3) is very famously known for its effects in the process of metabolism. Its effects on the human body have long been studied, which shows how helpful it is in managing oxidative stress in the body.
It has also been shown to decrease mitochondrial damage and enhance its function, indirectly helping save the neurons in the brain. From its antioxidant property, it also neutralizes the free radicals produced inside the body.
Clinical Study
A clinical study conducted in 1996 showed a positive correlation between vitamin B consumption in diet and a reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease. It was also seen to improve some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s, such as bradykinesia (slowing of muscle movement) and rigidity. [1]
Coenzyme Q-10
Coenzyme Q-10 is also called ubiquinone. It is present in animal meat as well ad whole grains. It is a very important compound that is needed for the process of aerobic oxidation. The electron transport chain requires coenzyme Q-10 to carry out the generation of ATPs and eventually provide cells with energy.
Its effects are limited to the production of energy, but it also has many antioxidant activities. It scavenges free radicals in the body and eliminates them before they can cause any harm. This property marks its significance in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Clinical Studies
Many clinical trials conducted on rats have shown its effects on the brain. It has been studied that the consumption of coenzyme Q-10 not just reduces the loss of dopamine from the basal ganglia but also prevents the neural destruction of the dopaminergic fibers.
Many clinical trials regarding the efficacy of coenzyme Q-10 were conducted in 2002, which vouched for its safe and positive response on people with Parkinson’s. Another meta-analysis was published, claiming that its usage provided many beneficial effects on individuals with Parkinson’s disease. It was also seen to be well-tolerated and safe.
N-acetyl cysteine
This compound is an amino acid that is derived from another compound (sulfurated cysteine amino acid). Due to its structure can detoxify the many reactive oxygen species and hence acts as a physiological antioxidant.
Many animal models have been used to study the effects of N-acetyl cysteine in the management of Parkinson’s disease. It has been shown to directly act on the mitochondrial complexes and stop the free radicals’ production and accumulation. Since the initial step in forming these destructive compounds is taken care of, it can easily help improve brain functions.
This compound also helps protect the dopamine pathways through which the many motor functions are controlled and tuned.
Clinical Study
In a study conducted in the year 2016, it was seen that the compound N-acetyl cysteine showed protective properties in the in-vivo and in-vitro models. This clinical study was enough to prove that the dopaminergic neurons could sustain their functions in the presence of this compound and that it could prove to be very efficacious in individuals who have Parkinson’s disease. [2]
Many supplements have combined benefits on the overall health and decrease the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is naturally found in many leafy green vegetables, oils, whole-grain products, and dairy products.
It also consists of a family of fat-soluble vitamins that have altered structures. Vitamin E has long been known to have antioxidant properties. It hunts for Reactive Oxygen Species, which includes the very dangerous hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals. Once all of these species are neutralized, this compound also helps in reversing any damages produced in the body.
The toxic free radicals and reactive oxygen species can accumulate and destroy the brain’s cells. Hence the use of vitamin E not just promotes longevity but works in the anti-aging process. Therefore, all of these characteristics of this compound work beautifully in the management of Parkinson’s disease, slowing its rate of progression.
Creatine
Creatine is a compound that naturally presents in animals and is classified as a nitrogenous compound. It has been seen to supply energy to the many cells of the body. The neurons and the muscle cells show increased uptake of energy in the presence of this compound.
With its famous role in high-intensity workouts by eliminating the feelings of fatigue and tiredness, it has greatly been linked to helping the body eliminate harmful chemicals. These harmful chemicals can go ahead and damage the mitochondrial complexes as well as the many neurons. This is where creatine comes into play. Due to its excellent antioxidant effect on the body, it offers a neuroprotective function and decreases the process of inflammation.
All of these properties are therefore also seen in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Due to their main pathology lying in the dopamine pathways, creatine acts as a perfect supplement to inhibit the process of degeneration. It also protects against MPTP-induced dopamine depletion. It has also been seen that there are addictive functions of both Coenzyme Q-10 and creatine in decreasing the progress of Parkinson’s.
Magnesium
Magnesium is one of the most important micronutrients needed by the body to carry out its metabolic processes.
Patients who have Parkinson’s disease showed a prominent deficiency of Magnesium in the caudate nucleus of the substantia nigra. Therefore, decreased amounts of Magnesium can very much aid in developing Parkinson’s in such individuals.
It is not exactly the work of Magnesium that helps cure or treat Parkinson’s disease; instead of it’s the shortage that can be its cause. Through multiple trials and studies, it was seen that decreased levels of Magnesium resulted in the pathogenesis of parkinsonism-dementia complex (PDC).
Clinical Study
According to a clinical trial conducted in 2006 on rats, it was seen that restricted intake of Magnesium and Calcium resulted in the development of Parkinsonism complexes. This trial also showed to experience an extreme loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. [3]
There are many forms of supplements available that contain Magnesium as their main constituent. Consuming these supplements regularly can reduce the likelihood of acquiring the disease.
Conclusion
Since Parkinson’s disease does not have a definitive set of causes, it has become challenging for people to prevent it. Due to its multifactorial nature, it is only assumed to cut off from some unhealthy activities to decrease the production of toxic chemicals inside the body.
The main pathology of this disease lies in the destruction of the dopamine fibers, and the best way to prevent it is by using many antioxidant supplements. These natural supplements are probably the best source of protection from the disease as they are usually safe and do not come with any side effects.
Therefore, it is vital to encourage the use of supplementsand equip it with a healthy lifestyle so that all body cells can very easily remove and eliminate those wastes. This not just decreases the chances of acquiring Parkinson’s disease but can also significantly lower its rate of progression. It is also very important to choose supplements that contain some or all of the components mentioned above, as these compounds have long been researched and studied.
References
- Hellenbrand W, Boeing H, Robra BP, Seidler A, Vieregge P, Nischan P, Joerg J, Oertel WH, Schneider E, Ulm G. Diet and Parkinson’s disease II: A possible role for the past intake of specific nutrients: Results from a self-administered food-frequency questionnaire in a case-control study. Neurology. 1996 Sep 1;47(3):644-50.
- Monti DA, Zabrecky G, Kremens D, Liang TW, Wintering NA, Cai J, Wei X, Bazzan AJ, Zhong L, Bowen B, Intenzo CM. N-acetyl cysteine may support dopamine neurons in Parkinson’s disease: preliminary clinical and cell line data. PloS one. 2016 Jun 16;11(6):e0157602.
- Oyanagi K, Kawakami E, Kikuchi‐Horie K, Ohara K, Ogata K, Takahama S, Wada M, Kihira T, Yasui M. Magnesium deficiency rats with special references to the pathogenesis of the parkinsonism–dementia complex and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis of Guam. Neuropathology. 2006 Apr;26(2):115-28.
