Medications
THE SEARCH FOR CLUES IN THE 'FOX CLUSTER'
Parkinson's disease over-whelmingly affects older adults. And yet, the actor Michael Fox was only 30 when he was diagnosed in 1991. Scientists want to know why--especially because Fox was one of four people working on the TV sitcom 'Leo & Me' who later got the disease.
Experts are intrigued by the 'Fox Cluster' because it suggests that environmental factors or even a virus might be responsible. Clusters of Parkinson's disease have occurred before, but health experts rarely have enough time or money to investigate. Fox's celebrity status guaranteed that this particular cluster would get a second look.
So far, no-one's worked out what causes Parkinson's disease. Genetic factors have been linked to the disease. So has exposure to pesticides and herbicides in some cases. The Fox Cluster may provide additional clues by allowing experts to investigate a small group of people who appear to have had an abnormally high risk of getting the disease. The goal will be to determine what, if anything, they had in common.
The viral theory
The theory that a virus was the culprit makes sense because an infectious agent could readily pass from person to person in the insulated confines of a production studio. The viral theory is further bolstered by the fact that Parkinson's disease is slightly more common among teachers, doctors and nurses who are regularly exposed to infections. Loggers and miners, who often share tight quarters at work camps, also have a slightly higher risk for it.
The environmental theory
The other suspect in the Fox Cluster is environmental toxins. Any group of people that shares a work space, especially one with limited air circulation, would be exposed to similar levels of chemicals or other substances. If one or more of these substances caused Parkinson's, it would make sense to see a 'spike' of disease among the wonders.
Or was it chance?
It's certainly possible that the Fox Cluster arose purely coin-cidentally. But the odds of four people getting the disease, out of a crew of 125, has been estimated at less than been estimated at less than 1 in 1000. Researchers studying the case hope that it will eventually provide much needed clues about the origin of this mysterious disease.
Is it true that coffee and cigarettes protect against Parkinson's?
They might, research suggests. A study in the journal Neurology comparing 196 people with Parkinson's disease to an equal number of healthy people found that coffee drinkers were significantly less likely to be in the Parkinson's group. And the more they drank, the lower their risk. It's possible that something in the coffee (caffeine, perhaps) protect cells or improves the action of dopamine. The nicotine in cigarettes may have similar protective effects with far fewer smokers affected by Parkinson's. Since cigarette smoking is so unhealthy, patches and other nicotine forms are being studied.
Lifestyle changes
Because Parkinson's affects muscle movement, it's important to stay as strong and fit as you can. Regular exercise is essential because it improves your mobility, balance and range of motion and keeps up your strength. Any physical activity, such a stretching, walking, swimming or even weightlifting, will not only help you move better but will also help build up your endurance. If you're new to exercise or could simply use some extra motivation, begin by working with a physiotherapist who can custom design an exercise plan that will be the most effective for you.
To prevent falls, safety-proof your home. Install handrails along stairways and grab rails in the shower and next to the toilet. It's also a good idea to keep electrical or phone cords out of the way. Once the disease progresses, carry a mobile phone with you all the time in case you fall and can't get up.
Diet is another self-help cornerstone. If you're taking L-dopa medications, limit protein to about 12 percent of total daily kilojoules. More protein than this makes it harder for the levodopa to reach your brain. It's also important to eat plenty of fibre-rich foods, such as vegetables, fruit and legumes. Fibre prevents constipation, a common symptom of Parkinson's. Plant foods are also rich in vitamin C and other antioxidant nutrients, which may help curtail nerve-cell damage caused by free radicals. Consider working with a nutritionist to plan the best diet for you.
And don't forget that a good mental attitude can be just as important as keeping yourself physically healthy. One good way to avoid dwelling on your condition is to take up a hobby. Tasks that involve both the mind and the hands, such as sewing, carpentry or even playing cards, may slow the progression of the disease. Joining a Parkinson's support group can also be beneficial, not only for you but also for family members and carers.
PROMISING DEVELOPMENTS
Surgery for Parkinson's disease fell out of favour when scientists developed levodopa and other medications. But a number of procedures have been revived recently because of advances in magnetic imaging that provide new understanding of how motor information is processed. You may be a candidate for one of the surgeries below if drugs become ineffective or their side effects unbearable.
THE SEARCH FOR CLUES IN THE 'FOX CLUSTER'
Parkinson's disease over-whelmingly affects older adults. And yet, the actor Michael Fox was only 30 when he was diagnosed in 1991. Scientists want to know why--especially because Fox was one of four people working on the TV sitcom 'Leo & Me' who later got the disease.
Experts are intrigued by the 'Fox Cluster' because it suggests that environmental factors or even a virus might be responsible. Clusters of Parkinson's disease have occurred before, but health experts rarely have enough time or money to investigate. Fox's celebrity status guaranteed that this particular cluster would get a second look.
So far, no-one's worked out what causes Parkinson's disease. Genetic factors have been linked to the disease. So has exposure to pesticides and herbicides in some cases. The Fox Cluster may provide additional clues by allowing experts to investigate a small group of people who appear to have had an abnormally high risk of getting the disease. The goal will be to determine what, if anything, they had in common.
The viral theory
The theory that a virus was the culprit makes sense because an infectious agent could readily pass from person to person in the insulated confines of a production studio. The viral theory is further bolstered by the fact that Parkinson's disease is slightly more common among teachers, doctors and nurses who are regularly exposed to infections. Loggers and miners, who often share tight quarters at work camps, also have a slightly higher risk for it.
The environmental theory
The other suspect in the Fox Cluster is environmental toxins. Any group of people that shares a work space, especially one with limited air circulation, would be exposed to similar levels of chemicals or other substances. If one or more of these substances caused Parkinson's, it would make sense to see a 'spike' of disease among the wonders.
Or was it chance?
It's certainly possible that the Fox Cluster arose purely coin-cidentally. But the odds of four people getting the disease, out of a crew of 125, has been estimated at less than been estimated at less than 1 in 1000. Researchers studying the case hope that it will eventually provide much needed clues about the origin of this mysterious disease.
Is it true that coffee and cigarettes protect against Parkinson's?
They might, research suggests. A study in the journal Neurology comparing 196 people with Parkinson's disease to an equal number of healthy people found that coffee drinkers were significantly less likely to be in the Parkinson's group. And the more they drank, the lower their risk. It's possible that something in the coffee (caffeine, perhaps) protect cells or improves the action of dopamine. The nicotine in cigarettes may have similar protective effects with far fewer smokers affected by Parkinson's. Since cigarette smoking is so unhealthy, patches and other nicotine forms are being studied.
Lifestyle changes
Because Parkinson's affects muscle movement, it's important to stay as strong and fit as you can. Regular exercise is essential because it improves your mobility, balance and range of motion and keeps up your strength. Any physical activity, such a stretching, walking, swimming or even weightlifting, will not only help you move better but will also help build up your endurance. If you're new to exercise or could simply use some extra motivation, begin by working with a physiotherapist who can custom design an exercise plan that will be the most effective for you.
To prevent falls, safety-proof your home. Install handrails along stairways and grab rails in the shower and next to the toilet. It's also a good idea to keep electrical or phone cords out of the way. Once the disease progresses, carry a mobile phone with you all the time in case you fall and can't get up.
Diet is another self-help cornerstone. If you're taking L-dopa medications, limit protein to about 12 percent of total daily kilojoules. More protein than this makes it harder for the levodopa to reach your brain. It's also important to eat plenty of fibre-rich foods, such as vegetables, fruit and legumes. Fibre prevents constipation, a common symptom of Parkinson's. Plant foods are also rich in vitamin C and other antioxidant nutrients, which may help curtail nerve-cell damage caused by free radicals. Consider working with a nutritionist to plan the best diet for you.
And don't forget that a good mental attitude can be just as important as keeping yourself physically healthy. One good way to avoid dwelling on your condition is to take up a hobby. Tasks that involve both the mind and the hands, such as sewing, carpentry or even playing cards, may slow the progression of the disease. Joining a Parkinson's support group can also be beneficial, not only for you but also for family members and carers.
PROMISING DEVELOPMENTS
- Implanting cells into the brain's substantia nigra to replace dopamine--producing cells may hold the greatest promise for Parkinson's treatment in the future. While many novel methods are being investigated, including the implantation of foetal brain cells, recent research suggests that implanting cells from your own brain may produce dramatic symptom improvement.
- The dietary supplement coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) slowed the progression of Parkinson's disease in a small but widely publicised study published in the Archives of Neurology in 2002. The compound, which is produced naturally in the body but thought to be at unusally low levels in people with Parkinson's can be purchased over the counter. It is believed to help energy-supplying structures in cells to function better. In the 16-month study of 80 Parkinson's patients, the 23 on the highest daily CoQ10 dose experienced 44% less decline in mental function, movement and their ability to carry out daily living tasks than those taking a placebo.
Surgery for Parkinson's disease fell out of favour when scientists developed levodopa and other medications. But a number of procedures have been revived recently because of advances in magnetic imaging that provide new understanding of how motor information is processed. You may be a candidate for one of the surgeries below if drugs become ineffective or their side effects unbearable.
- Pallidotomy. This procedure uses electrical current to destroy cells in the globus pallidus, the part of the brain that's responsible for some Parkinson's symptoms. The procedure is sometimes used to reduced involuntary movements such as twitching, nodding or jerking (called dyskinesias), which may result from taking large doses of levodopa over a long period of time.
- Thalamotomy. The surgery that actor Micheal J Fox (see box opposite) underwent in 1997, thalamotomy uses the same technique as pallidotomy but reduces tremors by destroying a small amount of tissue in the thalamus, the brain's message relay center. It has successfully stopped tremors in 80 to 90 percent of patients.
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS). Done in Europe for many years and in Australia only since 1997, this procedure invloves inserting an electrode in the brain's thalamus. Connected to a pacemaker-like device implanted in your chest that you control, the electrode delivers electrical signals to the brain that interrupt tremor-causing nerve signals.
No comments:
Post a Comment