Excellent review of neurotransmitters & t... - Cure Parkinson's
Excellent review of neurotransmitters & traits in PD, beyond the dopamine-only paradigm
Thank you so much for sharing this study, I found it very interesting and enlightening
Another fine review.
Cholinergic Dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease.
Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2013 Sep; 13(9): 377.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
"Early in vivo imaging evidence that impaired cholinergic integrity of the PPN associates with frequent falling in PD is now confirmed by human post-mortem evidence. Brainstem cholinergic lesioning studies in primates confirm the role of the PPN in mobility impairment. Degeneration of basal forebrain cholinergic projections correlates with decreased walking speed. Cumulatively, these findings provide evidence for a new paradigm to explain dopamine-resistant features of mobility impairments in PD. Recognition of the increased clinical role of cholinergic system degeneration may motivate new research to expand indications for cholinergic therapy in PD."
[PIGD, postural instability, falls]
This is really interesting because I just started taking an anticholinergic for dizziness. I have noticed that it has decreased my walking speed and dexterity. So, a confirmation that PD affects the cholinergic system.
Actually certain cholinergic compounds like Citicoline (CDP-Choline) may help Parkinson's and minimize the levodopa dosage in half.
Citicoline in the treatment of Parkinson's disease
"Eighty-five patients with an established diagnosis of primary Parkinson's disease were randomly assigned to receive their usual dose of levodopa (mean, 381 mg daily) plus 1,200 mg of citicoline daily or half their usual dose of levodopa (mean, 196 mg daily) plus the citicoline. Results of the Webster Rating Scale, a pegboard test, drawing, writing, and walking tests, a test of emotional state, and an overall assessment, administered before and after four weeks of treatment, revealed no significant between-group differences.
Improvements on the tests were shown by more patients who received half their levodopa dose plus citicoline than by those who continued to receive their usual levodopa dose plus the citicoline. It is concluded that the levodopa-saving effect of citicoline could be used to decrease the incidence of side effects and retard the loss of efficacy of levodopa in long-term treatment. "
researchgate.net/publicatio...
Another study with CDP-Choline for Parkinson's
Citicoline in the treatment of Parkinson's disease
The subjects were 20 patients with Parkinson's disease. They were aged 52 to 76 years and the duration of the disease ranged from four to 25 years (mean, 12.5 years). All the patients were receiving levodopa alone or in combination with tricyclic antidepressants, amantadine, bromocriptine, anticholinergic agents, or lisuride. Each patient received 1,000 mg of citicoline intramuscularly daily for 15 days and then 500 mg daily for 15 days.
After 30 days of treatment, the scores on the Columbia rating scale improved 7.3%; rigidity was improved 18.8%; times to walk 10 m and turn over were reduced 17.5% and 37.4%; and the handwriting test scores improved 19.7%. No side effects were reported ..."
Good stuff. Here's a recent study that demonstrated citicoline at 600 mg/day slowed the rate of cognitive deecline in PD patients. pdfs.semanticscholar.org/e9...
Results were highly stat sig with p <.01 at 18 months. If a prescription drug turned in this kind of result it would be shouted from the rooftops.
I will get some on order. Do you have experience taking this?
It seems to work for me as I believe it keeps my brain sharp. However I take a lower dosage of 250mg/daily. Possible Uridine may have similar effect without the choline part, but lack of human study I stick to Citicoline
Past few months I've been taking daily 500mg Citicoline, based on the work of Dr Laurie Mischley, a researcher at UBC, Canada. I've found it helpful in energy, alertness, l-dopa absorption, and appetite suppression. No side effects. I'm thinking of upping dosage to 1000mg.
I have just discovered how citicoline can be beneficial in treating Parkinson's. I would be interested to know if you are still taking it and whether you are still getting the same benefits. Also have you increased the dosage? Do you find it is better to take it the same time that you take your medication with each dose?
Thank you for sharing this! I find this to be the finest explanation I’ve ever had that explains my many non-motor systems, in a logical, medical, way. I have said, since my diagnosed PD has advanced from tremors and stiffness etc. that, to me, PD seems to be several neuro-degenerative type ailments, under one name. I have many of the problems listed in this article, and I haven’t always been able to get satisfactory explanations from doctors, about causative factors. Some of these real problems, once lost, can’t be retrieved, and it’s very frustrating when one can’t seem to find or get an explanation as to what is going wrong in their body. This explains it all to me. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but PD is not a pleasant disease to have, especially as it progresses. It seems like every part of my body is affected by this disease. I get apathy, anxious and depressed, olfactory problems, digestive and urinary and sexual performance problems. Sensory problems can be disturbing at times. I’ve been diagnosed with orthostatic hypotension and swallowing problems. So, yes, life is not a bowl full of cherries, anymore, so to speak.
Thank you for sharing. I find this forum useful as sharing each other experience and knowledge help us to cautiously take decisions. Mind orthostatic hypotension may be a flag for parkinson's plus syndrome like MSA; I guess your doctor excluded this possibility. However the most intimidating for me aspect of the disease is to loose consciousness though. Personally I don't expect any alternative treatment when visiting my doctor, except prescribing medicines which some times bring more side effects. Eventually we need to become scientists ourselves to treat the disease. I cautiously consider IM Thiamine injections, I'm sure you've already came accross the Thiamine threads of this forum and the Thiamine Treatment study by Dr Costanini.
Greenday, park_bear, and ddmagee1:
Thank you for calling attention to citicoline,for providing cites, and for feedback.
For a summary in an an abstract, see:
CDP-choline: pharmacological and clinical review.
Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 1995.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/870...
Another informative abstract:
The role of citicoline in cognitive impairment: pharmacological characteristics, possible advantages, and doubts for an old drug with new perspectives.
Clin Interv Aging. 2015 Sep 3;10:1421-9.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/263...
And the cited by:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?lin...
Three years ago FMundo launched a similar inquiry:
I believe all patients with Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative syndromes should be aware of those studies. Multiple studies, peer review studies, studies with placebo & control groups, real human studies; all those studies verify the efficacy of CDP-Citicoline as a powerful and possibly safe natural agent against memory decline and neurodegeneration (period.)
I missed this whole thread till this morning. I'm going to try some.
Thanks. Try to digest all the info on the article.
Requests for Women with PD (is this the cause of PD in women)
The contradictory nature of PD fatigue
The Healing Power of Dancing, Laughter and Massage in PD
INBRAIN PHARMA: direct injection of dopamine into the brain
What are the downsides of NOT taking dopamine drugs?
