The brain that heals itself

[christos_k]

I am reading a book titled “the brain’s way of healing”, by Norman Doidge. He is considered the next Oliver Sacks, although he is a psychiatrist. You may have heard of his first book, “the brain that changes itself”. Both books are about the plasticity of the brain.

In that second book he writes about a man who has PD for the last 30 years. One day he came up with a thought that changed his life forever: “If my illness prevents me from walking, then I could use my mind to it”. In other words, he learned how to walk from scratch, like an infant. That way he forced his brain to bypass the substancia nigra area where dopamine is produced and “assign” the kinetic job to another part of his brain. It took him time, effort and an 8 mile walking every other day. Now, at 77, he can walk better than a healthy 40yr old person.

Bottom line, PD is a multifactor illness, that cannot be treated with medication only. It requires an holistic approach, where attitude and strong will play a significant role. We need to change our lifestyle so as to adopt healthier habits. We need to address our stress problems, because stress is he trigger for every illness. We need to bring pleasure in our everyday routine. Do things we like, not just things we have to. Be with people we love and stay away from toxic behaviors.

I wish you all a pleasant weekend.

[alexask]

I think John Pepper will be along shortly. Nice picture - is that a Greek Island?

[christos_k in reply to alexask]

Yeap! I can't wait to go back there again...

[alexask in reply to christos_k]

Which one? I do fancy going to Greece maybe next summer.

[christos_k in reply to alexask]

Skopelos. One of the green Northern Aegean islands.

I was there last summer.

[JohnPepper]

I am the Person Dr Doidge speaks about in his book. There are one or two mistakes in your article which need correction. I only walked eight kilometres not miles every SECOND DAY. I am now 83 years old and still walk SEVEN kilometres evry second day, within one hour.

Everybody can learn to override the normal subconscious control of movement, not just for walking but for bringing food to the mouth and writing etc. Pd appears to affect any movements we normally make without having to think about what our legs and arm are doing (Subconscious Control). Just by CONCENTRATING on the actual movements, we immediately overcome the shuffling etc. The moment I lose my concentration I immediately start to shuffle. If I lose my concentration when writing, I cannot read a word I write. If I lose my concentration while bringing food to my mouth, it spills.

What I have achieved by learning to concentrate on my movements is not a cure for Pd it only makes my life more livable and keeps me moving and strong. It has also helped me to be able to come off all Pd medication, which took 8 years to achieve.

If anybody is interested in what I d, or wants to make contact with me then look at my profile or look at my website - reverseparkinsons.net.

[christos_k in reply to JohnPepper]

Mr. John Pepper, thank you for your comment. It's been a pleasant surprise for me. Pardon my English. I wrote "every other day", which means, as far as I can remember, every second day.

Anyway, with your comment you set things straight. I read the old posts concerning your accomplishment. I was left with the idea that some people mistook your book as a declaration that PD has been defeated! It is obvious to me that you do not declare to have found a cure for PD. Allow me to say though that your achievement is not of less significance.

To support your argument, I want to share with everybody my experience. When I do my everyday tasks, i.e. shave, button up, tie my shoelaces, lock/unlock doors in a different manner, I have less or none difficulty doing it. For example, If I change the sequence of the movements, use the other hand or break the routine, the rigidity almost stops. It seems that the brain, in order to "learn" the new habit, uses another area rather than substancia nigra.

I know that each PD patient is different than the next, so what worked for you might not work for others as well. Yet, "out of the box" thinking, persistence and faith can work miracles. Even if they don't, they definitely make our lives easier.

[JohnPepper in reply to christos_k]

Well done Christos. I admire anybody who can speak more than one language as well as you do.

Thanks for your response. I did not mean to correct your English but rather to make the routine clear to others.

I would like to talk to you personally. If you go to my profile you will see how to get hold of me.

Keep up the good work and I am glad it is working for you. Have you watched my videos on YouTube?

[christos_k in reply to JohnPepper]

Thanks, John. I will do that.

[stepan13]

"That way he forced his brain to bypass the substancia nigra area where dopamine is produced and “assign” the kinetic job to another part of his brain."

substancia nigra is an area where dopamine is produced but not “assigned” to the kinetic job

I read, that

"Smooth, voluntary movements are controlled by the basal ganglia, which issue instructions via neurons in the thalamus to the cortex."

and they need dopamine to do the job

[christos_k in reply to stepan13]

Thanks for the clarification. Indeed, dopamine is produced in the cortex and transmitted via neurons. All these happen in the area of the brain where substancia nigra is located.

[Hikoi]

Perhaps not the next Oliver Sacks

telegraph.co.uk/culture/boo...

theguardian.com/books/2015/...

theguardian.com/commentisfr...

theage.com.au/entertainment...

[janers]

Thank you for your post. I'm going to try the tricks you guys are talking about! I've also read the majority of dopamine is also made in the gut. It seems we should have enough even if the substantia nigra for whatever weird reason isn't working right

[lockington2]

The man with PD 33 years to whom Norman Doidge is referring is John Pepper, who has posted several times in the last week. It's his discipline I'm following.

[christos_k in reply to lockington2]

Could you please share with us your progress so far?

Thank you.

[lockington2]

As John Pepper recommends, I'm walking 7.5 k in an hour every second day aimed at keeping my heart bpm above 130, which I achieve - I feel better, look better - not taking any medication - still have no significant symptoms - my diagnosis came as a result of a brain scan which showed depleted dopamine.

I have no way to determine the long term impact of the walking, but its short term seems good so I'll continue as long as I'm able. It is important to stay in the present when you're walking - no headphones or treadmill - one of the purposes is to reset the connections in you brain and you do this by focusing on the actions of walking.