Researchers claim to have found the cause... - Cure Parkinson's

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Researchers claim to have found the cause of PD

LeharLover62 profile image
28 Replies

Did anyone see this research yet?

The claim is that Mitochondrial damage is the root cause of human Parkinsonism not an effect, and that we didn’t know that for certain prior to this study:

news.feinberg.northwestern....

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LeharLover62 profile image
LeharLover62
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28 Replies
LeharLover62 profile image
LeharLover62

“The development of effective therapies to slow or stop Parkinson’s disease progression requires scientists know what causes it,” said lead study author D. James Surmeier, PhD, chair and Nathan Smith Davis professor of Neuroscience. “This is the first time there has been definitive evidence that injury to mitochondria in dopamine-releasing neurons is enough to cause a human-like parkinsonism in a mouse.

jeffreyn profile image
jeffreyn

As park_bear said in an earlier thread:

"They showed in a mouse model that damaging mitochondria results in Parkinson's symptoms."

healthunlocked.com/cure-par...

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson

It is an article written by the person responsible for puffing up the work done by the school which means it cannot be taken literally or for that matter seriously. "... researchers at Northwestern University express confidence that they've found the cause of PD" Oh, please.

chartist profile image
chartist

Melatonin is produced in every single mitochondria in the body and melatonin is a potent radical scavenger of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS).

Mitochondria produce a tremendous amount of ROS as part of their normal function and having melatonin produced in the mitochondria puts the potent antioxidant, melatonin and its metabolites right in the mitochondria where they can potentially neutralize ROS before it has a chance to do significant damage.

Unfortunately, melatonin production declines with age and even more so in PD. PD is an age related disease that seems to increase with the decline of melatonin in the body. By age 50, melatonin production has very significantly declined to a level similar to an infant, which is very low.

Art

fondrees profile image
fondrees in reply to chartist

so true, the more research they do on melatonin, the more they find its efficacy in helping a myriad of conditions. a tremendous anti aging benefit. i know a Dr. that takes something like30 mgs a day!

chartist profile image
chartist in reply to fondrees

I take 120 mg+ per night of melatonin.

Art

Smittybear7 profile image
Smittybear7 in reply to chartist

How much melatonin do you need? How do you know how much to use? Where can you get it?

chartist profile image
chartist in reply to Smittybear7

I don't know if it is known how much melatonin is needed, but I am actively trying to fight a disease and in animal studies where they are trying to fight a health issue, the human converted dose used, begins right at about the dose I use, plus because CVD is increased in my disease as it is in PD, I am counting on HDM to try and counter that effect, which melatonin is noted for in many studies..

Art

kaypeeoh profile image
kaypeeoh

Experts make their own claims as to the root cause of PD. Dr Shalenburger says mitochondrial disfunction is the root cause and cites cases where ozone given IV restored mitochondrial function. Just a few days ago someone showed that PD is caused by vascular disfunction causing the BBB to leak dopamine into the blood stream but can be treated by blocking a chemical called DDD-1 that causes BBB leakage. It is treated by an older cancer drup, nilotinib. It stops BBB leakage thereby restoring brain levels of dopamine. I'm hoping to try it.

fondrees profile image
fondrees in reply to kaypeeoh

thats very exciting.

Smittybear7 profile image
Smittybear7 in reply to kaypeeoh

Please keep us posted. Are you in a trial group?

kaypeeoh profile image
kaypeeoh in reply to Smittybear7

I'm not in a trial group but still interested. I ask at every checkup.

fondrees profile image
fondrees

so, what causes the mitochondria damage? toxins in the environment? trans fats? toxic seed oils in almost every prodessed food.? so called safe pesticides like round up? genetis? vaccines? 5g? all of the above? and whats their answer? mitoQ? ubiquinal? pqq? hydroginated water? ala? coq10?

chartist profile image
chartist in reply to fondrees

My opinion is that intake of toxins of many types such as pesticides or heavy metals and from many sources, cause increased excess oxidative stress levels which causes damage if not neutralized in a timely manner. When we are younger, mitochondria, the gut, brain and other areas of the body produce plenty of melatonin to neutralize these damaging radicals through multiple means and pathways and by upregulating the bodies own natural antioxidant and radical scavenging systems, before these radicals such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are able to do excessive damage to cells, the dopaminergic system and mitochondria among others.

Unfortunately, with the age related decline of melatonin production in many critical areas of the body, the onset of age related diseases increase as does the rate of progression. PD is an age related disease with age being the largest risk factor for development and progression of the disease.

I wrote briefly about this here:

healthunlocked.com/cure-par...

This has a potentially very close relationship with gut dysbiosis related to decreased production of melatonin, melatonin receptors and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the gut with aging. Gut dysbiosis seems to be very common in PD, whether the patient realizes it or not. Studies show that small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or SIBO is seen in approximately 50% +/- of PwP depending on the studies you reference. This is a more extreme form of gut dysbiosis.

Often times, PwP will relate having digestive disturbances many years before they are diagnosed with PD or show common PD symptoms. Melatonin, melatonin receptors and SCFAs work together to help maintain gut homeostasis via improving the mucosal barrier, protecting the epithelial cells, maintaining tight junctions below the mucosal barrier, inhibiting or preventing gut permeability (a highly inflammatory process) and ameliorating excess oxidative stress and inflammation in the gut, but with the age related decline of melatonin, melatonin receptors and SCFAs production, this protective group reaches a tipping point where it is no longer able to fully ameliorate this destructive process. This becomes apparent with the development of disease symptoms, progression of the disease as the decline in melatonin, melatonin receptors, SCFAs and SCFA producing bacteria continue to decline in the gut, with aging.

Art

Smittybear7 profile image
Smittybear7 in reply to chartist

What test identifies intestinal issues? My PCP will not order a stool analysis test or a hormone test. Any ideas where I can get that done? Thanks for your help

chartist profile image
chartist in reply to Smittybear7

I think you would have to get a referral to a gastroenterologist for testing of the nature that you seek.

Art

gomelgo profile image
gomelgo in reply to chartist

Or from a functional medicine practitioner ... also, COVID could be a cause as well I think. xcontent.iospress.com/articl...

LAJ12345 profile image
LAJ12345

Eating a healthy diet, eliminating pesticides, other toxins, food allergies, parasites, fungal and bacterial infections, reducing stress, sleeping well and exercising will also help save the mitochondria. And red light therapy.

Ari Whitten has lots of podcasts on preventing mitochondrial damage and restoring their function on Energyblueprint.com

kommandokate profile image
kommandokate in reply to LAJ12345

What is red light therapy? What does it do? And how ? How do you get them?

LAJ12345 profile image
LAJ12345 in reply to kommandokate

Here is an earlier post on the coronet which is one product and the one we use.healthunlocked.com/cure-par....

VivaceLargo profile image
VivaceLargo

Hi there from South Yorkshire UK.

Research has long focused on restoring mitochondrial dysfunction deep in the brain (substantia Nigra) as one of the root causes of PD

SHEFFIELD university / (SITraN ) Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience in the UK was recently awarded £1.2 Million to develop a mitochondrial rescue drug for PD. ( See link)

parkinsonslife.eu/award-for...

The phase 2and 3 clinical drug trials globally of GLP-1 agonists (like exenatide)are targeting Glycolysis in the brain & mitochondrial function.

Also as an example, red light therapy in observational studies target the mitochondria in the peripheral vasculature, supercharging their function, with the theory that they then travel like ambulances into diseased areas of the body.

The other root cause being investigated is why the nerve cells can’t get rid of the toxic build up of waste products like alpha synuclein. ( This is Lysosomal dysfunction ) Lewy body structures result and nerve cells die. This is also the biochemical pathway behind dementia. Monoclonal antibodies are being developed to target this pathway.

What causes the mitochondrial or lysosomal dysfunction in the first place is, of course, the enigma.

jeffreyn profile image
jeffreyn in reply to VivaceLargo

Hi there from Melbourne, Australia.

I see from your profile that you are a scientist. Are you able to share with us what branch of science you work in?

Thanks,

Jeff

VivaceLargo profile image
VivaceLargo in reply to jeffreyn

Good morning Jeff in Melbourne. Biological Sciences originally, ( R & D, QA labs ) then Pharma - various roles until 2005. Now retired. How about you?

jeffreyn profile image
jeffreyn in reply to VivaceLargo

Thanks for the background information. We have a few scientists (current and former) on the forum. They are fairly regular contributors, so I am sure you will bump into them soon enough.

My background is in electrical engineering and computer science (including research). Not the right kind of science to have any insights to share on the forum. I'm also now retired.

VivaceLargo profile image
VivaceLargo in reply to jeffreyn

febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.co...

Thought you might find this interesting. Publication from SITraN and NIHR Sheffield biomedical research centre continuing the theme of mitochondrial dysfunction in familial and sporadic (idiopathic) PD (inherited or no known cause)

All the best

jeffmayer profile image
jeffmayer

Fat lot of help when you have already got it

VivaceLargo profile image
VivaceLargo

Of interest.....

febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.co...

Publication from Sheffield SITRaN and NIHR Sheffield biomedical research continuing the theme of mitochondrial dysfunction in familial (inherited) and sporadic/idiopathic (no known cause) Parkinson’s Disease

robinson621 profile image
robinson621

thank you that was interesting article, and could explain why red light may help

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