I’ve had incredible results from fasting, Sauna, cold, plunge, and high intensity interval training.
I sleep completely through the night. My meds are down by less than half of my worst. My overall sense of well-being has improved drastically. I talk as fast as I did before Parkinson’s.
Michael J Fox foundation actually try to synthesize a drug to induce a autophagy. They obviously know that it’s effective and important. Why in the hell don’t stress fasting, and other means to reach autophagy?
This video and others, by the same guy are very good. He simplifies what autophagy is. Remember it takes a while before you may see benefit.
This might be good for a young person who can spare a few pounds however when it gets to the point where the person is prone to losing weight the fasting may result in too much weight loss. I am glad to hear this is effective for you and it seems like a good idea for people who are not already underweight
Intermittent fasting works as well. Eating the same amount of calories in a window of 4-8 hrs of the day. I was not overweight at all. It’s not easy but it’s easier than the pd symptoms
I think the main thing, if you are older, is getting sufficient protein to prevent muscle loss. This can be done with fasting. (But I agree that HIIT might be impossible for more advanced cases.)
MJFF doesn't need to waste their funding to synthesize a drug that will activate autophagy that might come available 10 to 12 years from now provided that testing pans out and its side effects aren't too horrible. The smart molecule melatonin already does it quite well and can upregulate or downregulate autophagy as needed by the body and it is available now, is inexpensive and has an excellent safety profile.
' Autophagy exhibits both a protective mechanism and a damage pathway related to programmed cell death. Because of its “double-edged sword”, autophagy plays an important role in neurological damage and NDDs including AD, PD, HD, OPIDN, and ALS. Melatonin is a neuroendocrine hormone mainly synthesized in the pineal gland and exhibits a wide range of biological functions, such as sleep control, regulating circadian rhythm, immune enhancement, metabolism regulation, antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-tumor effects. It can prevent cell death, reduce inflammation, block calcium channels, etc. In this review, we briefly discuss the neuroprotective role of melatonin against various NDDs via regulating autophagy, which could be a new field for future translational research and clinical studies to discover preventive or therapeutic agents for many NDDs. '
MJFF would then be able to use that funding for something else more important like raises for their two CEOs.
I am a believer that more melatonin is more useful and that is why I take 132 mg per night. It also is a cancer and CVD antagonist.
Take the 5 to 10 mg you can tolerate and get the balance from earlier morning and later afternoon sun exposure, drink orange juice, use red light therapy, increase short chain fatty acid levels as this increases melatonin production, electro acupuncture, drink pineapple juice, bananas, Mediterranean diet, beer, wine and meditation.
These natural means of getting melatonin do not have the negative side effects that some people get from oral melatonin supplements.
' Daylight exposure significantly affected morning melatonin from 25.39 pg/ml to 59.77 pg/ml (P=0.001) and night melatonin were changed from 40.30pg/ml to 34.41pg/ml (P=0.081). Mean score of general health changed 36.31 to 29.89 (P=0.003). Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) showed increase sleepiness and decrease alertness from 3:00 to 7:00 a.m. Sleepiness decreased and alertness increased during 1:00 p.m. and 20:00 p.m. '
The precursors for melatonin are tryptophan and serotonin. In the gut, SCFAs can act to increase melatonin levels, via enterochromaffin cells that produce serotonin and ultimately melatonin, as well as melatonin receptors.
Melatonin can also be produced via infrared light exposure to the mitochondria, from the sun or red light therapy, improving mitochondrial integrity and function, ultimately improving cellular function and protection. Age and lack of IR exposure are detrimental to melatonin production. PD is an age related disease and people in general spend less time outdoors as they age. People with PD generally have lower levels of melatonin than age matched healthy controls.
Exogenous melatonin can also be useful in this respect.
Hi, CHATIST , Interesting , I am suffering from PD for 15 years, I have terrible Tremors & RLS for 18 hrs in a day. I am on a AYUVEDIC medicine , which works for only 6 hrs. I have a drug-resistant PD. AUTOPHAGY, is a good tool for PD. CAN you please , let me have the PATIENTS references , who have corrected PD. I want to implement AUTO PHAYGY using MELATONIN, can you please tell me , how much mg and which make I should take , Please advsie.
Several posters have reported that oral melatonin supplements have exacerbated their RLS, so if that is the case for you, you will have to get all of your melatonin through the the other means that I mentioned. Getting melatonin through these other means seems to prevent any potential side effects. There are many foods that contain melatonin as discussed here :
Hi, Chartist, Thank you for your response. I will include some of the food items suggested by you to increase the melatonin. We are basically,, rice eaters which is a good source of Melatonin. I want to know, how it will Induce AUTOPHAGY, which will be responsible for releasing STEM CELLS from BONE MARROW, which in turn replaces the damaged dopamine-producing neurons in the BRAIN, thereby correcting the PD / reversing the PD. I am seriously considering FASTING to induce AUTOPHAGY, but Ayurveda does not approve of FASTING, as PD tremors are responsible due to GAS, in Ayurveda, it is termed as VAYU present in the body and increases with an empty stomach !!. CAN YOU PLEASE ADVISE on inducing AUTOPHAGY to correct PD Tremor & RLS.
High intensity interval training is one of the best ways to induce autophagy. When I fast for longer periods of time, (not intermittent fasting) my symptoms may increase or may seem worse because I’m am weak. It’s stressful to the body but very good for it at the same time Afterwards you’ll feel amazing. Our hunter gatherers ancestors went long periods of time without food. The longer you fast, the higher rate of autophagy. Longest time currently fasted is 5 days. (i’ve only been fasting for a few months) Day 2 is the worst. Day 4-5 are great. I’ve only fasted for 5 days once, could’ve went longer, but I had a trip I had planned. Good luck.
Hi ,38yroldmale. Thank you very much for the response . I would like to know , your experience about 5 days fasting. Did it help you in improving your condition ??. HOW many days fasting will start showing the results of PD Reversal ?? ANY DATA Available ?? DO you have reference of patients who have reversed PD by AUTOPHIGAY ??
Assuming you are new to fasting, start slow.Start with daily 12 hrs. This is easily achieved overnight, finish dinner by 10.30pm and breakfast at 10.30am. then add an hour every 4 days till you reach 18 hours. This is only to prepare you for prolonged fasting
Once you are able to easily sustain the above as a daily routine, then extend the fast to 24 hours one day per fortnight, then 48 hours once a month, then 72 hours once a month.
Stay sufficiently hydrated. Constantly listen to your body.
Generally ketosis starts at around 16 to 18 hrs of fasting and autophagy peaks at around 72 hrs.
Once you have done a 72+ hrs fasting, you can relax the daily fasting routine if you want to. Maybe 24 hrs fasting twice a week and 72 hours once every 3 months
Ramu. Just so you know, Autophagy is not a cure. I’ve heard it can but don’t know personally people reversing Early PD with autophagy. I believe it can drastically slow down the progression if not stop it. I’m 5 years in and in a lot of ways feel better when was dx. I believe that with what we know right now, PD can be treated more like diabetes. Dopamine instead of Insulin.
I’m on less than 1/2 the meds I was on at my worst. I sleep completely through the night. Brain Fog gone. Depression helped 80-90 percent. Anxiety 90 percent. It takes time. During the extended fast, symptoms may worsen while fasting but improve after. If you can get past day 2, it gets easier. Drink black coffee for energy (also helps autophagy) Mentally day 4-5 was awesome even when your body feels weak.
38yroldmale, Thank you very much for your response with your experience of AUTOPHAGY. I have a reason to believe that AUTOPHAGY may be able to reverse the PD. Please see this link wherein , the DR speaks about, AUTOPHAGY relaeses STEM CELLS from BONE MARROW and fixes the dead cells by replacing them by new cells. So I believe why not it replace the our dopamine dead cells.
Hi,Jay . THANK YOU VERY MUCH . I liked your quote " MODERN AYURVEDIC DOCTORS, DON'T APPROVE OF FASTING ,BECAUSE IT IS BAD FOR THEIR BUSINESS " . I will your refer clippings on and SANSKRIT quote to my AYURVEDIC doctor and ask him , why he is preventing me to go on fasting. HATS OF FOR YOUR KNOWLEGE ON AYURVEDA !!
At least 4 times a week before bed. I sleep like a baby afterwards. Needs to be at least 170 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 19 mins. No longer than 30 min.
Really interested in this topic, glad to see your results and they're encouraging. During my annual visit to the neurologist several months ago I brought up the topic and they were really not very familiar with it, they couldn't suggest a view or critique one way or the other, thus I was somewhat disappointed in them.
Now about your comment, "Why in the hell don’t stress fasting, and other means to reach autophagy?" It may be that the Michael j fox Foundation have become institutionalized and therefore have to have solutions that are "good for business." Understanding and implementing autophagy does not take millions of dollars and lots of expensive professional degrees, publications etc. controlling things for lots of fees, allied professions and expensive lifelong medications and elaborate expensive technologies. You can't make much of a good living when people can do things for themselves. Baby needs a new pair of BMWs and so forth. Do you Brits not have a term of art to refer to this: "blinkered?"
Intermittent fasting, which is not fasting to lose weight or starving yourself, combined with every day mobility exercise and few days weights and strength followed by sauna for 10-15 min (use your own judgement) has sustained me quite well. I also follow Bryan Johnson's blueprint (protocol.bryanjohnson.com/) and use viome (rwrd.io/dsua7zn ) for my complete custom supplements. Sleep andd sun expore has also been essential! On a day with 7-8 hours of sleep the first half of the day I have less dyskinesia and rigidity.
infrared doesn’t need to get that hot. I have a traditional. Infrared heats like a microwave. I don’t know if there is a conversion on temperature but infrared is much lower
There is no conclusive evidence directly linking autophagy to my significant PD symptom improvement. However, it can be important to mention the various elements of my lifestyle that may have contributed to it and the fact that I am now mostly medication-free.
Restoring my vitamin B6 balance, after a tested very serious deficiency, through P5P supplementation has had a positive impact, as vitamin B6 is crucial for various processes in the body, including proper nervous system function.
Spending time outdoors living at home in our caravan and now for one month at a Spanish campsite, exposing myself to sunlight, and enjoying the warmth has also been beneficial. Natural light exposure helps regulate our circadian rhythm and stimulates the production of vitamin D in our bodies.
Reducing stress, following a MIND diet (even if not strictly), practicing a modest intermittent fasting for 12 hours (20h-8h), engaging in exercises such as hikes and walks, and practicing Qi Gong have likely all contributed to my overall well-being and symptom relief.
Regarding the supplements I take, 2 mg of melatonin has helped regulate my sleep-wake cycle, while vitamins B, C, and D are important for various bodily functions. Additionally, magnesium may play a role in muscle and nerve function. As an experiment, I take 50 mg of propionate daily, (Especially for my peripheral neuropathy), but the improvement was already underway, so it's unclear what the exact effect is.
It remains a chicken and egg story; it's unclear what the driving factor is in the chain of improvement. From what I personally heard from Bas Bloem, addressing sleep and constipation problems is crucial. Finally, finding solutions to these issues worked out for me.
It's important to remember that this is a personal experience, and I hope that others can also find some level of improvement by sharing this information.
Thanks for your comment. Of coarse there is no studies on autophagy. Who’s gonna pay for it? I am for one not gonna wait for the corrupt pharmaceutical companies to cure PD. What do you have to lose? Being more healthy? Slimmer? Why would Michael J Fox try to develop a drug to induce autophagy? They have studied HIIT training slows down PD for sure. But also happens to be the best way to induce autophagy? They did a study in mice were they eliminated the ability for the mice to go into autophagy, they died from neurodegenerative disease?
I know my single experience is anecdotal. But 100% is more than placebo. It’s not a cure. Since starting doing this, I sleep completely through the night. When I wake up, I can go for hours without my Parkinsons meds. I could do that just a few months ago. I finally feel like living again.
Autophagy is the body recycling older tissues. When the body is low on glucose it breaks down fat for energy. Again, autophagy at work. The body only stores enough glucose for 24 hours. When glucose is exhausted the body must use fat for energy. HIIT works by quickly using up available glucose. HIIT forces one to work at an extremely high heart rate. Glucose, in the form of glycogen, sits in muscle and liver. Again, there's only enough for a day or so. Then it's stuck burning fat. When running, the body is using a mixture of fat and glucose for energy. Training shifts the curve more towards burning fat and away from burning sugar. But it's never 100% of one or the other. Sauna raises the heart rate high enough that glucose is being burned. Studies show Sauna elevates growth hormone. And probably other hormones like GDNF and substances to aid the recycling efforts.
Again, I'm repeating myself here. When you're sleeping or awake doing nothing your body is burning mostly fat and your heart rate is slow. But get up and run and your heart rate climbs as you're burning glycogen.
I had a cardiac stress-test done. It involved running on a treadmill while hooked up to an EKG. Every few minutes the treadmill would raise the incline to mimic running up a steep hill. Along with the EKG I was breathing into a mask that measured carbon dioxide output. That told what percentage of fat I was burning. At a walk I was burning 10% fat. At a sprint where I was on the verge of falling off, I was burning 90% fat. Marathon runners get together and brag about their resting heart rate. That's because training allows them to burn more fat and less glucose. Training leads to a lower resting heart rate.
The cardiac stress-test was done because while jogging I'd have to stop to vomit, then I could continue running. It showed a decent working-heart and no answer about the vomiting. But further testing found 100% obstruction of the main cardiac artery, the LAD. I had surgery to vacuum out the clot which solved the vomiting issue. This all happened 4 year ago. Since then I was Dx'd with Parkinson's Disease and had to retire. I still run, mostly on a treadmill. I'm 68.
Maybe I am. Autophagy is the body recycling older tissues and and maybe had nothing to do with ketosis. Ketosis is the body using fats for energy because of not having enough glucose available. In the early stages of ketosis the body is wasting sodium. Essentially sodium is being urinated out. But in the later stages of ketosis the body has gotten better at using the sodium and not wasting it so much. Perhaps autophagy is recycling older cells containing sodium? While training for a 50-mile race I went on a low-carb diet. The idea being that without glucose the body must use up body fat for energy. Late in the race I developed muscle cramping all over my body. I had cramping in neck muscles then cramping in my arm muscles then cramping in my leg muscles, I couldn't run but was able to walk and finish the race dead last. Later the cramping didn't stop completely until I'd swallowed a couple liters of gatorade.
Yes, living in the far north the short summers meant I could never fully adapt to running in the summer heat. I ran races where I ran out of electrolytes even drinking gatorade. In those situations what saved me was the race director pouring pure salt into my water bottle.
it took a while, probably months. Lots of times, I actually have to remember how poorly I was doing before. I started videotaping myself, because the benefit is so gradual, even people around you may not notice. However, whenever I see somebody, I haven’t seen in a long time they mentioned on how well I’m doing.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
AUTOPHAGY. An important link to wellness 
Is the answer to Parkinson's that it's a vascular problem?
Intermittent Fasting 16/8 DOESN'T WORK For Humans
