Excercise working for me

[Nutleyfrisbee]

I am a 70-year-old Man diagnosed with Parkinsons in October 2024.

The only physical issue is a slight tremor in the left hand.

But I have been hugely anxious; my thinking has been foggy, and I was tired for many years before noticing the tremor. My previous Psychiatrist did not understand the neurology of Parkinson's, so he was treating my anxiety like general anxiety, and it was not effective.

There is so much now being written(many clinical articles )on how the research and Doctors generally are only focused on the Motor symptoms and ignore the non-motor symptoms, which may, in fact, be due to a separate mechanism and potentially treatable now.

I have many articles I can post if you are interested.

Meanwhile, I have spoken with three universities that are conducting clinical trials on exercise as a way to slow the progression of the disease.

They say you must have 120 minutes to 150 minutes a week of cardio with your heart rate at 85% of the calculated Max . to calculate max : 208 - (your age * .7) so for me 208-49=159 Max

So 85% of Max for me is 135 Beats per minute.

I am doing 30-minute Peloton classes 5 days a week, with my Heart rate at 85% of my calculated Max. for 25 of those minutes. So I am getting 125 minutes a week of 85% max cardio. This has helped reduce my anxiety as well. I am also doing Rock Steady Boxing 90 minutes 2x aweek for balance, brain functioning etc.

What do you all think about the Non-Motor symptoms?

And what are people doing to help with those symptoms ?

Pro-Biotics ?

Broccoli Tea. ?

Others ?

[Bolt_Upright]

You might want to read this thread on Lithium for Parkinson's: healthunlocked.com/cure-par...

You can also search posts for lithium and find more info.

I take 30 mg of lithium orotate every morning. It might help PD and is probably cheering me up.

[kaypeeoh in reply to Bolt_Upright]

When this came to the website the first time, I ordered a book on lithium. In the first 30 pages I read that dosage is critical and even slight overdosage would lead to irreparable damage so I quit taking the drug.

[posthinking01]

Hi yes it is said exercise is vital so glad working for you - but don’t overdo it - my hubby is on Vitamin B12 1,000 ug and really helping !

[PalmSprings]

It sounds like you are doing all the right things. I was diagnosed 10 years ago. I’m 65. I feel I have learned so much. I focus on the positives in my life. I don’t have as much on-time as a few years back but I have adjusted my expectations. One main thing I worked on was getting a good night sleep. This sets up my day. I had spent 35 years with terrible insomnia. Anyway, I hope all goes smoothly with you. Cheers

[Adam78]

Albert Wright's broccoli seed tea has helped my non-motor symptoms, may he rest in peace. I do not know if anyone is carrying on his work. resolveparkinsons.org/dedic...

[Lovevirk]

sorry could not get your formula for calculating desired heart rate. What is 208 plz? What is multi placation factor? Like I m 71 , 71*7=it will b -289? Request you to pl clarify. I do support physical exercise. Everyone says that is only medicine.

[MidMoMom in reply to Lovevirk]

The Tanaka formula to calculate maximum heart rate is primarily designed for men and women over age 40 because the traditional 220-age formula tends to have higher errors for older adults.

This MHR formula is 208 – (0.7 × age).

For you 208-(0.7 x 71)=158.3 which is your max.

158.3 x .85=134.555 so your target would be 134 to 135. Hope that helps.

[Lovevirk in reply to MidMoMom]

Thank you so much

[MidMoMom in reply to Lovevirk]

Glad I could help!

[Sailorboy1]

Hi Nutley, I think you’re on the right track with exercise. You might find that as you get fitter, it is harder to reach 135bpm. If that’s what happens to you, you shouldn’t stress about not attaining your target - it could be a sign that you are getting very fit…

I average about 30 hours a week of exercise, but most of it is fun stuff and doesn’t really feel like exercise. Like table tennis and pickleball. The social aspect is great fun and I really look forward to the sessions. I either walk or cycle to the stadia, or to the shops. I’d rather cut my arm off than drive😅. I try to do something gutbusting every week, like an all day hike with plenty of hill climbing (about 1000m to 1500m but can be up to 2000m occasionally). Otherwise a short hill climb of 320m elevation gain in 20 minutes. Just to maintain fitness rather than for PD. I’m 70 also and I find it very hard to get above 130bpm. I also do about 10 minutes of weights and 5 minutes on the rowing machine 4 or 5 times a week.

I’ve been active in the outdoors all my life and it is just second nature to me. I’ve been fortunate.. I’ve never been anxious, depressed or apathetic, and I attribute much of this positivity to physical activity. When I was diagnosed with PD 3 years ago my reaction was “Bummer, well I just have to deal with it”. I heard later from my oldest son that my ex was more upset than I was! It was kinda nice to know she cared🙂.

I’m quite strict with my diet - if it’s not healthy, then it doesn’t go in my shopping cart. Five years ago my GP wanted me to take statins because my cholesterol was a bit high - 5.8. I changed doctors, and got it down to 3.9, mostly through diet. Based on MIND diet but without crap like focaccia bread which is made from white flour. I consume a lot of olive oil, which I believe was instrumental in lowering my triglycerides and LDL. Also lean meat. Venison is relatively cheap here in New Zealand, and is low in saturated fats. Beef, mutton, farm pork - never. Wild pork is good; it has no fat layer. Makes you wonder what the hell the farmers are doing to the squealers. Chicken is ok. When I’m away from home, I just eat whatever is being served: I try not to be a pain in the arse😏. I might have mild constipation about once a year. I eat 3 meals a day, otherwise I lose weight.

Sleep is imperative for me. At least 7 hours a night is non-negotiable, and if necessary I will take a small piece of zopiclone to help me get back to sleep if I got up to pee and my mind is racing.

Good luck with your Parkinson’s journey 👍

[Reetpetitio]

Have you come across the work of Dr John Coleman? Boscoejean just put me onto him recently; he is one of those rare people who reversed and essentially healed his Stage 4 Parkinsons. He is convinced others can too with determination and application and is training people to help them do this. This is an interview with him; lots more info on his website.

youtube.com/watch?v=UPy01lG...(Not working as expected?)