Sister needs advice for her Parkinsons

[Kally29]

Sister diagnosed in January 2024. Tremors and weakness are biggest issues and speaking has slowed down. She is on l dopa and Lexapro.

[park_bear]

Does she have any interest in non-prescription interventions?

[LAJ12345]

Did she feel better on the meds or worse? How much does she take of each and when?

[michelagvolpe]

lots of gymnastics, exercises, walking, swimming, dancing (search for ecstatic dance), yoga... eating healthy.

[Fatherof5 in reply to michelagvolpe]

I would agree, exercise/physical activity helps me the most. Perhaps start simply such as going on walks or doing yoga then add activities that may increase your heart rate slightly for a short duration

[StevenOS63]

Tanganil

[00Mark]

LOUD/Silverman voice therapy

[bigl62 in reply to 00Mark]

Have you noticed a big difference in your voice and speech from it. I get very little from speech therapy.

[00Mark in reply to bigl62]

It definitely helps me, although my speech wasn't too bad to start with. There is research that shows Silverman technique works for Parkinson's whereas conventional speech therapy doesn't.Good luck to your sister!

[4000Nights]

This is my message to new arrivals. It is my collected understanding and beliefs since my diagnosis. It has been over thirteen years since I was formally diagnosed and everyone including my wife and Neurologist think I have beaten expectations. I still drive…. I still walk without help… I still work. I am 81 and I am enjoying life… It is important to note that PD is like snowflakes… no two occurrences are exactly alike but there are things to try that work for others that may very well work for you...

1. PD Meds are directed at two distinct objectives:

- Slowing the progression

- Treating the symptoms (tremors, stiffness)

I take Azilect (rasagiline) because it is believed by many (clearly not all) to slow progression. A worldwide, multi- institutional clinical trial of rasagiline ’s potential for neuroprotection was published in 2008 and follow-up data from the original studies has also been examined closely. These results suggest that the use of rasagiline earlier in PD may offer the greatest long-term advantage and modify the symptomatology over time. Rasagiline works best if taken early. I highly recommend it. Again, thirteen years and minimal progression.

I take Carbidopa/levodopa for symptoms and although it has minimal effect on my tremors it has had very positive effects on other symptoms (movement improved and the ‘mask’ is gone).

2. Movement - Exercise is the best treatment for slowing progression, e.g., (shadow boxing, dancing around the house, walking or just getting up from my PC at least once every half hour. Tai Chi (or just moving exaggerated slowness while shifting weight from foot to foot) sometimes with eyes closed preferably in the middle of a big room. Balancing on one foot than the other. Bottom line: you got to move it… move it! Develop an exercise program that works for you and do a little more each week.

3. When you are not moving, exercise your mind - for me, Sudoku and Cryptogram – do them every day.

4. Foods you eat may (some will most likely) exacerbate your condition. I found carbs and gluten make my condition worse. I even switched to a glutton free vodka. It has helped me. I suggest keeping a food log as part of a daily diary.

5. Get a good night sleep and take a nap… PD drains you. You need to recharge! Get your zzzzzz’s.

6. Drink a lot of water regularly through the day. As you age you lose your sense of thirst but not your need especially with meds.

Hope some of this helps!

[Coletteflint in reply to 4000Nights]

Excellent advice. I whole heartedly agree. X

[StevenOS63 in reply to 4000Nights]

Would you have links to the studies on Rasagiline? Dankeschön!

[StevenOS63 in reply to 4000Nights]

ChatGPT:

Rasagiline is a selective MAO-B inhibitor used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. In preclinical studies (e.g. in cell cultures and animal models), rasagiline showed neuroprotective properties that could go beyond its MAO-B inhibition. This is attributed to its anti-apoptotic effect and possible mitochondrial protection mechanisms.

However, a clinically relevant neuroprotective effect in humans has not yet been clearly demonstrated. Although the ADAGIO study, one of the largest studies on this topic, indicated that rasagiline at a dosage of 1 mg/day could possibly have a disease-modifying effect, the results were not consistent throughout. The Olanow criteria for a disease-modifying effect were not fully met, which is why rasagiline is not yet officially classified as neuroprotective.

To summarize:

While preclinical data suggest a neuroprotective effect, this has not been clearly demonstrated in human clinical trials. Rasagiline is therefore primarily used as a symptomatic therapy for Parkinson's disease.