I was diagnosed with PD roughly 3yrs ago,and currently on sinemet. Before diagnosis,I have been having brain fog daily but not constant.But after diagnosis and starting treatment,the brain fog seems to have increased.It is worse early in the mornings after waking up.Kindly tell me how you clear your head,if you have been experiencing this symptom.Sometimes sinemet helps with the brain fog but just for a short period,and sometimes,sleeping helps.Could you share with me what other alternatives you use to clear this brain fog if any?Thanks.
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OREOLU
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If you have not yet tried the high dose thiamine therapy, I highly recommend it. Be sure to incorporate the co-factors Magnesium and b-complex especially if you're in the US.
Also, changing the diet to keep the Candida albicans under control may help - that means reducing/removing sugar, processed foods, refined starch, high carbs, glyphosate, etc. Candida albican produces the enzyme thiaminase which in turn inhibits thiamine. C. albicans also produces ethanol through fermentation so this can literally make you feel intoxicated or experience the persistent "brain fog."
Over many possible treatment options, correcting the diet and removing environmental toxins will make the most drastic difference, but this is also the hardest for many. Exercise and avoiding being sedentary is also very important to keep up the mitochondrial functions.
I will try the high dose thiamine therapy with magnesium.I am currently on b-complex,and the low sugar/carb diet sounds reasonable.I do engage in exercises regularly.Thanks for your support.
You're welcome Oreolu. Please also check the B complex label and see if the vitamin are offered in methyl forms. If not, you might be interested in trying a more bio-available b complex formula. Some people are genetically compromised to absorb certain B forms due to impaired methylation. I personally use Pure Encapsulation's B Complex Plus - it is a clean well balanced formulation.
I suffered from horrible brain fog for years and years. My dr encouraged me to try low dose lithium orotate, 5 to 20 mg once a day, and by 2 weeks i was 100% cured of that. I went from feeling like a complete dingbat to getting compliments like im "the smartest person i know" from several people. Good luck!
Thiamine is extremely safe and it is needed as a spark to all energy metabolism. I honestly think you should avoid adding variables and initiate with diet change and thiamine first at least for a while. If you’re a b1 responder, you may experience unpleasant healing reactions before getting better that could take several months.
It is plausible that lithium orotate could be beneficial for those who may have been very deficient in lithium. I tried it when it was hyped a while back but didn’t notice any benefit personally. Trying a low dosage 5-10mg probably won’t hurt as a trace mineral but long term safety profile isn’t well established especially at a higher dose so be sure to thoroughly look out for potential complications and toxicity. For an example, an analogy can be made with Zinc - while it is absolutely crucial for all bodily functions and immune responses, as little as just over 50mg per day can shut down receptors, inhibit other essential minerals, and become toxic.
Hi, I stopped it within in 2 months. I stopped it on my own and I had some nasty symptoms . I think that was a withdrawal from azilect. However it must have been doing something since after stopping it got harder to move for me.
No withdrawal symptoms for my husband. Actually, he is a lot more alert now. It's a shame as it (Azilect) may actually slow down progression. Between two evils. . . We were out from 2:00 p.m. to about 8:00 p.m. this evening shopping, and he was just as energetic as me. Before we left home, he took 1/2 t Sinemet and one MP (Now) capsule and until now 10:15 he hasn't taken any more meds except his vitamins.
In my experience , it takes between 3-4 months for a low carb diet to start showing its positive effects. Once the blood Triglycerides significantly reduced it means we are in the right track.
Again in my experience in treating brain fog:
- Walking in the morning and after dinner every day
Don’t try but one thing at a time. I recommend starting with HDT (High Dose Thiamine) b1. It has to be b1 Thiamine hcl. Once you establish the best dose for you, you may want to add magnesium. Slowly add other supplements. You will never know what is helping if you add more than one at a time. It takes time. I’ve benefited most from the b1 Thiamine hcl. I take 1.5 grams twice a day for a total of 3 grams daily. It really cleared my brain fog and many other symptoms. Good luck.
If you search the internet long enough you will find that all supplements/diets/regimens are a cure for every ailment... And don’t forget that “laughter is the best medicine”!
If you decide to go ahead with HDT/ B-1, here is a link to a page I wrote that will answer many if not all questions you may have regarding HDT/ B-1 just in case you haven't read it yet.
I surely do my fast walking at night.Good time for me,especially with the current outside temp of 45 c=F to 50F. It usually feels very comfortable with the pure cool fresh air.Thanks to you Gymbag.
Age 77 male, 18 months after diagnosis, no drug, 2hrs daily exercise, and ramped-up Thiamine B1 protocol at 1g/day, I also experienced daily waves of fatigue and fuzzy thinking, immediately after breakfast, forcing me to nap 30min daily.
4 months later, at same regimen except ramped up to 3g/day of Thiamine B1, I now experience hardly any fatigue and fuzzy thinking [30min after-lunch siesta still helpful].
Side note: my recent decision to start taking Sinemet, per my journal entry:
11.14.19 START SINEMET carbodopa/levodopa IR [Instant Release, advising against CR [Constant Release] because of its unpredictability] at the lowest dosage of 25/100, 2 to 3/day [I start at 2/day]; based on my American neurologist’s re-assurance that it will improve/rid me of my debilitating fine motor symptoms [hand dexterity, tremor, neck stiffness, etc] with a 95% chance of zero side effects.
my UPDRS*= 20/100 vs 15/100 [+33%] eight months ago
*Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale
Note: Italian neurologist Dr Fancellu concurs with Dr. Costantini’s belief in the positive synergy of Thiamine B1 and Sinemet.
My intent was to simply re-enforce earlier responses about the positive effect of Thiamine B1 upon brain fog. Sorry if I drowned the message with too many details, especially about my start with Sinemet. I was trying to be helpful.
I amicably invite you to reconsider, or discover, the unhelpful nature of your sarcastic response.
"Everyone?" Really? My husband cannot walk more than 15 minutes. Cannot do a treadmill as he'll fall, cannot get up from a seated position without assistance ...
He's 80 and diagnosed approx 2 years ago (started with Lyme Disease).
Probably. Even though full spectrum lyme blood work shows very little Lyme remaining - can be dormant. He did have the DatScan which determined he has Parkinson's Disease (no tremors).
My new Neurologist told me that what I call Brain Fog i.e. confusion, inability to multitask, forgetful in which I had early on wasn't Parkinson's but MSA. 16 years later I'm still kicking, but if what I described isn't brain fog could someone please tell what it is. Thank you. Oh, I noticed my memory, stiffness and hard to walk got way worse cense I fell off of my Low Carb diet.
Staying hydrated can help with brain fog. I haven't read through all the posts so I don't know if it's been mentioned. You can do a 'google'/internet search on dehydration brain fog to learn more
Also, you could be sensitive to gluten & might need to avoid it. Not as serious as being Celiac though Celiacs have to be concerned about cross-contamination.
coQ10 as well as other antioxidants researched for PD seem to help counter drowsiness. However it's biggest help is more energy and strength, especially to exercise.
My 87-year-old husband was diagnosed 7 years ago (after first thinking he had essential tremor). At first, he experienced a lot of episodes of brain fog and bouts of depression/low energy. But he did not want to take medications, so instead we researched much of the literature out there and decided on adopting a diet that is low-carb (no refined sugar)/high fat (avocados, olive oil coconut oils, fish oil, etc.) with supplements (methyl B, D3, magnesium, omega fatty acids, probiotic, etc.) and lots of water. He starts the day with a super smoothie that includes kale, spinach, celery, mixed with raw honey, raw nuts/nut butter, coconut oil and variety of organic protein/green powders along with green juices. (BTW, I adopted the diet, too, and it completely eliminated my pre-diabetic condition.) He mixes his daily exercise (varying intensity)/stretching and meditation with lots of laughter! He ends the day with a few more supplements and rubs magnesium oil on his calves to avoid leg cramps. When he does experience some brain fog (The Fade, we call it), he can almost always identify what brought it on (indulging in bread, pasta, etc. or sitting too much, for example), and we have a checklist of what to do to get out of it, which includes the above routine and, for a quick hit, he loves the Bulletproof Coffee cold brew drinks (avail online or through Amazon). He gets inspired by others who are fighting PD without drugs, such as Howard Shifke's recommendations at (fightingparkinsonsdrugfree..... And he is now working with a doctor who was trained by Dr. Dale Bredesen, author of "The End of Alzheimer's," as there are many connections among a variety of neurological disorders. He still has some tremors, but they don't interfere much with his lifestyle and he prefers to avoid drugs as long as possible. (If the day comes that he wants to, he would consider low-dose sinemet, but he is fighting valiantly to avoid it.) He is active, happy most of the time, and is recording his memories for his family. A former minister, he also occasionally gives a sermon or speaks to local groups on positive aging.
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Before we left home, he took 1/2 t Sinemet and one MP (Now) capsule and until now 10:15 he hasn't taken any more meds except his vitamins.
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