Parkinson's Disease

By SWA

What microorganisms are involved in Parkinson's disease?

These environmental agents include fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Three microorganisms are directly associated with a significantly increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease: the fungal genus Malassezia, the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, and the hepatitis C virus.

Effects on Brain Chemistry

  • Parkinson's disease affects brain chemistry by hindering the body's ability to produce dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.
  • These chemicals are crucial for mood, energy, and motivation, often leading to depression in affected individuals.

Early Symptoms

  • Smaller handwriting: Writing becomes slower, with letters becoming smaller and words crowding together.
  • Tremors
  • Muscle stiffness
  • Slowing of movement
  • Stooped posture
  • Lack of facial expression
  • Decreased arm swing
  • Soft or low voice

Cognitive Effects

  • Initially causes physical symptoms.
  • Later stages involve cognitive issues such as forgetfulness and trouble with concentration.
  • About 4 in 5 people with Parkinson's develop dementia, leading to significant memory loss and difficulties in maintaining relationships.

End Stage Symptoms

  • Severe motor symptoms like muscle stiffness and freezing.
  • Nonmotor symptoms include cognitive changes, depression, and psychosis.

Diagnostic Challenges

  • No simple blood tests for early diagnosis.
  • Recent research indicates Parkinson's may be a group of disorders needing different treatments.
  • New blood test, Mito DNADX, detects mitochondrial damage in nerve cells.

Oxidative Stress

  • Oxidative stress is a significant factor in the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease.

Alzheimer's Disease

Protein Clumps in the Brain

  • Alzheimer's disease involves clumps of two main proteins: beta-amyloid (plaques) and tau (tangles).
  • These clumps are linked to neurodegeneration and are targets for drug development.

Cognitive and Physical Symptoms

  • Cognitive decline is the primary symptom.
  • Respiratory issues such as sleep apnea, shortness of breath, and arrhythmias can develop and worsen with disease progression.

Comparison: Parkinson's vs. Alzheimer's

Protein Involvement

  • Parkinson's Disease: Characterized by Lewy bodies composed of alpha-synuclein protein in movement-related brain areas.
  • Alzheimer's Disease: Characterized by beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles.

Overlapping Mechanisms

  • Both diseases involve microscopic clumps of abnormally modified proteins in the central nervous system.
  • Autopsy studies show a mix of these protein deposits, indicating possible overlapping mechanisms.
  • Research aims to diagnose these diseases earlier and more definitively through cerebrospinal fluid tests, neuroimaging, and other methods.

Note: By reading my blog, you acknowledge that I do not provide medical diagnoses or treatments. The information provided is meant to answer frequently asked questions and is gathered from reputable scientific papers. 

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