Parkinsonβs Disease (PD)is a neurodegenerative disorder that currently has no cure, though there are great advances occurring at increasing speeds.Β Patient with this disorder may have tremors, difficulty walking and dementia. Most of the currently available treatments mask the symptoms to enhance daily quality of life-which is very important both physically and emotionally.
While we wait for the cures, it is paramount that patients do all they can to slow down progression.Β As for many neurologic diseases, lifestyle changes, such as exercise and stress reduction are important.
Diet, in particular, may slow the progression of the disease. According to a Mass general Brigham dietician, a recent focus is on the gut microbiome (all of the microscopic organisms in the digestive system). Research suggests that what you eat (even decades before the symptoms appear) affect brain health.
One prevailing theory is that PD is an inflammatory brain process. This may be why the lowest risk of developing PD is linked to a diet with a very high amount of plant food, such as fruits, whole grains, vegetables and beans. As the gut βbugsβ breakdown plant fibers, they release chemicals that are anti-inflammatory. As you guessed, probiotic foods (such as yogurt and sourdough bread) are beneficial to promote a health gut biome. Β Taking supplemental probiotics may work against you if taken in too large a quantities. Consumption of a good amount of lean protein and lesser amounts of saturated fat are protective as well.
This may sound familiar to the diet proposed for good cardiovascular health.Β It is-because a diet that is good for the vessels in the heart is also good for the vessels in the brain. Interestingly, PD patients need to increase their caloric intake to maintain their weight as they tend to burn more calories even when at rest.
Besides the impact of the food PD patients consume, timing of when you eat certain foods, especially protein, can impact your disease course.Β Many patients are treated with levodopa (Sinemet) to temporarily make movements easier and reduce tremor. Proteins consumed at the same time as the medication is taken can make the drug less effective, reducing absorption from the gut and, ultimately, the amount that reach the brain.Β Generally, the recommendations have been to take levodopa at least an hour before or after eating protein.
Finally, the act of chewing and swallowing can be impaired in patients with PD. This can lead to weight loss because of reduced intake and a risk of choking. Further, because the muscles that move the food through your digestive tract may not work as well, resulting in slowing of emptying your stomach.Β Slowed transit of food out of the stomach results in early satiety (feeling full faster) and less food consumption. Experts recommend eating softer foods that donβt require as much chewing, smaller and more frequent meals, adding smoothies and soups to your diet and drinking plenty of water.
PD patients need to become empowered to maximize their health and avoid complications.Β Attention to what and how they eat and adding exercise to their routine can slow the disease while experts look for a cure.Β BeCare Parkinsonβs can help you monitor your disease to help you pursue the most advantageous strategies if you note progression, such as seeing a nutritionist or a physical medicine doctor and working with your clinician to maximize your medications.
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