Parkinson's disease (PD)

PD is a progressive disease of the nervous system in which, due to a decrease in dopamine synthesis in the thalamus of the brain, neurons become overexcited.

Clinically, PD manifests as tremor in one hand or both hands, increasing muscle stiffness, reduced speed and amplitude of movements in the hands, steps become small, sometimes the patient is "thrown" forward while walking, posture is impaired, speech becomes slurred, the face becomes mask-like, thoughts slow down, and depression, sleep disturbances, and dementia gradually develop.

In addition to psychoneurological symptoms, somatic pathology is also present in the clinic – increased blood pressure, constipation, urinary disorders, and enuresis.

Separately from PD, parkinsonism syndromes are distinguished; the appearance of symptoms in these cases is associated with known brain damage, for example, as a consequence of stroke, traumatic brain injury, intoxication, or drug use. In true Parkinson's disease, obvious causes of neuronal damage cannot be identified.

Therapy for PD has a symptomatic direction – levodopa and carbidopa preparations are prescribed, which increase dopamine concentrations in the cell and prevent its breakdown.

Taking these drugs improves the patient's condition – stiffness decreases, motor function improves, but taking these drugs does not prevent disease progression.

The problem is the need for gradual, as denervation increases, escalation of drug doses; their effect becomes short-term, and with increasing doses, the likelihood of developing side effects increases.

Modern concepts consider PD as an immuno-mitochondrial disease, meaning that inflammation underlies the pathological process; evidence for this includes the detection of elevated synuclein protein in thalamic cells of PD patients. Another confirmation of the inflammatory theory of PD is the reduction in the number of dopaminergic neurons in intestinal inflammation.

PD is also considered a mitochondrial disease; most patients exhibit various types of mitochondrial disorders – a decrease in the number of mitochondria due to increased mitochondrial lysis, resulting in increased levels of free radicals in the blood and increased oxidative stress.

The immuno-mitochondrial concept of PD treatment is based on reducing the level of inflammation in the body and increasing the activity and quality of mitochondria.

The basis of therapy is the ketogenic diet according to the KETOMIT program, which simultaneously addresses several issues – reducing the level of intoxication, normalizing the gut microbiota, and increasing energy production by mitochondria. The use of additional programs of interval hypoxic therapy and hyperoxic oxygenation contributes to enhanced energy production. At the same time, anti-inflammatory and metabolic therapy is prescribed.

Special attention is paid to the processes of detoxification of the body, the removal of toxic products and metals.

Treatment should be started at the earliest manifestations, when the volume of neuronal damage is minimal and it seems that the symptoms resolve on their own. The longer the process lasts and the fewer active mitochondria remain, the more difficult it is to cultivate their pool and increase their activity.

In recent years, the effectiveness of cannabidiol (CBD oil) in the treatment of PD has been demonstrated. The use of oils can reduce motor and mental symptoms of the disease, has no side effects, and does not cause addiction.

More detailed information about systemic approaches to the treatment of Parkinson's disease can be found in the lecture at https://planetamed.ru/novyy-vzglyad-na-patogenez/