The symptoms of Parkinson's Disease (PD) are caused by the impairment or loss of neurons in the substantia nigra and/or the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. These neurons produce the ‘feel good’ neurotransmitter dopamine. However, this signalling molecule within the brain also plays a central role in our ability to move.
Swedish pharmacologist and neuroscientist Arvid Carlsson discovered in 1957 that dopamine was concentrated in the basal ganglia, the portion of the brain that controls movement. Carlsson found that a deficiency of dopamine in the brain can result in the uncoordinated movements of PD while an excess of the neurotransmitter can cause tics. Basal ganglia depend on dopamine and its dopamine receptors, D1 through 5.
The main therapy for PD is levodopa, also called L-dopa, a precursor to dopamine. Nerve cells use levodopa to make dopamine. L-dopa crosses the protective blood-brain barrier, whereas dopamine cannot. People with PD also lose the nerves that produce norepinephrine. This molecule is central to the control of heart rate, blood pressure and more.
Scientists do not know what causes the dopamine producing cells to die although science points to combination of genetics and environment including exposure to certain toxins. A strong link has been found between PD and exposure to pesticides and herbicides.
RELATED KITS
Sleep is essential to healing and restoring the body and mind. Sleep and wakefulness have been defined as ‘recurring, behaviour states that reflect coordinated changes in the dynamic functional organization of the brain and that optimize physiology, behaviour, and health.”
“Sleep health” is not just the absence of a disorder or deficit, researchers suggest. Rather, promoting sleep health and education about sleep may help prevent imbalance, as with every other aspect of health. The importance of sleep health is highlighted by new research on the glymphatic system of the brain and CNS. Studies show that this system functions mainly during sleep and is largely disengaged during wakefulness. ...
The glymphatic system of the brain was described and named in 2013 by Dr. Maiken Nedergaard, a Danish neuroscientist. The glymphatic system is a "macroscopic waste clearance system that utilizes a unique system of perivascular channels, formed by astroglial cells, to promote efficient elimination of soluble proteins and metabolites from the central nervous system.”
Mitigating our daily exposures to industrial chemicals – from carpet off gas to herbicides in food or tap water and much more – relies on our defences: knowledge (learning, avoiding, choosing non-toxic products, filtration) awareness (political system, lobby efforts), our five senses, our natural abilities to detoxify and eliminate especially through the liver, kidneys, lungs, digestive system and skin.
News of the train derailment in Ohio on Feb. 3, 2023, has again highlighted concerns regarding industrial chemicals. In response, the EPA has issued regular reports from air, water and soil samplings for the area. On Feb. 23, they reported air measurements for certain chemicals and identified elevated levels for acrolein, benzene, vinyl chloride, o-xylene, naphthalene and more.