1. Brain-engaging exercise
The importance of regular exercise in slowing Parkinson's disease is widely acknowledged. 'Novel' exercises with a degree of unpredictability that engage both the brain and body in the learning process, have been shown to offer additional benefits. Activities such as boxing, table tennis, and dance can challenge motor skills, balance, and cognitive processing simultaneously, creating a dynamic and beneficial workout for both the brain and the body. Also, exercise has shown to be 1.5x more effective than medications when it comes to treating depression, and other mental health disorders such as anxiety and stress.The problem is, many people with Parkinson’s experience fatigue and low energy, creating a barrier to regular exercise. Here are some tips:
- It’s important not to overdo it - find what works for you and do activities that you enjoy.
- Schedule your exercise in the same way you would plan to take your medications. Aim for a time of day when you have higher energy levels.
- Exercising with others can also increase motivation and accountability. Many PD associations offer local activity groups. These can be a great way to connect with the community at the same time you get fit. Get in touch with your association or check out some of the free online PD exercise classes offered by U-Turn Parkinson’s and other organisations.
2. Light Therapy
Infrared and red-light therapy, sometimes also known as photobiomodulation, is a medicine-free, painless and easy at-home treatment for Parkinson's. In fact, light therapy for Parkinson's was one of the latest scientific breakthroughs presented at the 2023 World Parkinson’s Congress in Barcelona. ThePDCare laser by SYMBYX is the world’s first and only medically approved* laser specifically for Parkinson’s disease. This handheld laser targets safe dosages of infrared light onto your gut and vagus nerve to stimulate positive biochemical changes, such as more cellular energy production. This then reduces pain and inflammation, encourages the integrity of the gut lining (reducing leaky gut), strengthens the gut-brain connection and promotes dopamine signalling.To incorporate this into your routine, simply apply the PDCare laser across your abdomen area and back of neck, 3x per week for 20 minutes per session. After 10-12 weeks of use, laser light therapy has been shown in clinical trials and from customer experience to improve balance, walking, stiffness, sleep, digestion, mood, energy, sense of smell and tremor.*CE and ARTG listed for Parkinson’s symptoms.
3. Antioxidant-Rich Nutrition
It’s now well-established that Parkinson’s may originate in the gut.Constipation affects 70-80% of people with Parkinson's.In fact, for many people, they can experience constipation for a decade or more before developing the classic signs of stiffness, slowness and tremor.An unhealthy gut microbiome(the trillions of bacteria and other organisms that live in your gut and play a really important role for your health) has also been closely linked with Parkinson's disease, and directly affects dopamine in the brain. This was an important discovery, as PD is characterised by a loss of dopamine. This is why a balanced diet is so important. Here is what to include in your diet:
- Antioxidant-rich foods, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, is important.
- High-quality protein sources and healthy fats like non-fried oily fish, avocados and olive oil also support brain and nerve health.
- Fibre for helping regulate bowel movements and supporting a healthy gut microbiome. In fact, butyrate, which is broken down from fibre, has been shown to be particularly protective for brain dopamine levels.
Of course, then there’s also avoiding unhealthyfood; things like soft drinks and fried food. There also appears to be a link between certain pesticides and Parkinson’s. Therefore, it’s also good to consider where your food sources are coming from, and what farming practices they’ve been using.
We recommend Dr. Laurie Mischley’s MVP study for more information on Parkinson’s disease progression. She also has some useful resources on nutrition and supplementation.
