Antioxidants have received a lot of positive press over the last decade or so. They’ve been touted as helping to fight cancer, reduce inflammation, and otherwise help people live healthier lives. Some have made claims that they can help with cognitive disorders, including Parkinson’s disease. But despite a lot of anecdotal evidence that antioxidants can be helpful for managing Parkinson’s symptoms, a team of researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital have shown that antioxidants aren’t all that helpful with this particular disease.
Researchers increased the levels of the metabolite inosine within the brains of those with Parkinson’s symptoms. This elevates the levels of urate within the brain–the key component in the antioxidant that was supposedly helpful for treating Parkinson’s. After two years of study, they found that there was no noticeable change in the brain’s dopamine production levels. One of the key hallmarks of Parkinson’s is the progressively diminished dopamine levels within the brain, which leads to the tremors and shakes that we often associate with the disease.
Right now, there is no known cure for Parkinson’s disease. It is a neurodegenerative disease that progressively gets worse and worse until the individual with the disease passes away. There are things that can be done to slow the spread and help improve the quality of life for the person, though. You can live a happy and healthy life with a Parkinson’s diagnosis for decades. But eventually, things will continue to get worse. That’s just the nature of this disease.
Part of science is trial and error. The fact that this particular route for Parkinson’s disease was not successful does not necessarily mean that no treatments will be successful. There are still many avenues that need to be discovered and explored when it comes to treatment. Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to be one of them. There are some very good Parkinson’s treatments out there, and research like this helps scientists to continue to make new advances. Even though this might seem like a failure, it is actually very helpful when it comes to helping direct the course of future research.
If you have a loved one with Parkinson’s, then you know just how tough this disease can be. You have seen it impact the life of someone that you love and care for. You’ve seen the toll that it takes, both on the person you love and yourself. It can be tough. But you do have options out there. Getting connected with high quality, knowledgeable senior care is one of the best first steps you can take to easing this burden.
Let us know how or if we can help. Here at Paradise In-Home Care, we pride ourselves in customizing the care that we provide to seniors to meet their needs. This means that people with Parkinson’s, or any other health problem, are sure to receive care tailored to their unique circumstances. Feel free to give us a call to get started and get connected to the best care that you can find. It might be a small step, but it might be the biggest one you take toward connecting your family with the care they deserve.
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