Author: manabunnow4zph

1. September 2016: Five years no medications. Parkinson’s improving. How I had gone for 5 years without meds and was doing well using exercise and yoga
2. January 2017: Wholistic (or holistic) how different PWPs approach their treatment.
3. October 2018: Shifting the Parkinson’s disease
   mindset.

This is Chris’ fourth appearance as a guest on the radio show.  He stills hold to his beliefs.  Below I have posted a summary he provided us of his experience to date. 

1. EXERCISE. EXERCISE, EXERCISE. I cannot exercise as hard as I did before. Gradually I had to walk more and jog less. Could only 3 – 4 miles.
2. More convinced than ever that MINDSET/ATTITUDE is the key, PARKINSON’S IS A CHALLENGE, NOT A CURSE.  When I was formally diagnosed, I was 70 years old. Life expectancy for me was 84.1. Well, now I’m 82.4. In a year and a half, I will have reached my life expectancy.
3. YOGA remains critical.
4. WAIT UNTIL you really must take Levodopa. Levodopa induced dyskinesia (LID) is a real deal and can be disabling. Google it on YouTube. 

• Let’s look at my life since we last met, year by year.

2018 – I shot a video titled So High So Low for the “I HAD A DREAM PROJECT” where I hiked a three mile walk trail and climbed a thousand feet. 

Link: https://www.ihadadreamproject.com/i-had-a-dream-project-videos 

That year I also went to Uganda to demonstrate the practices I used to manage so long without meds. (Robert, this is quite a tale, plus I have pictures.)

• 2019 – After directing the local Parkinson’s support group, I resigned so new blood could take over.

BUT: New symptoms emerged that I didn’t know about:

1. Anomia: a language specific disturbance arising after brain damage whose main symptom is the inability of retrieving known words. But it’s not dementia!
2. Pseudo Bulbar Affect Crying or laughing excessively upon feeling any deep feeling.
3. Dysphagia: difficulty or discomfort in swallowing as a symptom of disease. It starts out with mucus as postnasal drip. Get to an OT!
4. Oily, flakey skin
5. Sleep disturbances. Fall into deep sleep in the middle of the day. And then don’t sleep well at night.
6. Pain in bed at night. Interfered with sleep.

• 2020 – It was a remarkable and horrific year. PANDEMIC!

No more yoga classes! No gym with weightlifting. Social interaction approached zero. 

• 2021 – Then, a condition worse than Parkinson’s emerged: Major Depression.

March 2021 – Fell and shattered right knee – 16 days in hospital.

July 2021 – Fell and broke my right hip.

August – Severe depression, I became suicidal.

September – Chose to have a course of electro-convulsive therapy (ECT)

October- It worked, and my PD improved a lot.

The falls were due to the antidepressant I was taking may increase fall for people with Parkinsons.

LESSON: Make sure you MD goes through all meds in case a med might make falling more likely

My story with Depression

Family history is strong.

Parkinson’s did not cause my suicidal depression, genetics and environment did.  Antidepressant medication failed to work and led to my falls!

2022 – I returned to my new normal. And that’s where I am today. I just have more symptoms and feel weaker.

I followed up with PWPs who I have advised in the past.

It became clear to me: I want to coach people with PD. 

I HAVE A LOT TO OFFER!

Teach PWPs how to become a “Bad Ass with PD.” 

No more withdrawal and depression.

My PD website: www.makemostofpd.com  

Robert, I want to come back with a program I have just developed to make being a person with PD and their caregiver have a better relationship. 

New website www.the-kindness-dialogue.com 

Robert Rodgers PhD

I personally find the argument Stephen Fowkes puts forth in this clip of my interview with him compelling. Many persons I have interviewed over the years are literally stuck “in the mud”, attempting to decide which therapies offer the promise of relief but unable to decide which one to pursue. One option after another are offered, but none seem plausible enough to act on.

Does this by any chance describe you? It does most people. The one criticism of Parkinsons Recovery has been that people become overwhelmed by the many viable choices are tendered that offer the promise of symptom relief. There are too many choices to filter through, so no action is taken.

Stephen makes a compelling argument that the people who have successful recoveries are those that take action on something. He even goes so far as to say it does not really matter what options are embraced. The secret to recovery is to take full control over your recovery program. So Stephen simply recommends that you act, do not hesitate. Take the steps your intuition informs are right for you in the moment. In doing so, you will celebrate symptom relief down the line and lead a full, productive long life.

Are you struggling with short term or long term memory? I have formulated powerful solutions to these challenges many persons with Parkinson’s symptoms confront.

The number of new and innovative therapies that improve memory and thinking has skyrocketed these past few years. Many of them you have likely never even heard about because they are so new.

There is no doubt about it. Recent research revelations are transforming how memory issues associated with Alzheimer’s can be successfully treated.

I warmly invite you to enroll in my new online course, Road to Recovery from Alzheimers. If you are confronting memory challenges, the classes posted in my new online course offer the opportunity to sharpen memory and support clear thinking.

The classes are for everyone confronting mental difficulties – not just persons with a formal diagnosis of Alzheimers.

Innovative approaches, natural therapies and dietary recommendations are all presented that nurture memory and support clear thinking. All recommendations are grounded in evidence based research findings.

Click on the link to enroll.  You have the rare opportunity to choose the course tuition you wish to pay

https://www.parkinsonsrecovery.org/offers/S6LeCHqL

Robert Rodgers PhD

Is a problematic symptom for you involve mobility challenges? Has rock solid walking become difficult? The new Vielight X – Plus 3 device may offer the support you need to transform wobbly walking to rock solid.

The Vielight X-Plus 3 device has four components: A head module, a body module and the nasal applicator. The information below was obtained from the Vielight.com website.

Head Module

The Head Module stimulates the cerebellum. Although the cerebellum accounts for approximately 10% of the brain’s volume, it has approximately  50% of all neurons in the brain.

The cerebellum is involved in the following functions:

Maintenance of balance and posture. The cerebellum is responsible for making postural adjustments to maintain balance. It modulates commands to motor neurons to compensate for shifts in body position or changes in load upon muscles.

Coordination of voluntary movements. Most movements are composed of different muscle groups acting together in a temporally coordinated fashion. One major function of the cerebellum is to coordinate the timing and force of these different muscle groups to produce fluid limb or body movements.

Motor learning. The cerebellum is important for motor learning. The cerebellum plays a major role in adapting and fine-tuning motor programs to make accurate movements through a trial-and-error process.

Body Module

Featured in a Vielight  COVID-19 study, the body module can be used to stimulate the thymus gland to aid immune function and response. It can also be positioned over joints and certain body parts, such as the shoulder or knees, to provide anti-inflammatory relief.

Intranasal Applicator

The Intranasal Applicator is designed to improve oxygenation which  leads to increased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels in various tissues.

Light energy absorbed by blood through the intranasal applicator  leads to an increase in nitric oxide release.

Nitric oxide is one of the most important factors affecting microcirculation. This leads to increases in vasodilation which contributes to improved oxygen delivery to tissues.

Summary

I have no hesitation in recommending the X-Plus 3 Vielight device to be considered to address mobility challenges in particular. The company is so confident in their devices that they encourage users to use their devices for up to 6 months. If you do not receive the benefit you need, return the used device Vielight for a 80% refund.

The company also offers a 10% discount to members of the Parkinsons Recovery community. Coupon code is healing4me if you order on line. if you call to order, just claim your 10% discount by indicating you were referred by Parkinsons Recovery. The Vielight order page link is below:

X-Plus 3 (Brain Systemic)

The most important research discovery of the decade … There is a significant connection between diabetes and Parkinson’s

Are you tired all the time. Do you usually have little energy?

The breakdown of glucose synthesis may well be the reason. Metabolically, insulin receptors play a key role in the regulation of glucose homeostasis, Insulin signaling controls access to blood glucose in body cells.

Do you typically feel better in the morning before you have had something to eat? This is a clue that you may be susceptible to insulin resistance. Fasting over night means that is a 12 hour or more period you have not eaten anything. This is the condition needed by the body for the liver to manufacture ketones. Before eating anything in the morning. your brain is being efficiently fueled by ketones rather than glucose which is the by product of eating anything.

Epidemiological evidence and experimental data support the interaction between Parkinson’s and diabetes. Treatments for diabetes show promising neuro-protective results in PD patients for both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Therefore, the role of anti-diabetic treatments for Parkinson’s patients offers a promising therapeutic approach.

Ask your self – why are so many persons diagnosed with neurological conditions so thin? A logical reason is that when they eat, their symptoms worsen, so they do not eat regularly

Studies that find the connection between diabetes and Parkinson’s

Mov Disord. 2022 Aug;37(8):1612-1623. The Impact of Type 2 Diabetes in Parkinson’s Disease. Dilan Athauda, James Evans, Anna Wernick, Gurvir Virdi, Minee L Choi, Michael Lawton, Nirosen Vijiaratnam, Christine Girges, Yoav Ben-Shlomo, Khalida Ismail, Huw Morris, Donald Grosset, Thomas Foltynie, Sonia Gandhi 

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is an established risk factor for developing Parkinson’s disease (PD), but its effect on disease progression is not well understood.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of T2DM on aspects of disease progression in PD.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Tracking Parkinson’s study to examine the effects of comorbid T2DM on PD progression and quality of life by comparing symptom severity scores assessing a range of motor and nonmotor symptoms.

Results: We identified 167 (8.7%) patients with PD and T2DM (PD + T2DM) and 1763 (91.3%) patients with PD without T2DM (PD). After controlling for confounders, patients with Type 2 Diabetes had more severe motor symptoms, as assessed by Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, Part III (25.8 [0.9] vs. 22.5 [0.3] P = 0.002), and nonmotor symptoms, as assessed by Non-Motor Symptoms Scale total (38.4 [2.5] vs. 31.8 [0.7] P < 0.001), and were significantly more likely to report loss of independence (odds ratio, 2.08; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.34-3.25; P = 0.001) and depression (odds ratio, 1.62; CI: 1.10-2.39; P = 0.015). Furthermore, over time, patients with T2DM had significantly faster motor symptom progression (P = 0.012), developed worse mood symptoms (P = 0.041), and were more likely to develop substantial gait impairment (hazard ratio, 1.55; CI: 1.07-2.23; P = 0.020) and mild cognitive impairment (hazard ratio, 1.7; CI: 1.24-2.51; P = 0.002) compared with the PD group. 

Conclusions: In the largest study to date, T2DM is associated with faster disease progression in Parkinson’s, highlighting an interaction between these two diseases. Because it is a potentially modifiable metabolic state, with multiple peripheral and central targets for intervention, it may represent a target for alleviating parkinsonian symptoms and slowing progression to disability and dementia. 

Mov Disord. 2021 Jun;36(6):1420-1429. Type 2 Diabetes as a Determinant of Parkinson’s Disease Risk and Progression. Harneek Chohan, Konstantin Senkevich, Radhika K Patel, Jonathan P Bestwick, Benjamin M Jacobs, Sara Bandres Ciga, Ziv Gan-Or, Alastair J Noyce 

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are prevalent diseases that affect an aging population. Previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses have explored the relationship between diabetes and the risk of PD, but the results have been conflicting. 

Objective: The objective was to investigate T2DM as a determinant of PD through a meta-analysis of observational and genetic summary data.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies was undertaken by searching 6 databases. We selected the highest-quality studies investigating the association of T2DM with PD risk and progression. We then used Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the causal effects of genetic liability toward T2DM on PD risk and progression, using summary data derived from genome-wide association studies.

Results: In the observational part of the study, pooled effect estimates showed that T2DM was associated with an increased risk of PD (odds ratio [OR] 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-1.36), and there was some evidence that T2DM was associated with faster progression of motor symptoms (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.55, 95% CI 0.39-0.72) and cognitive decline (SMD -0.92, 95% CI -1.50 to -0.34). Using MR, we found supportive evidence for a causal effect of diabetes on PD risk (inverse-variance weighted method [IVW] OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.02-1.14; P = 0.010) and some evidence of an effect on motor progression (IVW OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01-1.20; P = 0.032) but not on cognitive progression.

Conclusions: Using meta-analyses of traditional observational studies and genetic data, we observed convincing evidence for an effect of T2DM on PD risk and new evidence to support a role in PD progression.

My research efforts identify recently invented or formulated products that show promise in helping to reverse symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The CBD Therapy previewed in this post is just that – a new formulation that I think is worth seriously considering. It is called 10xPure Gold Super 1500 CBDa oil.

This formulation is a significant improvement over traditional CBD oils. It has been formulated to have 10 times the penetration and potency of other CBD products. This means you should be able to take fewer drops and spend less to celebrate symptom relief.

Once you purchase from CTFO as I have, you become an “affiliate” of the company. It is a direct sales company – not a MLM.

CTFO conducts laboratory testing on all of their samples to insure that the contents are organic and the concentrations match what is advertised. All laboratory testing is available for inspection. If a CBDa bottle is advertised to contain 450 mg of CBAa , you can be assured it does. When they advertise it is organic, you can rest assured it is.

I have no hesitation recommending this company. They generously extend a 100% money back guarantee if the product does not offer the symptom relief you seek. You only need to return the empty bottle within 60 days and your purchase price will be refunded.

There is no risk in trying this therapy out to see if it offers relief from your symptoms.

Watch the videos about 10X Pure Gold 1500 CBDa on the CTFO website by clicking on the secure link below:

https://parkinsonsrecovery.myctfo.com/product_details.html?productcode=super1500

I recommend this option because it offers the greatest concentration of CBD (450 mg) at the best price per mg. This means you will benefit from needing to take less to celebrate symptom relief.

Check out the research on CBD oil and Parkinson’s. You will be impressed with the number of studies reporting positive outcomes for symptoms of Parklnson’s disease alone.

What is CBD Oil?

CBD stands for “cannabinoid oil”. It is extracted from either the Hemp plant or Marijuana. CBD allows for the benefits of medical marijuana without the high that is associated with THC. As such, CBD in itself has no psychedelic properties and is generally considered safe for consumption. It is legal in the United States and many other countries as well.

CBD Side Effects

Studies of cannabidiol (CBD) report it is well-tolerated but may cause tiredness, diarrhea or change appetites.

Have You Already Tried CBD But Were Disappointed with the Outcome?

Know that no therapy – including CBD – will necessarily offer relief from your symptoms. Everyone has a unique body with a unique set of needs.

I have drawn the conclusion, however, that more people experience relief from their symptoms taking CBD than do not. In light of the now extensive research evidence, I have no hesitation in recommending CBD as a viable option.

There are two reasons why you might have not experienced the outcomes expected from taking CBD oil.

• A first explanation for why some people do not experience symptom relief is that the concentration of CBD oil they took was insufficient. Research using patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease find that subjects who took a minimum of 300 mg showed improvement. Subjects treated with 75 mg showed no improvement.
• A second possible explanation is that the concentration of CBD taken was less than the concentration advertised. Because there are millions of dollars to be made selling CBD which is now legal,  many overnight companies have surfaced. Some are legitimate. Others are not. A CBD product can be listed as having a 100 mg concentration of CBD (which is a low concentration) but the actual bottle contains only 25 mg or less. As a promising new health discovery, many fly by night companies have seized the opportunity to make a quick profit by selling a product that contains little of what is advertised.

Which CTFO Products Should You Try?

CTFO continues to formulate new products that all contain their patented form of cannabinoid oil. Among the many options available I recommend that you consider getting the 10X 1500 Pure Full Spectrum CBDa oil drops. Below is the description that I copied from the CTFO website. The highest dosage (450 mg) offers the best value.

“This supercharged Full Spectrum CBD oil is hydrophilic, making it easily absorbed into the body. It provides accelerated, increased absorption and potency and acts as an anti-bacterial and prebiotic. CBD has been known to support healthy blood sugar levels, promote healthy energy levels, relieve anxiety, aid in digestion, support optimal immune function and the regeneration of healthy cells, and promote a sense of serenity and overall well-being.”

Visit the page below to watch videos about CBDa and the 10xPure Gold CBD product:
https://parkinsonsrecovery.myctfo.com/product_details.html?productcode=super1500

I have created a new way for you to connect with one another 24/7. Up until now – the only opportunity to connect has been the last Sunday of the month. Now – you can connect with me and others every day. I plan on connecting into the forum around noon (pacific time) on weekdays.

Parkinsons Recovery Support Group Forum

If you are already enrolled in any of my classes on Kajabi – you already have instant access to the Forum. You will see it listed on your course page.

You may need to register with Kajabi which involves providing your email and setting a password. Access to the forum is free. Here is the link to do so:

https://www.parkinsonsrecovery.org/offers/2mdKUTp5

Since this is new – there may be no one on the forum when you connect. This will change as more people learn about it!

Robert