Cause: Damage to brain.

Useful Supplements: Antioxidants, Melatonin, NADH.

Useful Herbs: Ginkgo Biloba.

Nutrients to Avoid: Iron.

Further information: Parkinson’s Disease is a brain disorder which causes muscle spasms and difficulty with movement and coordination. It is among the most common neurological disorders to affect men and women over age 50.
Parkinson’s disease is caused by deterioration of nerve cells in the basal ganglia, the part of the brain responsible for muscle movement. As less dopamine (which is used by neural transmitters) is produced, muscle function is lost.
A common side effect of Parkinson’s Disease is depression, dementia, or other psychological problems.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s include unstable balance, slow movement, difficulty walking, muscle stiffness or rigidity, difficulty initiating movement, muscle tremors, muscle ache, and speech changes.
Treatment for Parkinson’s disease is geared toward controlling symptoms. This can be done using medication that enhances neural transmitters or helps to mask disease symptoms.
While there is no guaranteed prevention for Parkinson’s Disease, some studies show that diets high in animal fat are more common in patients who develop the disorder.¹

The following supplements and herbs may be helpful in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease:

Antioxidants can prevent free radical formation in nerve cells. This may help prevent Parkinson’s Disease.²

Low Melatonin levels may cause the failure of neurotransmitters, leading to Parkinson’s Disease.³ Supplementation may prevent this from occurring.

NADH appears to ease and even dissipate many of the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.⁴

Herbs which encourage neural activity, such as Ginkgo Biloba, may be effective in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease.

Nutrients to avoid: Patients with Parkinson’s Disease should not take Iron supplements, as they appear to increase the rate at which the disease progresses.

References:

¹Logroscino, G., et al. Annals of Neurology, 39: 89-94, January 1996.
²Lohr JB, Browning JA. Free radical involvement in neuropsychiatric illnesses. Psychopharmacol Bull 1995;31:159-65.
³Hardeland, R., Reiter, R., et al. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 17: 347-357, 1993.
⁴Birkmayer, J.G.D., et al. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)--a new therapeutic approach to Parkinson's disease: Comparison of oral and parenteral application. Acta Neurologica Scandinavia 87 (Suppl 146): 32-35, 1993.