chemicals. A gluten-free diet has also been found to improve PD symptoms. Sharlin recommends an antioxidant-


rich diet packed with polyphenols, along with green tea that contains catechins called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a natural antioxidant with neuroprotective properties.


Stress Reduction Anxiety linked to PD can worsen the symptoms,” Gokani points out. Chronic stress is a risk factor for PD, because it elevates the hormone cortisol, which can interfere with neuronal plasticity and damage dopamine- producing neurons in the brain. Incorporating deep breathing, meditation


and other relaxation techniques is integral to improving the patient’s quality of life. According to Sharlin, “Mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques to self-regulate have a positive impact in regulating Parkinsonism.”


New Test to Confirm


Diagnosis When a patient comes to his office exhibiting PD symptoms, Sharlin now has


a new way to confirm a PD diagnosis by taking a small tissue sample and sending it to the lab to look for a neural protein called alpha synuclein, which is associated with PD. In a 2023 National Institutes of Health study involving 428 people with PD and 120 control volunteers, this skin biopsy was found to be very accurate, with 92.7 percent sensitivity.


Deep Brain Stimulation According to Sharlin, deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a well-researched and well-developed treatment for PD. Te surgical therapy involves implanting electrodes within areas of the brain to interrupt irregular signals that cause movement-related symptoms. A 2019 retrospective study of 400 patients that underwent DBS implantation found that 75 percent of the participants felt the procedure provided symptom control. Focused ultrasound is another PD


tool, using ultrasound beams to destroy areas in the brain cells that are causing movement problems. This procedure is permanent and can be done on


only one side of the brain, so it helps symptoms on only one side of the body. Treatment to both sides could cause speech, swallowing or memory problems. Sharlin notes that the results from focused ultrasound are no better than DBS and involve more intense intervention. Also, not all Parkinson’s patients are good candidates for this procedure.


Madiha Saeed is a holistic, functional and integrative doctor in Naperville, IL, and director of education for Documenting Hope and KnoWEwell.


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