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I received this thin but informative book recently – it’s only 70 small-sized pages, 20 of which are the bibliography. The author, Dr. Denis Hochstrasser, is a doctor and researcher as well as someone with Parkinson’s disease.
The book aims to give the reader an overview of how Parkinson’s works in the body, and what the PwP (Person with Parkinson’s) can do about it. What especially interested me were the following:
1. I’m slowly-but-surely catching on to the way scientists hone in on the relation between the brain and the stomach. It appears that for some people, PD blossoms on its own in the brain, while for others it begins in the stomach and then travels to the brain via the vagus nerve. (Note: Here’s how Wikipedia defines the vagus nerve: The vagus nerve, also known as the tenth cranial nerve (CN X), plays a crucial role in the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for regulating involuntary functions within the human body. This nerve carries both sensory and motor fibers and serves as a major pathway that connects the brain to various organs, including the heart, lungs, and digestive tract. As a key part of the parasympathetic nervous system, the vagus nerve helps regulate essential involuntary functions like heart rate, breathing, and digestion. By controlling these processes, the vagus nerve contributes to the body’s “rest and digest” response, helping to calm the body after stress, lower heart rate, improve digestion, and maintain homeostasis.)
2. The book mentioned this interesting question: Is PD “linked to occupational stress – executives suffer more from PD than the general population – and/or to junk food?”
3. One way to achieve a healthier gut is through “fecal microbiota transplantation.” Again, Wikipeda makes sure you have the correct understanding: “Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT), also known as a stool transplant,[2] is the process of transferring fecal bacteria and other microbes from a healthy individual into another individual.” One benefit of this for PwPs is that it relieves constipation.
4. Fasting may help someone with PD. To quote from the book: “Fasting: What impact does it have on PD? It is probably multifaceted, and may act at both intestinal and neuronal levels. Fasting modifies the microbiota, among other things, by limiting the inflammatory bacterial populations that feed on sugar. When food is resumed after fasting, it is then possible to select the growth of new families of bacteria, by choosing an appropriate diet. It’s a kind of ‘digestive reset.’”
5. On meditation: “The practice of meditation is beneficial not only for its action in stimulating the ‘brain-derived neurotrophic factor,’ but also for feeling well-being in the body.” The book emphasizes getting plenty of physical exercise, but promotes meditation as a physical supplement.
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On the same weekend I was reading this book, I was entralled by the below YouTube video, which is comprehensive and easy to understand. I found so many overlaps betweeen the book and the video I’ll include it here.
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And now I’m off to the gym!
