Neurologist tells Parkinson’s patients to pay close attention to the drugs they take
The No. 1 subject Parkinson’s disease sufferers have questions about these days is marijuana, a Calgarybased neurologist says.
However, there is no research yet to show any benefits, and anyone who has any cognitive issues should be particularly cautious regarding marijuana because side effects for Parkinson’s sufferers are much higher. Dr. Scott Kraft, who works with a movement disorder program in Calgary, spoke Tuesday evening to Hatters at an event hosted by Parkinson Alberta.
He also said if marijuana has not been grown for medical use in a controlled environment, there is the possibility of contamination from pesticides, and that can cause further problems. If you are choosing to take marijuana, you need to keep your doctor informed.
Small studies that make the headlines with promises of treatment for Parkinson’s disease can have many people demanding answers and requesting whatever treatment that is supposed to help, said Kraft. If you have someone promising a new drug or treatment on social media it is not something to follow up on.
“Dig deeper, don’t just trust everybody,” said Kraft, who also advised looking to see if there is a conflict of interest. Ask whether the person promoting something is in someway profiting from it.
There is no reward for not taking medicine that could slow down or halt the progression of Parkinson disease, said Kraft.
But there is a huge benefit to physical exercise, which might provide protection, and there are no side effects to it. Kraft suggested choosing something you will enjoy doing and then do enough of it, regularly, to get your heart rate up. Doing it in a group can be a good incentive to motivate you on the days when you don’t feel like participating.
Anxiety and depression can be part of Parkinson’s disease and can be early warning signs of the disease, said Kraft. Drugs to treat the symptoms can be addictive and psychiatry may be a better way to approach it.
Parkinson’s disease is not hereditary for most people, says Kraft, nor is it becoming more common. However, the number of people living beyond the age of 65 is increasing, thereby also raising the number of people who will be diagnosed.
When it comes to large studies and research about Parkinson’s, there is increased interest in the proteins in the brain that “mis-fold” and can become toxic or malfunction, said Kraft.