Parkinson's and Mitohormesis

Extra resources if interested:
(1) Nice review paper on mitochondria dysfunction in Parkinson's:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...
(2) Our 2018 randomized controlled trial of a ketogenic diet in Parkinson's:
movementdisorders.onlinelibra...
(3) A general metabolic strategy plan (a Two-Meal-A-Day KD) can be found here:
www.metabolicneurologist.com/...

[@BradMaybury]

Thank you once again Dr. Phillips for sharing info that helps me and others feel better. I'm following your protocols pretty closely with good results. I did the suggested keto diet, intermittent fasting, and exercise for five months last year, took two months off while moving, and have resumed everything for six months now. I track 12 key areas of symptoms and rate each on a 1-10 scale monthly then score each area to get a total. This gives me a view of how I'm doing over time. I've seen consistent gradual improvement in all areas. Interestingly, but maybe not surprisingly, during the two months off I maintained level scores for the first month and began to see a decline in scores the second month (an increase in symptoms). I mainly share this so that you have another person reporting positive results and so that others might be encouraged to try this. I also share your information at meetings for my local PD support group. Thank you!

[@drmclphillips]

Thank you very much Brad, that's highly beneficial information. Really appreciate the feedback. Keep it up! Matt.

[@gdavidjohnson]

Thank youi Brad. Congratulations with your success. Would you mind sharing the 12 key areas of symptoms that you track and what the results were after following your regimen for 6 months?

[@PLJSA]

Hello Dr. Phillips and thank you for this valuable and comprehensive information. I wonder if any of your patients and participants are tested for heavy metals and undergo chelation/detoxification if they test positive? Thank you, Pat

[@barbaraferron7994]

I have been dealing with an undiagnosed debility for decades at one point I was getting tremors, they stopped after I did an exercise I thought up of deliberately jerking my hands and arms. But fatigue weakness and pain has been getting worse despite a careful diet and attempts to exercise which is difficult because of pain.

[@carolharrington34]

Thank you, Dr. Phillips, your lectures encourage me to keep trying to follow your protocols and reading Brad Maybury’s experience really gives me hope that I will be able to help myself cope with my Parkinsons. Do you know if following the Keto diet and intermittent fasting can address the constant lightheadedness that is one of the symptoms that I experience with PD?

[@drmclphillips]

Hi Carol, possibly yes, but you need to ensure optimal hydration and salt intake on a keto diet with PD to maintain blood pressure, so you do not suffer from worsening the postural hypotension issue some people experience. Matt.

[@aprilek6003]

Thank you Dr Phillips. I have been following your work for some time now. I have a good friend who has Parkinson's and I was surprised to hear that his wife says that when he sleeps he does not have the tremors. What is the mechanism?

[@drmclphillips]

Hi April, the motor symptoms generally disappear during sleep. Even the worst PD tremors will abate. Nobody knows for sure why, but probably the basal ganglia (the most damaged region of the brain in PD) are taken "offline" during sleep so they no longer contribute to the abnormal movements, tremors etc. Hope that helps, Matt.

[@aprilek6003]

Awesome thanks

[@kathyfowler7225]

As an IBM person, I am following your ketogenic diet therapy strictly. But I am perplexed as to your mention of oscillation - switching between stressor and recovery. Does this mean it would be better to follow e.g. two weeks of ketogenic with a few days with more carbs and fruit? Kath

[@drmclphillips]

Hi Kath, there would possibly be many ways to do this and the best strategy would depend on the person, their health, any disorders, their fitness, etc. What is proposed here is a keto diet oscillating with fasting periods, which may be helpful in PD. A degree of carb cycling would increase the stressor phase and might have a role in some situations, but metabolic therapy can get messed up easily if this is not done properly and for a specific reason. Matt.