Parkinson's and Protein: A New Cure?

Physical therapists (PTs) are movement experts that help patients with Parkinson's regain function, activities, and engage better in life. Parkinson's disease (PD) affects the smoothness and ability to initiate movement. PTs can offer a myriad of exercises, activities, balance training, and walking interventions with decent results. The disease is usually be progressive, although intense exercise can delay this progression. What if PTs could offer an even greater edge for the patients to "beat" PD?

An early trial showed that a plant-based diet was able to lower the patients Hoyen-Yahr stage (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21535916).   Research has also begun to show that eating certain plant-based foods rich in nicotine containing compounds, like sweet peppers, may be important to preventing PD (see our other posts on this topic). Another review study highlighted the benefits of plant nutrients in improving or ameliorating neurodegeneration and chronic inflammation (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924224414001642). So, is it merely the nutrients in the plants or the removal of animal protein? It was both!

Medicine like Levodopa and Carbidopa help patients walk better with less freezing, but what if the food the patient ate prevented the uptake of the medication they needed in order to move? That is the current theory behind a low-protein or protein redistribution diet for those with Parkinson's. Several studies, cited from this systematic review, have highlighted the improvement in motor functioning (UPRS) of Parkinson's patients when the greatly reduce their animal meat consumption (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/mds.23226). They also see an improvement as they shift any protein consumption for other sources, plants included, to later in the evening. As such, this is low-hanging fruit for PTs to advise clients with PD that protein can give them a movement boost!

Want More? Learn about our online courses:

There is much more to be found in our evidenced-based, board-approved online continuing education courses for physical therapists.

Enroll today and progress through our 3 course sequence starting with nutrition basics, then the assessment/prescription process, and finally a specialty focus on select populations and specialized nutrition topics. Complete all 3 courses and earn the title of the Certified Nutritional Physical Therapist (CNPT®). Enroll today and join the movement of PTs wanting to give their patients more!

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Keywords: online continuing education, neurological, physical therapy, CEU, online course, parkinsons, protein

^{Disclaimer: The above article is written as opinion piece and does not convey specific legal and/or practice act advice. Students and participants need to check their State laws, practice act, and other legal restrictions before implementing nutrition interventions or assessments. The consumer of this article and our courses acknowledge that the State laws, practice acts, and restrictions can and do change. The Nutritional Physical Therapy team cannot be held liable for changes to such laws: the student, PT, or person engaged in such nutrition actions are responsible for examining laws and regulation as they see fit.}