Nerve and Brain Problems

Parkinson’s Disease is the disease of the nerves that causes muscle tremors, rigidity, slow movement and loss of muscle control.A study on Parkinson’s Disease was done at Columbia University by neurologist, Dr Stanley Fahn.He did a study concerning men and women with early Parkinson’s Disease. One group was given 3,200 IU of Vitamin E a day and 3,000 milligrams of Vitamin C.The control group was not taking antioxidant supplements. The results were positive, the progression was slowed.Those on antioxidants did not need to begin medication (levodopa) for their disease until an average of 2 ½ - 3 years after the control group. In fact, at the time of study, 3 of those on antioxidants had not begun medication.

Thus, Dr Fahn was able to show that Parkinson’s is due, in part, to the loss of the nerve cells from free radical damage.Some recent experiments from the Salk Institute indicate that the antioxidants, particularly Vitamin E, may help to prevent the onset and/or progression of Alzheimer’s Disease.In a cell culture they showed that even low concentrations of a protein that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients could kill nerve cells.They then used Vitamin E along with this toxic protein and found that most of the nerve cells survived.Dr Schubert, the main author of the study, believes that a good diet super-charged by Vitamin E, C and Beta-Carotene may postpone some of the age-related damage to the brain.[Source: Antioxidants by Dr Bruce Miller]