Good Morning!
There is a lot of talk about dopamine lately, mostly from experts telling us to stop chasing the quick and easy dopamine hits we get from things like sugar, social media, and online shopping.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps nerve cells communicate. It plays a critical role in the brain and body, influencing how we think, move, feel, and act. If we over-stimulate the dopamine system, it will become desensitized and we won’t feel as much joy or motivation when doing the things we typically do.
A breakdown in the dopamine system is one of the main problems facing those with Parkison’s disease.
“Parkinson’s leads to the death of neurons—specifically those that produce dopamine,“ Kate Chaytor-Norris, a registered nutritional therapist, told The Epoch Times. “One of the key drivers of its symptoms is a lack of dopamine.”
While the exact cause is not known, those with Parkinson’s disease may eventually lose control of their body’s movements, as well as lose motivation, and experience reduced pleasure and attention, reported Zena leRoux from The Epoch Times. It’s typically a progressive, degenerative disease with no known cure.
When Keith Wilson was diagnosed with Parkison’s disease he thought his life was over. Then he learned about the dopamine factor and that increasing his adrenaline he could trigger dopamine release. So he conducted an experiment, spending a weekend riding the roller coaster 37 times—and it made a noticeable difference.
“I was more chatty, energized, and sociable,” Wilson told the Epoch Times.
Encouraged, he investigated further and learned that intense exercise can also stimulate adrenaline. Now exercise is a foundational part of how he manages his Parkison’s. In 2024 he cycled around Zuiderzee in the Netherlands, tackled the Haute Route in the Alps, and hiked the West Highland Way in Scotland.
He also uses virtual reality (VR), diet, and sleep to manage his disease.
Those with Parkison’s will still likely require conventional medical treatment, but lifestyle factors, and non-conventional interventions, can help manage Parkinson’s disease—they can also help prevent it.
Read this week’s featured article to find out what kind of diet and exercise might be best suited to help manage or prevent the onset of Parkison’s, and how Wilson used VR at home to help keep his symptoms from progressing.
Wilson’s story, and the research that affirms his experience, show how much of an impact we can have on our health when we take hold of the reins and make the changes our brain and body need.
Wishing you all a healthy body and mind,
