Study Links Allergies To Parkinson's Disease

[Guest guest]

Source: Mayo Clinic

Date: August 8, 2006

More on: Parkinson's Research, Parkinson's, Allergy, Chronic

Illness,* Caregiving, Elder Care

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/08/060808091749.htm

Study Links Allergies To Parkinson's Disease

Science Daily — Researchers from Mayo Clinic have discovered that

allergic rhinitis is associated with the development of Parkinson's

disease later in life. Findings will be published in the Aug. 8

issue of the journal Neurology.

" The association with Parkinson's disease is increased to almost

three times that of someone who does not have allergic rhinitis, "

says Bower, M.D., Mayo Clinic neurologist and lead study

investigator. " That's actually a pretty high elevation. "

Previous studies had shown that people who regularly take

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, are less

likely to develop Parkinson's disease. These results prompted the

Mayo Clinic investigators to look further into the links between

diseases characterized by inflammation and Parkinson's. They studied

196 people who developed Parkinson's disease, matched with people of

similar age and gender who did not develop Parkinson's. The study

was conducted in Olmsted County, Minn., home of Mayo Clinic, over a

20-year period.

The researchers examined these groups to determine if those who

developed Parkinson's disease had more inflammatory diseases. They

found that those with allergic rhinitis were 2.9 times more likely

to develop Parkinson's. They did not find a similar association

between inflammatory diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis,

pernicious anemia or vitiligo and Parkinson's disease. The

researchers hypothesize that they may not have found significant

links between these diseases and Parkinson's disease due to the

relatively small number of those in the population who have these

diseases, and thus the small number with these diseases in their

population sample study. They also did not find the same association

with Parkinson's disease in patients with asthma that they

discovered in those with allergic rhinitis.

Dr. Bower says that this study did not examine patients' types of

allergies or when they developed allergies.

The investigators theorize that a tendency toward inflammation is

the key link between the diseases.

" People with allergic rhinitis mount an immune response with their

allergies, so they may be more likely to mount an immune response in

the brain as well, which would produce inflammation, " Dr. Bower

says. " The inflammation produced may release certain chemicals in

the brain and inadvertently kill brain cells, as we see in

Parkinson's. "

Dr. Bower explains that this study does not prove that allergies

cause Parkinson's disease; instead, it points to an association

between the two diseases. He advises that allergy patients can do

little to reduce the potential risk for Parkinson's.

" I wouldn't worry if you have allergies, " he says. " Treat the

allergy symptoms you have to alleviate them at the time. At this

point, we have no good evidence that this treatment will protect you

from possibly developing Parkinson's disease later. "

Dr. Bower and colleagues hope, however, that the clues in this study

may give scientists a strong hint about inflammation's role in

Parkinson's.

" This is exciting, because we may be able to develop medications to

block the inflammation, " he says.

Parkinson's is a complex disease, says Dr. Bower, because many

factors can contribute to its development and its causes can differ.

The complexity can be compared to heart attacks, which can be caused

by hypertension, high cholesterol or smoking, among other factors.

Thus, allergic rhinitis would now be considered one among many

possible risk factors for development of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease affects nerve cells (neurons) in the part of the

brain that controls muscle movement. People with Parkinson's disease

often experience trembling, muscle rigidity, difficulty walking, and

problems with balance and coordination. These symptoms generally

develop after age 50, although the disease also affects a small

percentage of younger people. The normal lifetime risk to develop

Parkinson's disease for men and women combined is 1.7 percent.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Mayo

Clinic.

[Guest guest]

This looks related...

Journal of the Neurological Sciences

Volume 249, Issue 1, Pages 68-75 (1 November 2006)

Can low level exposure to ochratoxin-A cause parkinsonism?

V. Sava, O. Reunova, A. Velasquez, J. -Ramos

Abstract

Mycotoxins are fungal metabolites with pharmacological activities that

have been utilized in the production of antibiotics, growth promoters,

and other classes of drugs. Some mycotoxins have been developed as

biological and chemical warfare agents. Bombs and ballistic missiles

loaded with aflatoxin were stockpiled and may have been deployed by

Iraq during the first Gulf War. In light of the excess incidence of

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in veterans from Operation Desert

Storm, the potential for delayed neurotoxic effects of low doses of

mycotoxins should not be overlooked. Ochratoxin-A (OTA) is a common

mycotoxin with complex mechanisms of action, similar to that of the

aflatoxins. Acute administration of OTA at non-lethal doses (10% of

the LD50) have been shown to increase oxidative DNA damage in brain up

to 72 h, with peak effects noted at 24 h in midbrain (MB),

caudate/putamen (CP) and hippocampus (HP). Levels of dopamine (DA) and

its metabolites in the striatum (e.g., CP) were shown to be decreased

in a dose-dependent manner. The present study focused on the effects

of chronic low dose OTA exposure on regional brain oxidative stress

and striatal DA metabolism. Continuous administration of low doses of

OTA with implanted subcutaneous Alzet minipumps caused a small but

significant decrease in striatal DA levels and an upregulation of

anti-oxidative systems and DNA repair. It is possible that low dose

exposure to OTA will result in an earlier onset of parkinsonism when

normal age-dependent decline in striatal DA levels are superimposed on

the mycotoxin-induced lesion.

Keywords: Mycotoxins, Ochratoxin-A, DNA damage and repair, Parkinson's

disease, Oxyguanosine glycosylase, Superoxide dismutase, Glutathione,

Dopamine

University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

Haley VA Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA

Corresponding author. Department of Neurology (MDC 55), University of

South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612, USA. Fax:

+1 813 974 720.

PII: S0022-510X(06)00290-5

doi:10.1016/j.jns.2006.06.006

[Guest guest]

This doesn't suprize me, I've noticed for awhile now that those hot

raw spots on my head from white matter lesions don't just happen with

hydrocephalus and blood vessel leaks/plaque. but also happen when I

get infection up on my sinuses and usually along with a bad headacke

in my forehead. just happened the other day and the whole top of my

head became hor and raw felling. makes for a very tender head.

happened very fast too.

also read that they are now discovering that it happens in gray

matter too. and what it's doing is not good. help, my brains getting

attacked from all 3 ways, how much can it take?

--- In , " tigerpaw2c " <tigerpaw2c@...>

wrote:

>

> Source: Mayo Clinic

> Date: August 8, 2006

> More on: Parkinson's Research, Parkinson's, Allergy, Chronic

> Illness,* Caregiving, Elder Care

>

> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/08/060808091749.htm

>

> Study Links Allergies To Parkinson's Disease

> Science Daily — Researchers from Mayo Clinic have discovered that

> allergic rhinitis is associated with the development of Parkinson's

> disease later in life. Findings will be published in the Aug. 8

> issue of the journal Neurology.

>

>

> " The association with Parkinson's disease is increased to almost

> three times that of someone who does not have allergic rhinitis, "

> says Bower, M.D., Mayo Clinic neurologist and lead study

> investigator. " That's actually a pretty high elevation. "

>

> Previous studies had shown that people who regularly take

> nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, are less

> likely to develop Parkinson's disease. These results prompted the

> Mayo Clinic investigators to look further into the links between

> diseases characterized by inflammation and Parkinson's. They

studied

> 196 people who developed Parkinson's disease, matched with people

of

> similar age and gender who did not develop Parkinson's. The study

> was conducted in Olmsted County, Minn., home of Mayo Clinic, over a

> 20-year period.

>

> The researchers examined these groups to determine if those who

> developed Parkinson's disease had more inflammatory diseases. They

> found that those with allergic rhinitis were 2.9 times more likely

> to develop Parkinson's. They did not find a similar association

> between inflammatory diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis,

> pernicious anemia or vitiligo and Parkinson's disease. The

> researchers hypothesize that they may not have found significant

> links between these diseases and Parkinson's disease due to the

> relatively small number of those in the population who have these

> diseases, and thus the small number with these diseases in their

> population sample study. They also did not find the same

association

> with Parkinson's disease in patients with asthma that they

> discovered in those with allergic rhinitis.

>

> Dr. Bower says that this study did not examine patients' types of

> allergies or when they developed allergies.

>

> The investigators theorize that a tendency toward inflammation is

> the key link between the diseases.

>

> " People with allergic rhinitis mount an immune response with their

> allergies, so they may be more likely to mount an immune response

in

> the brain as well, which would produce inflammation, " Dr. Bower

> says. " The inflammation produced may release certain chemicals in

> the brain and inadvertently kill brain cells, as we see in

> Parkinson's. "

>

> Dr. Bower explains that this study does not prove that allergies

> cause Parkinson's disease; instead, it points to an association

> between the two diseases. He advises that allergy patients can do

> little to reduce the potential risk for Parkinson's.

>

> " I wouldn't worry if you have allergies, " he says. " Treat the

> allergy symptoms you have to alleviate them at the time. At this

> point, we have no good evidence that this treatment will protect

you

> from possibly developing Parkinson's disease later. "

>

> Dr. Bower and colleagues hope, however, that the clues in this

study

> may give scientists a strong hint about inflammation's role in

> Parkinson's.

>

> " This is exciting, because we may be able to develop medications to

> block the inflammation, " he says.

>

> Parkinson's is a complex disease, says Dr. Bower, because many

> factors can contribute to its development and its causes can

differ.

> The complexity can be compared to heart attacks, which can be

caused

> by hypertension, high cholesterol or smoking, among other factors.

> Thus, allergic rhinitis would now be considered one among many

> possible risk factors for development of Parkinson's disease.

>

> Parkinson's disease affects nerve cells (neurons) in the part of

the

> brain that controls muscle movement. People with Parkinson's

disease

> often experience trembling, muscle rigidity, difficulty walking,

and

> problems with balance and coordination. These symptoms generally

> develop after age 50, although the disease also affects a small

> percentage of younger people. The normal lifetime risk to develop

> Parkinson's disease for men and women combined is 1.7 percent.

>

> Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by

Mayo

> Clinic.

>