Strengthening Your Neurological Reserve

March is National Nutrition Month. Good nutrition is key in maintaining one’s overall wellbeing. For people with Parkinson’s disease (PD), it can have an impact on medication efficacy, gut health, weight management, and resilience.

If you have Parkinson’s, it is important to retain your neurological reserve. This refers to the brain’s total density (brain reserve), as well as its neural networks (cognitive reserve). When the brain is impaired by disease, injury, or inflammation, it can compensate by rewiring neural pathways to perform its declining functions in a different part of the brain.

Our brain reserves are dictated by genetics, as well as lifestyle factors including environment, exercise, and nutrition. Cognitive reserves tend to be higher in those that are multilingual, have post-secondary education, work in demanding careers, have strong social connections, and those who meditate.

Individuals with higher reserves are typically more resilient to neurological disease. The greater your neurological reserve, the greater the brain’s capacity to rewire itself. Nutrition plays a key role in its maintenance not only by providing fuel to the brain, but also by reducing inflammation, encouraging nerve insulating factors, and improving neuronal connections.

Nutrients and Other Considerations

People with Parkinson’s should look to incorporate nutrients that support a healthy neurological reserve, including:

• omega-3 fatty acids, found in wild fish, seeds, nuts, and brussels sprouts
• antioxidants, found in berries, leafy greens, colourful fruits and vegetables, spices, and herbs
• choline, found in soy products, legumes, green vegetables, nuts, grains, fish, and eggs

Many people have questions about the effects of protein on medication absorption – particularly when it comes to levodopa. “Levodopa competes with amino acids from dietary protein for access to the blood steam (from the gut) and access to the brain (from the bloodstream)” (Hutchison, 2019). Protein in your meals may be a problem if you find that your medications are taking a long time to kick in, you experience a longer “off” state than is typical, or you notice that your medications are not working at all. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is recommended to keep a journal of the food you eat, including the timing of your meals in relation to your medications, and bring this to your physician or neurologist.

Nutrition and Your Microbiome

What you eat also feeds your gut microbiome, which is made up of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The “passengers” that make up the gut microbiome help to digest food, regulate the immune system, protect us against pathogenic bacteria and fungi, and produce vitamins (Hutchison, 2019).

We encourage you to take time this month to explore your gut health and the many ways it can support a healthy balance in your life. As always, consult your physician before making any major changes to your diet. Your physician may also be able to direct you to supporting resources, such as a dietician, naturopath, or nutritionist, to help make sound dietary decisions.

Sources

Hutchison, P. (2019, October 25). Nutrition and Parkinson’s Disease. Moving Forward, Together. Parkinson Society British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.

This content was published in the March 2020 edition of our monthly support group newsletter, GroupLink. The content was accurate as of this publication date.