Shakin' Street — A Parkinson's Blog

From an early age, I’ve spent more time than most people looking for objects I’ve set down.

I miss obvious things in front of me — about 10 years ago, I didn’t notice a Christmas tree in the living room. My wife’s nickname for me is “Bliv,” for oblivious.

My boss once informed me, several hours into a workday, that I’d left my car running in the parking lot.

I’ve always been absent-minded.

But what’s always amused those around me is less funny these days.

My mom has been fighting dementia for five years. At this year’s family Thanksgiving celebration, she sometimes recognized us and sometimes didn’t. Her sister also had dementia before she died.

It’s fair to say the combination of family history and a Parkinson’s diagnosis has me nervous.

What are the odds? The internet provides some wildly varying answers:

The Parkinson’s Foundation says “According to recent research, up to 70 percent of people with Parkinson’s will develop dementia as a part of the disease progression.”

According to the Alzheimer’s Association:

Some studies have reported that the average time from onset of Parkinson’s to developing dementia is about 10 years. One large study found that about three-quarters of people who live with Parkinson’s for more than 10 years will develop dementia. Before they develop dementia, they experience milder cognitive changes called mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Among individuals with normal cognition at Parkinson’s diagnosis, about 30% will develop MCI after five years. However, cognitive changes and when they occur vary from person to person.

On the other hand, there’s this from the Cleveland Clinic:

The frequency of Parkinson’s dementia varies based on age and how long you’ve had Parkinson’s disease. For example, Parkinson’s dementia affects:

• 16% to 20% of people between 60 and 75 years who’ve had Parkinson’s for between five and 10 years.
• 20% to 30% of people between 60 and 75 years who’ve had Parkinson’s for between 10 and 15 years.
• 50% to 60% of people over 75 who’ve had Parkinson’s for more than 15 years.

What are my odds? Better than Powerball, but not by much.

Could I prevent it, or at least improve my chances?

The Cleveland Clinic says no. “Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do to prevent Parkinson’s dementia from developing. You also can’t reduce your risk of developing it.“

Thanks, guys!

On the other hand, there’s some evidence that diet, exercise and socializing correlate with lower incidence of dementia.

• A 2023 article by the European Academy of Neurology reports that the Mediterranean Diet correlates with a lower probability of Parkinson’s Disease itself and Parkinson’s dementia.
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• The Mayo Clinic says “…studies in humans suggest that exercise may improve cognition in the short term, reduce risks of dementia or MCI in the long term, and reduce the age-associated progressive loss of brain volume.”
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• Penn State researchers found that “when adults between the ages of 70 and 90 reported more frequent, pleasant social interactions, they also had better cognitive performance on that day and the following two.”

Other people have won when the oddsmakers gave them a 70% chance of losing.

So you’ll find me at Rock Steady Boxing, Tai Chi, ping pong, and on the treadmill in my basement every week.

Diet is a work in progress. There are now blueberries on my Grape Nuts in the morning. With the help of the lovely and talented PDXKnitterati, my meals are Mediterranean most of the time. Unless there’s a pizza or White Castle in the room.

As for socializing… now that I’m no longer calling strangers for a living, it turns out I like hanging out with people sometimes.

I’ve got a 30% chance of ducking this thing, and that’s worth making the effort.

Toxic Substance Ban of the Week

Here’s a significant victory for the Parkinson’s community. To paraphrase something Joe Biden once said to Barack Obama, it’s a big effing deal.

This week the Environmental Protection Agency banned two widely-used solvents that have been linked to Parkinson’s, cancer, and other diseases.

The chemicals are:

• Trichloroethylene (TCE). According to the National Cancer Institute, TCE “is used primarily to make refrigerants and other hydrofluorocarbons and as a degreasing solvent for metal equipment. TCE is also used in some household products, such as cleaning wipes, aerosol cleaning products, tool cleaners, paint removers, spray adhesives, and carpet cleaners and spot removers. Commercial dry cleaners also use trichloroethylene as a spot remover.“
  
  The University of Rochester reports that “TCE causes cancer, is linked to miscarriages and congenital heart disease, and is associated with a 500 percent increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.”
  
  The New York Times said, “For decades, communities close to factories, airports, dry cleaners and other sites have lived with the consequences of exposure to trichloroethylene.”
  
  I lived four houses away from a dry cleaner for several years in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Now I write a Parkinson’s blog.
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•  Perchloroethylene, also known as Perc. It has also been used extensively by dry cleaners. The Times says “Though it is less harmful than TCE, the solvent, also called Perc , can cause liver, kidney, brain and testicular cancer, and can damage kidneys, the liver and the immune system.”

TCE will be completely banned under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Perc will still be allowed for some industrial uses.

While we can argue, ad nauseum, about the role of government regulations in protecting the environment, I hope all of us in the Parkinson’s community can agree that banning TCE and Perc is exactly what the EPA should be doing.

I applaud the Environmental Protection Agency for a long-overdue action.

And if you disagree… well, it’s my blog.

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Bonus for Those Who Read to the Bottom

Here’s 13 seconds of heart-pounding law enforcement action. Thanks to blog subscriber Paul for bringing this to my attention.

I like the Righteous Brothers, but it says here that Willie Alexander’s version of “You’ve Lost That Lovin Feeling” is the gold standard.

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Ike and Tina are plenty good. But when I need an eye-opener, it’s Australia’s Saints.