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Hi,
I hope you are doing well. My mother, 62, has had atypical parkinsons (corticobasal ganglionic degeneration) for the last 2 years. She is experiencing many problems with her movement, motor skills, energy, speech, attention, and memory. In particular, her energy level is very low and we would like to improve her nutrition.
We'd really appreciate your advice about the following nutrition questions:
1- What are the best foods to eat for atypical parkinsons?
2- My mother eats alot of danishes and cake- should she cut out these foods with refined sugar?
3- Are there particular foods/drinks to give my mother more energy?
4- My mother has to go to the bathroom alot- are there any foods/drinks to reduce this?
5- My mother is quite stiff and has difficulty walking- are there any particular exercises/other nutrition advice that would be helpful for my mother?
Thank you so much for your help and we look forward to hearing from you!
Best,
Alan
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Alan - Thanks for your questions, and for looking out for your mother. I found the following information from the Department of Neurology at Baylor College of Medicine, which may be helpful.
Are there any support groups for patients with Atypical Parkinsonism and their families?
Patients affected with atypical parkinsonism and their families should consider joining national or local PD support groups. Membership in these organizations facilitates exchange of information and members can obtains "tips" that may be useful in coping with the physical and mental disabilities associated with these disorders. Also, many local support groups offer exercise therapy which may be helpful to some patients. With the emotional support of family members and with expert medical management guided by a knowledgeable and compassionate physician, many patients with atypical parkinsonism can lead enjoyable and productive lives.
In terms of nutrition, the advice given for Parkinson's patients will also help your mother. Too much refined sugar will make her energy issues worse and aren't good for her health. Please see the following links for helpful tips.
http://www.medicinenet.com/parkinsons_disease_eating_right/article.htm
http://www.pdf.org/en/diet_nutrition
In terms of the urinary frequency, the following link has a lot of helpful information on treatments and the foods/drink that can aggravate this condition. You may also want to do some research on your own using the term "overactive bladder" to get additional information. http://www.medicinenet.com/overactive_bladder/article.htm
For the stiffness and difficulty in walking I would suggest support groups for both Parkinson's and Arthritis patients may be able to help as the patients have similar issues. Here's some information to get you started.
http://www.pdf.org/en/exercise
http://www.parkinson.org/Patients/PD-Library.aspx
http://www.arthritistoday.org/fitness/starting-out/index.php
Finally, I want to suggest that as you review these information sources you also look at those provided for caregivers. When you assist a person with chronic illness you take on a lot, and it becomes easy to let go of personal priorities and become overwhelmed by the caregiving responsibilities. In order for you to be at your best in helping your mom you will really need to be sure to take care of yourself too. The experiences of other caregivers can be invaluable in learning how to navigate this area.
We wish the best for you, and for your mother. Let us know if this has helped and if you have any additional questions.
December 2, 2010 - 6:07pmPat
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