{"id":133316,"date":"2025-08-02T10:49:48","date_gmt":"2025-08-02T09:49:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/?post_type=condition&p=133316"},"modified":"2026-03-05T14:42:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T14:42:19","slug":"parkinsons-disease","status":"publish","type":"condition","link":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/condition\/parkinsons-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Parkinson\u2019s disease"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Parkinson\u2019s disease is a neurological condition that impacts motor control, sleep, mood and digestive function via loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding Parkinson’s disease<\/h2><\/path><\/svg><\/div>
\n
\"Parkinsons<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects movement and coordination (1). It is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide after Alzheimer’s (2). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the United Kingdom, approximately 145,000 people are living with Parkinson\u2019s, and around 18,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, according to Parkinson\u2019s UK (2023) (3). The majority of people diagnosed are over 60, but young-onset Parkinson’s, diagnosed before the age of 50, accounts for about 5\u201310% of cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the population ages, the prevalence of Parkinson’s is expected to rise (4). The World Health Organization (WHO) projects that neurodegenerative diseases will soon surpass cancer to become the second leading cause of death worldwide, following cardiovascular disease (5).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How Parkinson\u2019s disease works<\/h2><\/path><\/svg><\/div>
\n

Parkinson’s disease is characterised by the progressive loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, a region of the midbrain that is critical for controlling movement (6). Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in transmitting signals between brain cells. Its depletion leads to the characteristic motor symptoms of Parkinson’s such as tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia (slowness of movement) (6,7).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hallmark pathological feature of Parkinson’s is the presence of Lewy bodies, which are abnormal aggregates of the protein alpha-synuclein, within the affected neurons. These inclusions interfere with normal cellular function and contribute to neurodegeneration (6). Parkinson’s is increasingly recognised as a multisystem disorder affecting not only the motor system but also non-motor areas of the nervous system and various other organs, including the gastrointestinal tract (8).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Understanding the root causes<\/h2><\/path><\/svg><\/div>
\n
\"Causes<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The causes of Parkinson’s disease remain complex and multifactorial, involving a dynamic interplay between genetic susceptibility and environmental influences (6). While the majority of Parkinson’s cases are idiopathic, meaning they have no known cause, around 10\u201315% can be attributed to specific genetic mutations such as SNCA, LRRK2, and PARK7. These mutations are more commonly associated with familial Parkinson\u2019s and early-onset cases (9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Environmental factors also contribute significantly, with long-term exposure to pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, and certain industrial solvents shown to increase the risk of developing the disease (10,11). Furthermore, mitochondrial dysfunction, which leads to impaired cellular energy production, and oxidative stress, characterised by excessive production of damaging free radicals, are believed to play pivotal roles in the death of dopamine-producing neurons (12).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another emerging area of research implicates the gut-brain axis, suggesting that Parkinson\u2019s may originate in the gastrointestinal system, where misfolded alpha-synuclein proteins potentially travel from the enteric nervous system to the brain via the vagus nerve (13,14). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lifestyle factors such as poor diet and chronic stress may also contribute indirectly by exacerbating systemic inflammation and reducing neuroprotection (15).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s<\/h2><\/path><\/svg><\/div>
\n

Parkinson’s symptoms are typically divided into motor and non-motor categories (7,16,17):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Symptoms<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Motor symptoms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n