As we know neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s is a progressive disorder of the brain and neuronal cells. Does the initial days after diagnosis accelerate the progression?
When someone is diagnosed with a disease that is irreversible, the patient and their families succumb silently to ‘diagnostic trauma’, causing dependence, low self- esteem and self-isolation from the society. This can also trigger a chronic stress response in the patient leading to increased cortisol levels and other significant health comorbidities, resulting in structural changes of the brain.
Some factors that can accelerate certain Neurodegenerative Diseases such as Parkinson’s are:
A) Cortisol: When a patient receives the diagnosis, the mind activates its ‘fight and flight’ response by elevating cortisol, sometimes leading to cortisol toxicity affecting memory and spatial navigation.
B) Neuroinflammation: Microglial cells get activated, speeding up the inflammation process.
C) Psychology: Patients grieve internally and slip off to silent depression, triggering off a chain of physical responses as a coping mechanism of the body, which is often mis- diagnosed.
D) Society: To avoid feeling pity paired with low self- esteem, patients withdraw socially; often resulting in neuronal atrophy due to sensory and cognitive deprivation.
What strategies can we take to decelerate the progression of such diseases apart from taking proper medications?
MBH/PS