{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Next Phase Human ","title":"Parkinson's Disease: What a Neurologist Wants You to Know Before Symptoms Start","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3665,"description":"Dr. Maheep Virdi is a board-certified neurologist who joins Dr. Rasham Sandhu to walk through Parkinson's disease in depth, from the earliest, easy-to-miss symptoms through the latest treatment technology.\nIn this conversation, they cover:\nThe soft early symptoms that can precede a Parkinson's diagnosis by roughly six years, including new-onset constipation, shoulder pain unrelated to movement, difficulty turning over in bed, and REM behavior disorder (physically acting out dreams)\nThe gut-brain connection in Parkinson's, including how the vagus nerve links the gut to the brain and how a protein called alpha-synuclein, produced by certain gut bacteria, may travel to the brain and contribute to the disease\nEnvironmental risk factors including paraquat and other pesticides, manganese exposure from welding, the industrial solvent TCE, carbon monoxide exposure, air pollution, and contaminated well water\nWhy coordination-focused exercise, such as small hand-muscle work, balance training, dancing, Tai Chi, and boxing, has shown more benefit for Parkinson's patients than strength training or high-intensity cardio\nDietary guidance including the Mediterranean diet, avoiding processed foods, and why patients need to separate protein intake from their carbidopa/levodopa medication by at least an hour, since dietary protein competes with the medication for transport across the blood-brain barrier\nThe DaTscan, a diagnostic imaging test used alongside clinical evaluation rather than as a standalone diagnosis\nGenetic factors, including the LRRK2 and parkin genes, and why genetic testing alone hasn't proven to be a reliable predictor\nDeep brain stimulation (DBS): how it works, its dramatic effect on tremor, and the extensive psychological screening required beforehand due to a risk of suicidal ideation\nNewer treatment technology, including subcutaneous infusion devices for carbidopa/levodopa and a newer drug pathway (A2A receptor antagonist) that works outside the traditional...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/8L-nuimlDDYZRLTRShB5TuOVQoW-K4IcHfnKlMch4gk/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS83NWVm/YWIyNzUwNjcwNDJl/NzI1YzEwYzE0ODM2/MTlhNi5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}