One possible cause of Parkinson's disease is brain cells that can't clean themselves. A recent article in The Economist calls it "rubbish-disposal gone wrong." Cells that can't eliminate poisons naturally degenerate and die.
Within cells one important garbage collector is called ubiquitin. In Parkinson's disease scientists have identified a problem with a specific ubiquitin named carboxyl-terminal esterase L1. When this ubiquitin fail, prions and other toxins eventually overwhelm the cells, and the neurons die.
This is not just a problem in Parkinson's disease. Neurologists and neuroscientists suspect a buildup of toxins kill many cells. The disease that develops depends on which brain cells die.
Why does this matter to people with Parkinson's disease? The body builds ubiquitins according to the instructions contained in the body's DNA. Genetic therapy is a promising treatment that could develop into treatments for some people with Parkinson's. By simply fixing the instructions for building the ubiquitin proteins, cleansing could restart, helping to fend off Parkinson's disease. Such treatments may actually have more potential as a prevention of Parkinson's disease than a treatment.
Another way to help brain cells stay clean is to avoid introducing garbage and toxins into your body. Many unhealthy foods contain toxins. Antioxidants found in blueberries, walnuts, strawberries and other foods, can help the body eliminate toxins.
