Hyderabad: Accumulation of pathogens and microbes in the body for a long period of time is one of the reasons for debilitating neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, according to data evaluated from multiple studies in the Journal of Neurology. The onset of auto-immune diseases like lupus, thyroid and degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s is being also linked to environmental factors.
Dr Chandrashekar Naidu, senior neurosurgeon at KIMS Hospital, said degenerative diseases were caused due to genetic predisposition. “Neurons in the body degenerate in a long-term process. The role of infection and co-morbidities can add to the process but they are not primarily responsible for the degeneration.”
The analysis has found that viruses, bacteria and pathogens remain hidden in the body. The immune system fights them when they first surface. Often, due to drastic changes in the environment and climatic conditions, the human body is exposed to a large number of viruses which makes it prone to constant infections.
Dr K. Narsimulu, professor of internal medicine at a government hospital, said, “We are having a lot of viral attacks and the body immune system often fights them. But there are certain bacteria and pathogens which remain in the body and come back and lead to early onset of degeneration. For this reason, there is stress on strengthening and improving the immune system.”
Coconut oil and ketogenic diets are found to help in tackling degenerative diseases; various animal studies have shown good results. Ketogenic diets have been used as a symptomatic treatment in epilepsy patients.
