Here's the link:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releas...-icc121808.php

Thank you for this interesting paper. PD very clearly has the features of an autoimmune disease and a few years ago we had discussions about it at the other forum. Its nice to see such "out of the box" ideas being experimentally proven. Auto immune responses, leaky BBB, role of vitamin D, Infections and inflammation and stress as contributing factors to PD are discussed here before they are experimentally proven in the labs. There may be many more, but these are a few I remember. And that says a lot about why patients' views and input are important in the pursuit of cure for PD.

girija

Interesting. I know my WBC is always low (2.4 when it should be 4.5 to 10 approximately.) Low WBC indicates a weakened immune system.

It is very timely that you posted this article just a few days back. I was to the endocrinologist yesterday for my hypothyroidism that I have in addition to the PD. I have also been having the most irritated eyes in the past few months. Now he suspects I could have Sjogren's syndrome. Says it runs sometimes with people who have hypothyroidism. I have lots of allergies, borderline high blood sugar. Some kind of swelling and pain and spasms in my left foot, but no injury. The skin on my lower arms looks a little splotchy, almost like vitiligo. My mom had Rhematoid athritis,grandma diabetic, brain disorders in the family. Nephew with some sort of immune deficiency. All these things are autoimmune. So,, I got to thinking that my PD is likely the same. Anyone else here have some of these other disorders? It makes sense to me. Thanks FG

I have hypothyroidism, chronic sinusitis....

Forgive me going off topic, but one of the alleged benefits of coconut oil is improved thyroid function and it seems to be true. My wife (non-PWP) has long dealt with what seemed to be low thyroid function including being sensitive to cold temperature as well as a basal body temperature of 96.7 F.

After two months of the oil she has no problem with the room temperature and her body temp has risen a full degree. Also, she has lost 75% of the grey from her hair.

That is incredible, I think you mentioned it helped with anxiety/depression as well, so wonderful for her.

I was wondering, how much of the oil is she taking every day? One can only take so much of the stuff, healthy though it may be.

My first neuro thought I might have an autoimmune problem, especially when he found my biopsy from 1984 that diagnosed discoid lupus. I had several symptoms of systemic lupus, but my ANA was always negative.

I also have many allergies. My lupus resolved itself after a few years, don't know why. I wonder if osteoarthritis is autoimmune related, too.

And where do cytokines fit in?

What is the best kind of coconut oil to take, please?