Hi
 I was discussing with a friend the evidence of the similarity PD with a
viral attack and yet no one has found the virus . He suggested prions
.The next day someone on this list posted the following web site
http://www.nmia.com/~mdibble/ prion.html where the possibility of the
prion-PD link was discussed .
 Prions seem to be proteins that have no DNA structure while virus are
proteins that  do have a DNA structure . A prion is a normal body
protein that has folded itself up in a different shape than normal .
Somehow it causes  the similar chemical  structure proteins to adopt
the abnormal folding pattern . The process is undefined . It thus
replicates itself . Because it is capable of replicating itself is it
living ? A virus replicates itself by injecting its DNA material into
a cell and getting the cell to replicate the virus . The point I
 am trying to make is that no prion or virus has been found that can be
definitely associated with PD . Even if an association could be found
the exact method of infection/replication may not be clear .
    So although there has not been found to be any association between
PD and a particular virus or prion , there seems to be quite a strong
association in  symptoms and treatement of PD and flu.
  1) Amantadine was developed as an anti flu drug . It was
subsequently found to improve PD symptoms . Method of operation
unknown .
  2) GM1  Ganglioside is an antibody  ( to what I dont know ) that
improves PD symptoms . Method of operation unknown .
  3) Methylprednisolone an antiflammitory steroid used by Dr. S .
Blunt to cure two recent cases  diagnosed as cases of encephalitis lethargica ( The same type of
PD as described in Dr. Oliver Sach's book " Awackenings " ) . Tests
for viruses proved negative as did scans for brain distortion as in
hydrocephalus induced PD . This means there is no supporting evidence
for the most obvious explanation as a virus induced inflammation in
the brain .
  Methylprednisolone is also used to treat asthma ( reinforcing the
PD-allergy connection ) .
  If my cat had arthritis I could get methylpredisolone to treat it .
But I cant get it to treat my PD . This I find very frustating .
 Methylprednisolone has recently been shown to be effective in the
treatement of MS .
  PD and flu can share the following symptoms depression muscular
stiffness and sleeplessness .
    Depression . I have often experienced depression in the week
prior to the main flu symptoms . I read a report of a study of
personality corelated severity of colds . Happy people had less colds
and lasted less than depressed people . I believe there is a rescent
study which finds an association between suicide and a certain brain
virus .
   Muscular stiffness . Severe flu will often produce stiff neck .
I find that my neck back stiffness is greatly relieved by aspirin ( an
over the counter flu treatment ) At first I thought It was just the
relief of the pain of the stiff neck . Now I am sure there is actual
relief . I gave up caffeine for a month hoping for improvement in PD
symtoms  .My back  got worse . I noticed it after having two cups of
tea with a friend at the end of the non-caffeine diet . Caffeine is
often a large part of the over the counter flu medications
  Sleeplessness  I oftrn find that the night before the flu breaks I
find it very hard to get to sleep This could br depression as
sleeplessness is caused by depression  . I saw an interesting programme on
the TV about a genetic abnormality that can cause a person in middle
age to suddenly be unable to sleep . If I remember correctly sleep
deprivation killed the person in 6 months . But what was interesting
was movement dysfunction similar to PD prior to death . Someone a
few months ago was given a rough time in this list when they suggested sleep as a
cure for PD. I take melatonin 6 mg along with my GHB to give about 6
hrs. sleep a night .
    Another condition that has this illusive viral connection is
M.E.There are many similarities between ME and PD. My first problems were of a post
viral fatigue syndrome from which I never completely recovered before
the onset of PD symptoms .
  What I have been trying to say is that it might be effective to
treat PD as if it were a viral infection inspite of the fact that
no virus/prion has been associated with PD .
  I am in the process of trying out over the counter flu medications
.I would like in the future to try a cocktail of amantadine, GM1
ganglioside , methylprednisolone and IGF-1 .



     peace
          Alastair     ( [log in to unmask] )