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This phenomenon that we PWP's all know is not miraculous for gents knowing a bit of neurophysiology. The neuro-system works on much levels with systems who are antagonists of each other and together keep a state of equilibrium. This means that the production of the chemicals who are involved is dependent on the level of its antagonist. Dopamine is within the extra-pyramidal system an antagonist of acelylcholine. In PWP's, having a low level of dopamine the acetylcholine overrules and this causes much of the Parkinson symptoms. In the time leva- dopa as a medicine did not exist many patient got anticholinergics to diminish that disequilibrium. However looking to the nervous system at large dopamine and aceltylcholine belong to the same system: the parasympathetic. The antagonist of the parasympathetic system is the sympathetic system, with adrenaline and serotinine as neurotransmitters. Because of the shortage of dopamine the parasympathetic system as a whole is dysfunctional, because the production of acelylcholine is not enough stimulated. The sympathetic system and the parasympathetic one are antagonists. Both are stimulating certain functions and influence many body processes. The sympathetic system stimulates the so-called fight-flight reaction and prepares the body for physical activity ; higher heart rate and blood pressure, blood is going away from the intestines to the muscles etc. The parasympathetic is stimulating consuming activities, as eating and digesting food, sexual and elimination ones. A Person with an active parasympathetic system feels relaxed without necessarely feeling sleepy. Being a PWP,means these functions can all be disturbed. However when we differentiate between the emotions or the drives and the motor behavior by which these drives can be fulfilled it is clear that the sympathetic emotions the feeling of anger and anxiety are intact and that for the parasympathetic emotions we are more dependent on our meds. So a PWP's stimulation of the sympathetic reflexes with all the physiological consequences is unipaired. It is the acting upon them which can be disturbed while the fine tuning of motor funktions is impossibile. The parasympathetic drives are for a bigger part themselves disturbed. This disequilibrium is grossly aggrandised when we are stimulated to be anxious or agressive so aggrandising the symptoms of Parkinson. A PWP can have any influence by avoiding stress. To my opinion however life without any stress is not an option n 16-7-97 18:47, in bericht <[log in to unmask]>, Dennis Greene <[log in to unmask]> schreef: > Billy, > > An increase of PD symptoms under stress is almost > the only symptom we all seem to experience. As to > why it happens I don't know but it is almost certainly > going to be a reaction to the stress induced changes > to our brain chemistry, and I suppose, to that extent > is a response to our 'mental' attitude. > > I, like you, am a great believer in the power of positive > attitudes. Unfortunatlely I don't think my mind is any more > capable of 'growing back' atrophed brain cells than it is > of growing back a amputated arm. Maybe if we were > lizards - and then only our tails. > > Dennis. > > ++++++++++++++++++++ > Dennis Greene 47/10 > [log in to unmask] > http://members.networx.net.au/~dennisg/ > ++++++++++++++++++++ >