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] )