“My active life is over. My risk of dying from COVID-19 is high. I’ll probably end up in a wheelchair or shuffling around like a zombie.”
These were the thoughts that raced through Keith Wilson’s mind when he was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Wilson learned in an online seminar run by a Parkinson’s UK research group that a lack of dopamine had caused his condition. He soon discovered that an adrenaline rush made him feel better. Adrenaline and dopamine are chemically similar, his health consultant told him. Adrenaline can also temporarily boost dopamine levels.
At the end of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Wilson planned a trip with his wife and two 14-year-old godsons. During one week alone, he rode roller coasters 37 times with the boys. Afterward, he felt that his condition had been momentarily reversed.
“I was more chatty, energized, and sociable,” he told The Epoch Times.
Wilson’s wife pointed out that some of his rides had been virtual, and suggested that they find a way to recreate the experiences at home. After learning that virtual roller coasters were available through virtual reality (VR) headsets, they purchased two—and the results were striking.
“The use of VR has restored my sense of balance and given me so much more energy,“ Wilson said. ”It stimulates underused parts of the brain, which helps compensate for the loss of dopamine.”
His experience aligns with research on how dopamine-driven activities can help manage Parkinson’s symptoms, a concept that has caught the attention of experts.
Parkinson’s is often seen as a condition beyond personal control, but Wilson’s journey challenges that notion.
The Dopamine Connection
Wilson’s experience supports research suggesting that a lack of dopamine is a key part of Parkinson’s disease and that engaging in dopamine-stimulating activities may help relieve some symptoms.Movement slows, gait and balance become difficult, and tremors often develop. However, dopamine also influences motivation, pleasure, and attention. This means that alongside motor challenges, Parkinson’s can have significant but less widely recognized effects on mental health, Chaytor-Norris said.
A Multipronged Approach
Wilson’s success in managing Parkinson’s disease didn’t come from any single approach, but rather from a combination of exercise and innovative tools such as VR.Exercise–the Dopamine-Driven Activity
Exercise is widely recognized as a nonpharmacological approach to managing Parkinson’s disease.Intense exercise, such as the roller coaster that alleviated Wilson’s symptoms, can boost adrenaline. Adrenaline is a hormone that is chemically similar to dopamine. It can temporarily boost dopamine levels, which could be why an adrenaline rush can help restore a sense of alertness or normality.
Wilson made exercise a cornerstone of his Parkinson’s management plan. In 2024, his real-world adventures included cycling around the Zuiderzee in the Netherlands, tackling the Haute Route in the Alps, and hiking the West Highland Way in Scotland.
Both cardiovascular exercise and strength training are important, Chaytor-Norris said. Cardiovascular training has been shown to improve brain-derived neurotrophic factor—described as “miracle grow” for the brain—and to help heal neurons, she said.
Strength training can offer other important benefits, such as preserving muscle. This is crucial, as muscle loss is common in those with Parkinson’s. It can also counteract the muscle stiffness and weakness that often accompany the condition, improving overall mobility and flexibility, Chaytor-Norris noted.
VR
VR makes exercise more engaging by transforming routine activities, such as walking on a treadmill, into immersive experiences, such as strolling along a beach. Beyond simply enhancing enjoyment, VR can simulate real-world obstacles, such as stepping over driftwood or seaweed. This helps users practice balance and coordination in a controlled setting. Such movement can lead to real-life benefits, such as reducing the risk of falls, Misra said.Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) with VR takes these innovations a step further by tracking and analyzing progress in real time. AI can refine training programs, enhance neuroplasticity, and support brain rewiring to improve both movement and cognitive function, Misra said. By providing instant feedback, AI helps people adjust their movements, which can, in turn, reinforce new neural pathways.
The Role of Diet
In addition to the strategies that worked for Wilson, a few other lifestyle factors might be useful, including diet.If blood sugar levels fluctuate and excess sugar circulates in the bloodstream, it can bind to substances in the body, forming advanced glycation end products. These harmful compounds contribute to damage in the body and play a role in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
To help stabilize blood sugar, reducing the intake of sugars and refined carbohydrates and ensuring that meals contain sufficient protein and healthy fats can be beneficial, Chaytor-Norris said.
Sleep
Along with dopamine-boosting activities, exercise, and diet, quality and duration of sleep should also be considered.“It would be remiss of me not to mention the importance of sleep in relation to Parkinson’s, as toxicity is a key underlying factor,” Chaytor-Norris said.
Sleep is the body’s only opportunity to detoxify and cleanse the brain. Maintaining a regular sleep routine, such as going to bed at the same time each night, is crucial. Ideally, waking up naturally, without the jarring sound of an alarm clock, is also highly beneficial, she said.
It Starts With Willingness
“Sometimes it feels like you need to throw ‘everything and the kitchen sink’ at Parkinson’s disease to optimize outcomes,” Misra said.Engaging patients with a Parkinson’s diagnosis can be challenging, but with such a debilitating condition, a comprehensive approach is often necessary.
“Whether or not there’s a genetic link, life with Parkinson’s can still be lived well,” Wilson said. “But it all starts with a willingness to help yourself.”
