AtremoPlus: Why do we observe less tremors ?

Why this significant reduction in Tremors?

In this newsletter part 2 tremors, we will delve deeper into this important topic of tremors.

We are delighted to report that in our recent survey, the two groups most affected by “very severe” and “severe” tremors experienced a 71% reduction.
A large majority of those who responded to the survey moved into the “occasional tremors” group.
It is interesting to note that only 13% did not observe any improvements in tremors.

In this second part on tremors, we will first discuss the mechanisms of tremors to better understand what happens in our bodies during tremors.
Then, we will try to understand how the active ingredients of Vicia faba, the basis of our dietary supplement, can help reduce these tremors.

1. What are the mechanisms behind tremors?

In Parkinson’s disease, tremors are one of the most characteristic and common symptoms. The origins and biological processes of the different types of tremors in Parkinson’s disease are complex and involve several neurological mechanisms. Here is an explanation of the main causes and biological processes associated with tremors in Parkinson’s disease:

1. Neurological origin: Tremors in Parkinson’s disease result from dysfunction of neural circuits in the brain, particularly in structures involved in movement control. Specifically, degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the brain is considered one of the main causes of tremors in the disease. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in movement control, and its decrease in the brains of Parkinson’s patients disrupts the neural circuits responsible for motor control, leading to tremors.

2. Role of the subthalamic nucleus: The subthalamic nucleus is a brain structure involved in motor control. In Parkinson’s disease, there is abnormal hyperactivity of the subthalamic nucleus due to decreased dopaminergic inhibition. This hyperactivity leads to desynchronization of neural signals in motor circuits, which may contribute to tremors.

3. Imbalance between direct and indirect motor pathways: Neuroscience has made the interesting discovery that there are two main pathways involved in motor control: the direct motor pathway and the indirect motor pathway, which could be simplified as “brake” and “accelerator” commands, or “inhibit or disinhibit” a movement as they say. In Parkinson’s disease, there is an imbalance between these two pathways, with decreased activity in the direct motor pathway and increased activity in the indirect motor pathway. This imbalance contributes to the difficulty in initiating and controlling movements and may be involved in tremors.

4. Alterations in neuronal oscillations: Studies have shown that patients with Parkinson’s disease exhibit altered neuronal oscillations in certain regions of the brain, particularly in frequencies of 4-8 Hz, which are associated with tremors. These abnormal oscillations can disrupt movement coordination and contribute to the onset of tremors.

In summary, tremors in Parkinson’s disease result from a complex combination of neuronal dysfunctions in the brain’s motor circuits, involving a decrease in dopamine, hyperactivity of the subthalamic nucleus, imbalance between direct and indirect motor pathways, as well as alterations in neuronal oscillations. These mechanisms interact in a complex manner to produce the tremors observed in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

How to understand it more easily if we haven’t studied neuroscience?

The previous explanations, which use somewhat scientific language, may seem a bit complex, and not all of us have studied neuroscience.
At AtremoPlus, we prioritize simplicity. So, we will try to explain the same thing, but in a more visual way:

1. Neurological origin: Imagine the brain as a bustling city, where dopaminergic neurons are the messengers tasked with delivering important messages to the city’s neighborhoods. In Parkinson’s disease, some of these routes are damaged, making it difficult for messengers to deliver their messages correctly. This leads to disruptions in communication between the city’s neighborhoods, causing tensions and tremors in the body.

2. Role of the subthalamic nucleus: Think of the subthalamic nucleus as a conductor in a concert hall. Normally, the conductor guides the musicians harmoniously to produce beautiful music. However, in Parkinson’s disease, the conductor becomes hyperactive and begins to conduct chaotically, leading to discordance in the music as the musicians are no longer in tune. At the body level, these discordances are reflected in tremors.

3. Imbalance between direct and indirect motor pathways: Imagine two construction teams working on a site. The direct construction team is responsible for building new buildings, while the indirect construction team is tasked with demolishing old buildings. In Parkinson’s disease, the indirect construction team becomes overactive, demolishing more buildings than it should, disrupting the harmony of construction and causing tensions and tremors in movements.

4. Alterations in neuronal oscillations: To take up the analogy of musical creation, here it is not the conductor who is hyperactive, but the musicians. While they are supposed to play in harmony, in Parkinson’s disease, the musicians start playing at an irregular pace, disrupting the ensemble and producing a cacophony. By analogy, we find these same musical tremors in movements.

These interactions between the different causes of tremors remain complex and do not impact individuals with Parkinson’s disease uniformly. That is why some people experience tremors at rest, while others feel them when initiating movement or changing position or posture. For some, tremors mainly occur in stressful situations, which can be of various kinds.

2. How can components in Vicia Faba contribute to a reduction in tremors?

The origins of Parkinson’s disease are still being discovered and are considered multifactorial.

However, we can assert with certainty that in individuals with Parkinson’s disease, there is a destruction, often premature, of dopaminergic neurons. These neurons have the primary function of converting L-dopa into dopamine and using this dopamine to initiate and control our movements, as well as to regulate a number of cognitive functions such as memory.

Imagine a production plant where dopamine is a crucial raw material used in the manufacturing of finished products. This plant is overseen and regulated by managers, representing dopaminergic neurons, who supervise and regulate dopamine production. However, over time, the managers begin to disappear one after the other, resulting in a decrease in dopamine production. Consequently, the plant can no longer provide enough dopamine to support motor control processes, leading to manufacturing defects and dysfunctions in voluntary movements, such as uncontrollable tremors.

In this section, we will seek to understand why users of AtremoPlus report improvements, particularly in the area of tremors. Understanding is not essential to appreciate a phenomenon, but we know that it helps to take more control of our lives and gives us some power to positively impact our lives.

Explanation through a biochemical component: L-dopa and carbidopa

We already have a fairly obvious first answer. In Vicia faba, we find L-dopa, which is a precursor to dopamine. By administering L-dopa, dopamine levels in the brain are increased, partially compensating for the dopamine loss caused by Parkinson’s.

In addition, there is naturally occurring carbidopa in Vicia faba, which supports L-Dopa so that it can cross the blood-brain barrier. Indeed, carbidopa acts by inhibiting the degradation of L-dopa in the body before it crosses the blood-brain barrier, allowing an increased quantity of L-Dopa to be available in the brain where it is converted into dopamine.

According to feedback from AtremoPlus users, even for those who have had Parkinson’s for many years and are at the end of their therapeutic journey, the results are mostly very positive.

This could indicate that the L-Dopa from the Vicia faba plant is particularly well absorbed and arrives in greater quantities in the brain to be transformed into dopamine.

It is important to note that some users do not experience all the expected results, which may be attributed to the fact that they are only taking the minimum dose of 5g (2 scoops), or even 2.5g (1 scoop) per day for some. This reduced intake naturally decreases the supply of L-dopa and, consequently, limits the chances of success.

For optimal results, we recommend a dose of 10g per day, equivalent to 4 well-filled scoops. Two scoops in the morning or early in the day, and two scoops in the afternoon. If the processing plant is already operating at reduced capacity, it is essential to provide it with enough L-dopa to feel the effects.

Explanations of structural aspects: protective and reparative components

From a logical perspective, the foremost priority is to redouble efforts to preserve what remains of “our manufacturing plant” and to slow down the degradation “of its facilities” in order to best support our capacity to transform L-Dopa into dopamine. Although the disease is considered incurable, experts confirm that there are numerous actions to be taken to slow down its excessively rapid progression.

The variety of trace elements present in Vicia faba, such as amino acids, polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, and vitamins, including vitamin E, are known for their antioxidant properties that also have a positive impact on resulting chronic inflammation.

These components can be seen as valuable and essential supports to protect cells against oxidative stress, free radicals, and associated damage.

By clicking on the image below, you will see a highly interesting and easy-to-understand video about the phenomenon of oxidative stress and how to protect oneself against this devastating oxidative stress.