Parkinson’s Disease Is Linked to Lack of Dopamine

“My active life is over. My risk of dying from COVID is high. I’ll probably end up in a wheelchair or shuffling around like a zombie,” were all 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 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 lockdown, Wilson planned a trip with his wife and two 14-year-old godsons. That week alone, he rode roller coasters 37 times with the boys and felt 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 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. It stimulates underused parts of the brain, which helps compensate for the loss of dopamine,” Wilson said. 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. 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, Norris said. Exercise–The Dopamine-Driven Activity Intense exercise, like 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 can 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 Holland, tackling the Haute Route in the Alps, and hiking the West Highland Way in Scotland.

Both cardiovascular and strength training are important, Norris said. Cardiovascular training has been shown to improve brain-derived neurotrophic factor—described as “miracle grow” for the brain and helps to heal neurons, she said. Strength training can offer other important benefits, such as preserving muscle, which is crucial as muscle loss is common in Parkinson’s.

It can also counteract the muscle stiffness and weakness that often accompany the condition, improving overall mobility and flexibility, she added. Virtual Reality Integrating artificial intelligence with virtual reality 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 explained.

By providing instant feedback, AI helps people adjust their movements, which can, in turn, reinforce new neural pathways. The Role of 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 meals contain sufficient protein and healthy fats can be beneficial, Norris said. Sleep “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,” 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. Engaging patients with a Parkinson’s diagnosis can be challenging, but with such a debilitating condition, a comprehensive approach is often necessary.

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