Parkinson's Disease

 

This essay  pertains to  Parkinson's disease and exercise and was triggered by the following:   Numbers one and two were found in The near Term.1. "  Recent years, cases of Alzheimer's and dementia have been rising.  While there are  no proven treatments or cures for age-related cognitive decline, some research suggests that  activities that are mentally engaging like playing chess and doing crossword puzzles help protect against symptoms of decline in older adults.  Other potentially protective activities include staying active, avoiding processed meats, getting enough sleep and maintaining social bonds. "  2.  "In 25 years, 81.6% of Americans are expected to be overweight or obese. This means a future filled with health complications including diabetes, cancer and heart disease."  3.  Linda had a consultation at the UC Davis Specialty Clinic .  There , I found a booklet produced by the Parkinson's Foundation titled Fitness Counts.  Unfortunately, our cousin Shelly has Parkinson's diagnosis and is in an assisted living facility in Orange County. This booklet had information and also words of wisdom for the brain and body..

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects 1 million people in the United States. It’s a movement disorder that can cause  tremors, slow movements, stiffness, and muscle cramping. The symptoms are diverse and usually develop slowly over time.  Parkinson's  disrupts brain networks that control movement and  also those linked to mood, behavior and cognitive thinking.  From a biological perspective,  Parkinson's results in low levels of  dopamine which leads to loss of effective communication between the higher brain structures of the brain called the cortex and the  part of the brain that manages more basic functions called basal ganglia. The dopamine system and other brain networks are disrupted, including those linked to mood, behavior, and thinking.  Currently there are no treatments that correct the brain changes that cause Parkinson's.  However, exercise  is considered the most beneficial treatment for those with this disorder .

Parkinson's symptoms progress and include: 1.  Slowness of movements; tremor; and rigidity 2.  Postural instability - trouble with balance and falls 3.  Changes in walking, difficulty turning, rapid small involuntary steps, retropulsion, dystonia, micrographia,, speech and swallowing changes.  4.  Constipation, incontinence 4. Cognitive changes, mood changes, hypertension, sensory changes, sleep disorders,and visual-spatial problems .  In other words, Parkinson's symptoms of mind and body affect productive living  and limit human interactions . 

Research has shown that exercising has a positive effect on health, quality of life and mobility.  Note   exercise programs  do not have to be limited to those with the Parkinson disorder .For instance, as everyone ages ,changes that occur in our bodies include 1.  Loss of tissue elasticity 2.  Mineral loss in bones 3.  Loss of muscle tone and mass.  Reported benefits of exercise include improvements in1. Gait and balance 2 . Flexibility in posture 3. Endurance 4.Working memory,and  decision-making, 5 .Attention and concentration .

 Exercise  has a positive effect on cognition or executive functioning such as planning activities, keeping a schedule and staying organized . Executive dysfunction can appear as problems measured by how many things you keep track of at the same time and problems focusing on a task and responding to changes.

With exercise, Cognitive Dual Tasking  is extremely significant .  A few examples of Cognitive  Dual Tasking is when two activities are performed -  one with a cognitive focus and another with the motor focus.. Boxing, Tai Chi, football  and dancing are examples.  For me, while running, I'm usually composing the draft of my next post. When  Linda and I play pickleball , it's skill-based, with a focus on balance, eye -hand coordination, reaction time and strategies .

Over 25 years ago, Ride & Tie was the perfect exercise .With cognitive dual tasking , one had to employ both motor skills and the executive functions cognitive decisions regarding when and where to tie the equine ,change partners, dealing with the vet check etc

In my read, It Has Nothing to Do with Age, all of the athletes were efficient with  cognitive dual tasking. In the their extreme competitions

We know that exercise improves muscle strength, flexibility, bone density and cardiovascular health.  It also leads to changes in the brain.  When beginning a new activity, the brain, not just your muscles, are learning movements.  The process of teaching your brain new patterns when there is a movement in an incomparable new place, or even learning a  different way to think is called Neuroplasticity.

Exercising. results in the following : 1.  More effective use of dopamine by brain cells 2. Growth of new blood vessels, which helps the brain cells get needed  oxygen and nutrients.  3.  Improved use of energy by the brain or  better metabolism 4 Increased release of special proteins that strengthen connections-synapses between brain cells and growth of new connections 5.  Reduced potential harmful effects of the immune system with less inflammation.  6.  Growth of new brain cells.

Also important of course, for well-being is nutrition. It should be obvious by now that the capitalistic food industry complex is significantly contributing to making Americans sick.  That being said, Dr. Hyman provided examples of food that is medicine and contrasting with food that is toxic. All supermarkets  have a limited supply of organic foods and a plethora of products heavily laden with carbs, unhealthy fats, sugar, salt ,and products processed with unhealthy disease chemicals or pesticides .  

The seven recommendations  for well-being that I made over a decade ago  in my read are still  relevant.  Danger ahead as the mental  executive functioning and physical health of our nation is headed in the wrong direction.

White Power

 Despite our Republic's short history, our extremely  high levels of ability and achievement are second to none. However, there’s more to our  economic , political, social , and religious  story.-power ,control and domination regardless of moral principles  A recent  and related examplie was illustrated with the slogan "Make America Great Again “ which was  simply a dog whistle for White Power. From a psychological perspective , this essay applies to a few of Henry A Murray's ego needs .

In  Dr. Murray's portrayal  of personality theory. He  employed many constructs such as  a description of motivational force with his construct of ego needs .It's motivational , a force within the person occurring in an environment based on human and human to human interactions. Further , In his model, the id represents both good and evil, while the  ego and its needs are hypothetical forces that are motivational  and that are accompanied by feelings, emotions, and are effective in providing desired ends..He hypothesized that the Superego was made up of the Ego Ideal  which represents personal ambitions and identifies with  the power ,ambition and story  of mythological and historical giants .These figures could range from Mother Teresa to Dillinger types  and a Conscience  that incorporates the rights-wrongs ,values, norms and  ethics of society. 

According to Murray, the existence of a need is based on the end result of behavior; a particular pattern or mode of behavior; selective attention to particular classes, stimulus objects resulting in the expression of a particular emotional effect; and it’s the expression of satisfaction when one particular effect is achieved or disappointment when that effect is not achieved.

His primary needs  are linked to physical satisfactions such as air , water ,sex or  urination and his  secondary needs occur and are derived from primary needs and can have physical satisfactions such as with  achievement ,exhibition ,aggression  and dominance .  There are overt needs expressed in mood and behavior, and covert needs which express themselves in fantasy and  dreams.  Some needs are limited to specific objects while some are more diffuse and generalized in various settings.  Some needs are proactive based upon what happens within the individual  while other needs are reactive and  are activated in response to some interaction, such as when one person. attacks another with a revenge response.  Other needs are  modal needs and are based on  performing certain activities for the sake of achieving excellence and rewarding.

Also, there’s  both a hierarchy and interaction of needs . Multiple needs may be gratified by a single cause of action and aggressive needs  can facilitate and gratify other needs.

With the concept of ego needs, results in a more complete understanding  of white  economic , political, religious and social power  A few of Murray's  needs  illustrate man’s  personal and interactive tendencies for survival and mastery over others which is associated and necessary for the accomplishment of white economic and political power. .To illustrate : 1.  Achievement is defined as accomplishing something difficult, being able to master, manipulate or organize physical objects, human beings or ideas while obtaining and overcoming obstacles in attaining a high standard.  Its ability to excel ,rival and surpass others.  2. Dominance is defined as controlling one's human environment by influencing or directing the behavior of others by suggestion, seduction, persuasion, command ;it's to restrain or prohibit 3. Aggression  is to overcome opposition forcefully, to fight for revenge and injury, to attack, injure or kill another , to oppose forcefully or punish another 4. Exhibition is to make an impression ,to be seen and heard ; to excite,fascinate, shock, intrigue, amuse or  entice others.

 Our Republic's  economic, politicaland social history is represented, in many ways ,in part, by the following occurrences symbolizing white power and the ego needs met  Power is defined as the ability to do something or act in a particular way, especially in safe faculty or quality; capacity or ability to directly influence the behavior of others.  The following  few are illustrations of our  history of white economic , political and social power 1.The  policy and justification of Slavery - Achievement ,dominance  and aggression 2. Salem Witch Trials - Achievement, dominance and aggression  3. Being victorious in the Revolutionary War ,1812 War  and  both WW’s -  Achievement ,aggression , dominance and  exhibition 4.  Massacring Native Americans - Achievement ,aggression and dominance  5 .Jacksonian democracy- Widening  suffrage and restructuring federal institutions.-  Achievement ,dominance  and exhibition 6. Manifest Destiny ,god given permission - Aggression, achievement, dominance and exhibition 7..  Don't Tread on Me as an expression of defiance and resistance - Aggression , dominance exhibition 8.  Civil War - achievement, aggression, dominance, and  exhibition  9.  KKK -achievement, aggression, dominance,and exhibition 10.  Curtailment of Ivy League  admissions  - Aggressive, dominance and exhibition 11.Voting suppression - Aggression, dominance and exhibition 12.. Restrictive  Immigration  quotas on  immigrants from eastern and southern Europe- Aggression  and dominance  13.  Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki  -Achievement, aggression, dominance and  exhibition 14.  Charles Wilson, "what was good for our country was good for General Motors and vice versa. -Aggression,  achievement , dominance and exhibition  15.  University of Texas, University of Arkansas and Penn State. Football teams were undefeated in 1969. Only  Penn State had black football players . Richard Nixon had Texas and Arkansas play for the national football college championship.  It was the last time that only all white players participated-  Achievement, aggression, dominance,and  exhibition.

It's clear that the meeting of man's ego needs is good and beneficial for his survival but can have unintended negative consequences for others.. With that being said, the government in our Republic is dominated by  a white power Supreme Court;  a white power, Congress; a  proposed white power cabinet of 11  whites out of  12 ; white power billionaires and the greediness  of  a white power felonl as president. The next four years will result in the meeting of ego needs of  achievement, aggression , dominance and exhibition for the benefit of some and prejudice, discrimination  and control against others. Rember, the meeting of ego needs for survival has both positive and negative consequences.

Reference

Murray, H.  A.  Explorations in Personality.

PS

My father, as a union president  for 20 years, fought discrimination .I also have a picture of him and others with the governor of Michigan signing into law a bill protecting postal workers from dog attacks.

An Evil Force

 

An article in the November 24, 2024 edition of The New York Times provided the background for this essay.  A set of dynamics occurred in another Christian country that's familiar to all of us. The individual and social psychology of Homo sapiens are similarly apparent irrespective of his community .

This country has a largely Christian  population ,and in fact, was  recently visited by the Pope.  An elementary school teacher said that she hoped the pope's presence would help the community fight against the evil that's plaguing her life. Is his supernatural messaging  superior ? This country, with its profitable multinational firms ; increased infrastructure and technological improvements has brought  significant economic fortunes to a very few and/or economic disparities .The majority of the population is plagued with economic uncertainty and limited access to education and healthcare resulting in fear ,anxiety and anger ..

Some envious, anxious and hateful others have scapegoated, spread lies, employed misinformation,and  rumors, on a minority, based on supernatural archaic and the irrational. beliefs  The perpetrators rationalized and seeked "revenge" on those they blamed for their misfortune . These alienated fearful perpetrators acted out hate and employed prejudice for their  ills. These individuals aggressively and  sadistically subjected employed power,domination and cruelty against their neighbors.

Unfortunately, the  media, some religious leaders and pastors and even the court system have reinforced  and perpetuated the craziness.  In other words, individuals with  prestige , power and possession, with  the traditional institutions assisted in reinforcing these  irrational and crazy beliefs. Lying comes easy to man, while finding truth remains problematic . Man has ego needs or instincts that are associated with man exploiting man  irrespective of religious, political or economics . It’s Homo sapien history..

The title of the article "When  a Medieval Scourge, Sorcery, Is Blamed in a Tragedy."  In Papua.  New Guinea individuals were tied and burned with hot metals over various parts of their body.  They were accused ,blamed for being sorcerers and participating in black magic.  Women sat naked and blindfolded on a sheet of metal with a fire burning below . Explanations for this cruelty given included a death , illness or some other tragic event. One message was :”all the sorcerers must repent and stop “.  

Violence increases along with fear, stress and tension . Also, black magic and witchcraft have origins in ancient civilizations for the benefit of some .  Don’t forget our  Salem Witch Trials occurred in  the late 17th century .Sadism , hate and exploitation are forces that have a multitude of dynamics and vehicles for expression .in any part of the world ,in any time, where there’s discontent in the society. .Psychodynamically speaking ,when  the impulsive ,aggressive and destructive  Id dominates along with the irrationality, archaic ,religious  beliefs within  the Ego as well as when there exists  sinister ego ideals or role models ( Hitler types ) and an ineffective conscience within the Super Ego  spells insanity for that community.

Supreme Court

 

Government pertains to the system of control for a country in which people are governed.  Supposedly, although not specifically stated in the Constitution, we have  a philosophy of the separation of powers between the church and state . Separation means removing the government's ability to give preferential treatment to one religion and also to support a plurality of religions and religious beliefs.. Yet, with the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe versus Wade, banning  abortions, punitive legal penalties to healthcare providers and individuals assisting with abortion , we have no separation, but a morally and psychologically punitive based law  decision that is harmful to prospective parents and their siblings.. This disquisition addresses this immorality and wickedness.

Turning to the origins of Judaism  5785 years ago, although little  was known about the physical world, man's behavior was most accurately depicted in how he behaves toward his parents and others with the 10 Commandments.  However, there were no significant external consequences administered for swearing, lying, cheating, stealing, adultery and  killing for these actions .  

About 2000 years ago man created the immaculate conception, soul, son of God , dying for your sins,   angels, Satan and " abortion” with additional ideas and provided " answers" to this life and the life hereafter  with no scientific evidence, but use of the word faith. Jeremiah  stated, "before I formed you in the womb, I knew you."  Wow, what an idea and  God’s in the bedroom too?  How did Jeremiah know so much ?.  In any event, it's been  said that an abortion is attacking a human being with a human destiny ,being prepared by God to receive an immortal soul and eternal life with grace .Questions like is an abortion of sin and what type of sin; does an embryo have a soul at conception  and is an abortion, equivalent to murder are questions pertinent  to some ..

Individuals believe many things  including  the use of magical thinking based on their psychology of identifications, ego need structures and wanting to be part of the group.  Not everyone has the same religious or non-religious beliefs. To have a  federal law based on a particular religious belief which discriminates against others is one reason why the Puritans left England.  Further , a number of states with abortion on the ballot voted to legalize abortions.  During this past presidential election, 8/10 states voted for Trump and the legalization of abortion.How’s that for inconsistency . Anyway, put Roe versus Wade on a national ballot. 

To enact a law which prohibits the individual to seek medical treatment for a certain condition is not in accord with public health , a concern for the health and welfare while living , punitive, exploitative, sadistic and controlling . It’s a right to pursue happiness according to Jefferson. It's illogical to think that a religious view , based on the supernatural ,supersedes  medical based science.  Further, and to threaten fines and imprisonment on medical providers is both cruel and sadistic.  Morality is based on distinguishing between right and wrong, good and bad. The overturning was immoral  .Moreover,, there is a psychological component  regarding this decision with many unintended consequences as well.

Turning to psychology, it has been well established that child-rearing is both extremely difficult and challenging.  Successful  emotional maturity, socioeconomic factors and child-rearing  practices can lead to positive mental health or set the stage for mental illness precursors.  With that being said, it's very important for the prospective parent or parents to have made this important decision based on their maturity and knowledge about developmental lines and child-rearing practices.  A few questions pertinent  to be addressed include the following: 1.  When should a mother substitute be introduced?  2.  When should she leave her child for work?  Because of maturation differences, it's not necessarily based on age 3.  Breast or bottle feeding based on the clock or demand.  4. When and how should toilet training be introduced  5.  Family medical issues requiring surgery of parent or child 6.  The birth arrival or adoption of another child..  The focus of these questions pertains to the concern and importance about how the child experiences them  These events pertain to, and turn into psychic realities, affects  anxieties and fantasies with  their consequences

Being knowledgeable  about developmental or egocentricity is also important.  In this first phase of object constancy,  the mother or mothering person are perceived as existence of her own This means that whatever happens in the interaction is understood from the aspect of  satisfaction or frustration from the wishes .For instance, It's the every preoccupation with  the mother, her concerns or involvement with other family members ,,with work,outside interests , her mental or physical illness  In other words, her absences are built and transformed into experiences of potential rejection and /or desertion .In other words, developing a sense of trust is problematic.

Erik H.  Erikson developed eight psychosocial crises in "Childhood And Society."  These crises follow along developmental lines and either successful resolution or unsuccessful resolution affects each succeeding phase. His first psychological crisis is  being able to develop a sense of trust versus  developing a sense of mistrust.  The importance of understanding the child's experience in this first cris phase is paramount.  Of course there are degrees of trust and mistrust.  Needless to say, the importance of developing trust pertains to oneself and to the world at large cannot be understated.  Being able to trust has positive implications for being able to deal more effectively with psychic crises that follow . Without trust there cannot be well-being.  Without trust there can't be a successful ego executive functioning.  Without trust there cannot be a  well developed moral conscience.

Mistrust is associated with anxiety, alienation,  suspiciousness, paranoia, and being susceptible to outlandish, irrational, threatening ideas. These individuals have difficulty taking responsibility and become victims in which they blame their woes on external forces they scapegoat hate with the negative and pessimistic mindset of the overall are looking to the future and focus on the past misfortunes. It's obvious when there's mistrust between family members, spouses ,with the community and with the politicians,  government, its institutions, a corrupt system with  the rich getting richer and the rest poorer .They certainly can’t trust the immigrants  and people that believe differently or their future .Mistrust does not bring happiness, satisfaction  but anxiety ,dread ,doom ,gloom and worry.

To force a female to give birth , against her right, irrespective of her physical or psychological condition is  cruel, punitive  and sadistic.  Females have many reasons regarding making the difficult decision of abortion. And yet the implications of her being emotionally able to provide the most reasonable and proper child-rearing becomes questionable with  the backdrop  of additional stress of this law. Who would want to be the embryo in an unwanted pregnancy?  I do not see any psychological advantage for the embryo.  We already have more than enough of these anxious, mental health aggrieved crazies in our Republic and we don't need  this inhumane ruling to perpetuate  and make things worse .  The well-being of that embryo is at stake and needs to be addressed despite all the negative odds. I don't know what happens , other than death  in the afterlife, but I do know about life in the here and now. Those Supreme Court justices that took away a women's right to choose medical treatment exhibited a harsh,  cruel and punishing conscience with that ruling.