CEREBELLAR THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME, PARKINSON’S, AND TMJ

The findings of Fernandez Noda in his investigation of transitory decreased brain blood flow is something that everyone with Parkinson’s should read and be familiar with. His primary article can be found online at TMJCalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Neck_and_brain_transitory_vascular_compression.pdf.

Basically, what Dr. Noda found was that many cases of Parkinson’s are induced by decreased blood flow to the brain. “Chronic hypoxia was found to produce Symptomatic neurological syndromes such as symptomatic Parkinson’s disease (SPD), Chorea, Ballism and Athetosis. When chronic hypoxia affects the basal ganglia in the putamen, there is a decrease in dopamine production causing the symptoms of Parkinson”.

“This mechanism has been demonstrated with the PET Scan at McMaster University in Hamilton (Canada) in 1985, in June 1990 with the Single Photo Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT Brain) and in 1994 with Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound as a result of arterial compression in the Thoracic Outlet and the internal carotid and vertebral arteries to the entry of the brain”.

Dr. Noda’s surgical success at correcting Cerebellar thoracic outlet syndrome let him to propose two theories:

1) that the thoracic outlet syndrome is a disorder, primarily with vascular and neurological complications, and;

2), that most Parkinson’s symptoms are a functional problem and not organic at the core level of the basal brain.

Dr. Noda found that the decreased blood supply to the brain typically got progressively worse over time. “The many and varied vascular and neurological symptoms produced in the manner described become progressively more severe until complications occur such as same sided paralysis, the threat of gangrene in the arms, the progressive loss of vision, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and others”.

Dr. Noda made a distinction between what he called Symptomatic Parkinson’s disease and secondary parkinsonism, a disorder caused by organic lesions such as vertebral-basilar insufficiency (VBI), injuries caused by toxic drugs and / or hemodynamic Parkinsonism.

Dr. Noda’s surgical technique was found to have excellent results in 96% of cerebellar thoracic outlet syndrome (CTOS) patients. In a follow-up study of patients with CTOS /SPD, 90.6% of the symptoms suffered by the patients, were eliminated or showed improvement after surgery. No improvement was shown in 9.4% of the operated patients.

When the mandible is advanced for TMJ treatment, the head goes back, thus opening up the thoracic outlet region. This is likely the mechanism by which tall dental appliances are impacting various movement disorders. A recent case in my practice treated 6 months with mandibular advancement appliances, verified with before and after vascular MRI’s, showed 80% improvement in brain blood flow on one side, and 50% improvement on the other. The many YouTube videos of successful TMJ treatment of Parkinson’s are becoming a bit more believable.

Dr. Dwight Jennings has practices in Alameda & Sutter Creek, California and has been a member of the Wellness Village since November 2011. Please visit his page.