Journal of Alzheimers Disease & Parkinsonism
Open Access

Abstract

Narrative therapy (story telling) and expressive poetry (sensory words) can be used to engage the mirror neurons and motor neurons in the brain and decrease the symptoms in Parkinson's disease. The kind of stories we listen to and whether we identify with the narrator or not influence what parts of our brain "lights up," get more blood flow, more nutrients, and more stimulation causing it to better develop or heal. This means the kind of stories we tell in our families and communities, the kind of speakers we hear, the kind of music we listen to influences the ability of our cortex to function. Story telling provides another doorway to greater brain health. Mirror neurons cause us to feel the actions of others in our own body. Motor neurons can be engaged through seeing another person move or through guided visualizations. An engaging story about someone walking is a brisk and balanced way and can create an image in the mind of someone with Parkinson's disease. That image is then translated into a subtle contracting of the muscles needed to walk in that particular way. This stimulates the brain and nerve pathways to the muscles that are needed in order to do these actions. Research has also shown that injured athletes who visualize themselves doing their sport come back to the game with better skills than an athlete who doesn't do any visualization.

Biography

Email: nervewhisperer@gmail.com