Over one year, people with Parkinson's disease showed no decline in religious faith or spirituality, despite worsening mobility and cognition. In a longitudinal case-control study, 42 Parkinson's patients and 39 matched disease controls were assessed using spirituality questionnaires, cognitive tests, and qualitative interviews. While the Parkinson's group experienced expected declines in physical and cognitive function, their religiosity and spirituality scores remained stable, and they did not report reduced interest in faith. In contrast, the control group showed a significant drop in religiosity, mainly in religious practices, for unclear reasons. The findings indicate that Parkinson's disease itself does not diminish religious faith or spirituality, even as disability progresses.
MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, supported by late-stage clinical trials, may be especially beneficial for military populations. MDMA's pro-social and fear-regulating properties could enhance the therapeutic alliance and patient engagement during neurorehabilitation. The molecular mechanism of MDMA is outlined, and a novel application for neurorehabilitation is proposed. Similarities in patient-therapist dynamics between PTSD treatment and neurorehabilitation suggest that MDMA's ability to downregulate fear, increase cognitive flexibility, and improve alliance could aid military personnel both with and without PTSD.
Spirituality, a near-universal human experience, may aid recovery in neurorehabilitation by activating brain pathways linked to neuroplasticity. This narrative review of 50 articles found that spiritual practices such as meditation, prayer, singing, dancing, and yoga are associated with increased neuronal activity, potentially strengthening existing synapses and forming new ones. Many cultures have long recognized spirituality's impact on health, and recent neuroradiological advances allow mapping of these experiences to specific brain networks. While observational evidence supports benefits for patients, more randomized controlled trials are needed before including spiritual interventions in neurorehabilitation guidelines for holistic restoration.