Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's Disease

Disabled World has a 3 part video clip series on Parkinsons Disease Information in our videos section. View the video presentation Parkinsons Disease Information Guide for patients and families.

Parkinson's disease affects the movement of the person with the disease through affects in the person's nerve cells in their brain. Usually, the nerve cells in the person's brain produce a chemical called, 'Dopamine,' which sends out a signal to a portion of their brain controlling movement. It allows the person's muscles to move smoothly and perform in the manner they wish them to. In persons who have Parkinson's disease, these nerve cells break down, no longer producing enough Dopamine, and interfere with the person's movement. Parkinson's disease is progressive, worsening over time. The progression of the disease is usually slow, occurring over a period of many years. There are treatments available to help persons with Parkinson's disease to live full lives.

Causes of Parkinson's Disease

Medical science does not know what causes Parkinson's disease at this time. Scientists are performing a great deal of research, looking for answers. Among the possible causes they are studying are both poisons in the environment and aging. Abnormal genes seem to have led to Parkinson's disease in some people. To date there is simply not enough proof to demonstrate that Parkinson's disease is an inherited one.

Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease involves four main symptoms. These symptoms include tremor that may affect a person's arms, legs, hands, or their head. Person's with Parkinson's disease may experience stiff muscles, or slow movement. Another symptom of Parkinson's disease involves problems with walking or balancing. Tremor may very well be the first symptom a person notices in association with Parkinson's disease; it is the most common of all of the signs of the disease, although not everyone with Parkinson's experiences it. Not everyone who experiences tremor has Parkinson's disease as well. Tremor will many times begin in just one leg or arm, on one side of the person's body, and may be worse when they are awake and not moving the limb affected. The tremor may improve when the person moves the affected limb, or when they are sleeping.

Over time, Parkinson's disease affects muscles throughout the person's body, potentially leading to problems such as difficulty swallowing, or constipation. Persons in later stages of the disease may present a blank or, 'fixed,' expression, have difficulty speaking, or additional problems. Some persons with Parkinson's disease in later stages may experience a decrease in mental skills or dementia. Symptoms of Parkinson's disease usually appear in persons between the ages of fifty and sixty years old, although some people experience symptoms at earlier ages.

Diagnosing Parkinson's Disease

The diagnostic process for Parkinson's disease involves a neurological examination, during which a doctor will ask about the person's symptoms and prior health. A neurological examination includes both tests and questions that help a doctor to understand how well the person's nerves are working. The doctor will examine how the person moves, check their reflexes and muscle strength, as well as their vision. There is the potential for the doctor to try a medicine which will tell them if the person has Parkinson's disease. The doctor may also ask questions related to the person's mood.

Blood and lab testing is not available that can tell a doctor whether or not a person has Parkinson's disease. There are tests that may help the doctor to determine if another disease is responsible for the symptoms the person is experiencing. An example of test that may be performed to rule out other issues include an MRI to look for either a brain tumor, or a stroke.

Treatment of Parkinson's Disease

Currently, there is no known cure for Parkinson's disease. There are a number of forms of medicine that can be used to control the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and make living with it easier for the person affected with it. Levodopa is perhaps the best drug for controlling the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The medication may cause problems if used for lengthy periods of time, or at high dosages. Because of this, many doctors prefer to use other forms of medication for treatment of persons who are in early stages of Parkinson's disease. Doing so allows them to use Levodopa at a later time, postponing the side effects.

Persons with Parkinson's disease who have mild symptoms may not require treatment; a doctor may wait to prescribe medication until their symptoms begin to interfere with their daily lives. Doctors adjust medications as the symptoms people with Parkinson's disease experience worsen. Sometimes, people with this disease may need to take more than one medication in order to achieve the best results. For some persons with Parkinson's disease, a form of treatment called, 'Deep Brain Stimulation,' may be used. Deep brain stimulation requires a surgeon to place wires in the person's brain. These wires carry tiny electrical signals to portions of the persons brain that control their movement. The signals produced may help the parts of the brain involved perform better.

Coping with Parkinson's Disease

Eating healthy foods, getting appropriate amounts of rest, exercise, and making wise use of energy are good practices for persons with Parkinson's disease. Occupational and physical therapy can help as well. Parkinson's disease usually progresses very slowly, and people live for many years with only minor symptoms, such as a tremor in one hand in many cases. A number of people who have this disease both can and do keep working for many years. As the disease progresses, a change in the way you work may be needed; seek support to learn new ways to adapt. Take an active role in your own health care, learning everything you can about the disease. Establish a relationship with a doctor that you both trust and can work with; attend appointments with this doctor, and follow the treatment plan. Depression is something that a number of persons with Parkinson's disease experience; it is something that needs to be reported to your doctor or counselor, there are antidepressant medications that can help. There are Parkinson's support groups, as well as both online support and message boards for persons affected by Parkinson's disease.

Further Information Regarding Parkinson's Disease

Hope for Possible Parkinson's Disease Cure
Researchers at Iowa State University have found an essential key to possibly cure Parkinson's disease and are looking for others.

Parkinson's Disease Treatment - Promising New Results
Scientists have reported promising new results with potential implications for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. They have been studying the impacts of nerve growth factors in the treatment of PD, and their latest results show that a certain growth factor can be used to halt the progress of damage brought on by a nerve poison and possibly even restore the function of damaged cells.

Enzyme Fights Mutated Protein in Inherited Parkinson's Disease
An enzyme that naturally occurs in the brain helps destroy the mutated protein that is the most common cause of inherited Parkinson's disease, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found. Their study, using human cells, provides a focus for further research into halting the action of the mutated protein.

Parkinson's Disease Medication Triggers Destructive Behaviors
A new study conducted at Mayo Clinic reports that one in six patients receiving therapeutic doses of certain drugs for Parkinson's disease develops new-onset, potentially destructive behaviors, notably compulsive gambling or hypersexuality.

Gene Protects against Neurotoxins that spur Inflammation and Parkinson's Disease
A new study in the April 3rd issue of the journal Cell, a Cell Press publication, helps to explain why people who carry mutations in a gene known as Nurr1 develop a rare, inherited form of Parkinson's disease, the most prevalent movement disorder in people over the age of 65.

Insights into Parkinson's disease and Treatment
In a new study that will be published March 19 in the online journal Science Express, Stanford University researchers used light to illuminate how the treatment works, generating surprising insights into the diseased circuitry and also suggesting new ideas to improve Parkinson's therapy.