Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system that affects the nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine, disrupting the relay of messages that plan and control body movement. It affects approximately 60,000 Americans each year. The condition usually starts with small tremors in the hands and eventually degenerates until even basic actions become impossible. Here is an overview of the symptoms, causes, and treatments for Parkinson’s disease:
1. Symptoms
The symptoms of Parkinson’s can vary for everyone, but the most common symptoms include tremors in the limbs, hands, or fingers, slow movement, dyskinesia (uncontrolled movements linked to Parkinson’s medication), stiff muscles, changes in gait, changes in writing, loss of automatic movements, and trouble balancing. It can also include neuropsychiatric disturbances, such as disorders of cognition, mood, and behavior, fatigue and insomnia, and depression and anxiety. One of the earliest signs of Parkinson’s disease is a mild tremor in the hands or fingers that slowly worsens over time. These symptoms often start to manifest on one side of the body, intensify, and then spread to the rest of the body.
2. Causes
The exact cause for Parkinson’s disease is unknown. One of the most commonly thought causes is the degeneration of brain cells as the body ages. Apart from this, certain gene variations have been shown to increase the risk of the disease, though this is rare. Exposure to certain toxins and chemicals have also been shown to increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s. Additionally, researchers have found that certain changes occur in the brains of people with the disease. For example, Lewy bodies (clumps of abnormal protein particles) are often found within the brain cells of the affected individual. In fact, proteins called the alpha-synuclein, which are present within Lewy bodies, are believed to hold important information regarding the disease. These proteins are thought to be the gateway to finding the actual cause of Parkinson’s disease.
3. Treatment
A cure for the disease has not been determined, but medication has proved to be effective in controlling the symptoms to a large extent, usually improving the quality of a patient’s life overall. In some cases, surgery is also recommended. Some of the treatment methods for Parkinson’s disease are:
- Medication that can boost the dopamine secretion in the brain. The most effective medication is carbidopa-levodopa. Other medications include MAO B inhibitors, dopamine agonists, anticholinergics, and amantadine. These medications do not cure the disease, but they can ease certain symptoms. For instance, anticholinergic medications can help to control the tremors associated with the disease.
- Deep brain stimulation is another treatment method that is offered to people with an advanced case of Parkinson’s disease. It can stabilize medical fluctuations and helps in weakening dyskinesia.
- Other treatment methods include a healthy lifestyle enriched with exercise, a healthy diet, yoga, massage, meditation, and pet therapy.
It is very important that the patient, as well as their friends and family, fully understand the disease. In most cases, positive support and cooperation during the treatment procedures can help produce favorable results.
