Parkinson's Disease

Understanding Parkinson's Disease

Introduction

Parkinson's is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by the gradual decline of the individual’s motor skills, resulting from the degeneration of the basal ganglia; patients may experience stiffness, tremors, and balance problems; cognitive dysfunctions as well as psychosis can occur. Presently, the disease cannot be healed but there are available treatments to alleviate the manifestations and enhance the standard of living of those who have Parkinson’s disease. It is not a small thing that with your help new research can be made, support for individuals with Parkinson’s disease can be given and improved care can be delivered.

Risk factors for Parkinson's disease include

Age. Young adults rarely experience Parkinson's disease. It ordinarily begins in middle or late life, and the risk increases with age. People usually develop the disease around age 60 or older. If a young person does have Parkinson's disease, genetic counseling might be helpful in making family planning decisions. Work, social situations and medicine side effects are also different from those of an older person with Parkinson's disease and require special considerations.

Heredity: Having a close relative with Parkinson's disease increases the chances the development of the disease.

Sex: Men are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than are women.

Exposure to toxins. Ongoing exposure to herbicides and pesticides may slightly increase the risk of Parkinson's disease.

Genetic factors: Specific genetic changes have been identified that can cause Parkinson's disease, although they are uncommon except in cases with a strong family history of the condition.

Environmental triggers: Exposure to certain toxins or environmental factors, such as herbicides and pesticides, may slightly increase the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.

Diagnosis and Assessment

Parkinson's disease is typically diagnosed based on a clinical evaluation of symptoms and medical history. Neurologists or trained healthcare workers can make the diagnosis.

Assessing and managing Parkinson's disease by trained non-specialist healthcare workers in primary care is important, especially in areas where specialist neurological services are unavailable.

Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease

Motor symptoms: Parkinson's disease primarily affects movement and can cause the following motor symptoms

Tremor: Rhythmic shaking, often starting in a limb, such as the hand or fingers.

Bradykinesia: Slowed movement, making simple tasks difficult and time-consuming.

Rigidity: Stiffness in the muscles, which can be painful and limit range of motion.

Impaired posture and balance: Stooped posture, balance problems, and increased risk of falls.

Loss of automatic movements: Decreased ability to perform unconscious movements, such as blinking or swinging the arms while walking.

Non-motor symptoms: Parkinson's disease can also cause non-motor symptoms, including cognitive impairment, mental health disorders, sleep disorders, pain, and sensory disturbances

Treatment and Care

While there is no cure for Parkinson's disease, various treatment options are available to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Medications: Different medications can help control the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease by increasing dopamine levels in the brain or mimicking its effects. Medications can help manage the symptoms of Parkinson's disease by increasing dopamine levels in the brain or mimicking its effects. Commonly prescribed medications include levodopa, dopamine agonists, and MAO-B inhibitors.

Physical Therapy: Physical therapy can help improve mobility, balance, and strength in individuals with Parkinson's disease. It may include exercises, stretching, and balance training

Occupational Therapy: Occupational therapy focuses on improving daily living skills and independence. It may involve strategies to manage tremors, enhance fine motor skills, and adapt to the environment for easier movement.

Surgery: In some cases, deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery may be recommended to regulate certain regions of the brain and improve symptoms.

Rehabilitation: Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy can help individuals with Parkinson's disease maintain mobility, improve muscle strength, and manage speech difficulties.

Complications

Parkinson's disease is often accompanied by these additional problems, which may be treatable:

Swallowing problems: Patients may develop difficulties with swallowing as their condition progresses. Saliva may accumulate in their mouth due to slowed swallowing, leading to drooling.

Chewing and eating problems: Late-stage Parkinson's disease affects the muscles in the mouth, making chewing difficult. This can lead to choking and poor nutrition.

Sleep problems and sleep disorders: People with Parkinson's disease often have sleep problems, including waking up frequently throughout the night, waking up early or falling asleep during the day.

People also may experience rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, which involves acting out dreams. Medicines may improve the quality of sleep.

Bladder problems: Parkinson's disease may cause bladder problems, including being unable to control urine or having difficulty urinating.

Constipation: Patients develop constipation, mainly due to a slower digestive tract.

Blood pressure changes: Patients may feel dizzy or lightheaded when they stand due to a sudden drop in blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension).

Smell dysfunction: Patients may experience problems with their sense of smell; having trouble identifying certain odors or the difference between odors.

Fatigue: Many people with Parkinson's disease lose energy and experience fatigue, especially later in the day. The cause isn't always known.

Pain: Some people with Parkinson's disease experience pain, either in specific areas of their bodies or throughout their bodies.

Sexual dysfunction: Some people with Parkinson's disease notice a decrease in sexual desire or performance.

Life Expectancy and Medication

Parkinson’s disease however affects life expectancy, patients are likely to have 10-20 years to live after the diagnosis has been made. Nonetheless, beneficial surgeries like Leudopa have boosted the results for this ailment. Levodopa acts as a substitute for this brain chemical for a while and the motor symptoms such as the tremor, slowness, and rigidity seen in Parkinson’s patients are alleviated. Available in various forms of tablets, pills, aerosols, and gels: the Levodopa has been evident to offer an extend of an average of 12 years to the patients’ life span though taking it.

Mental Health Challenges

As it has been highlighted the causes of Parkinson’s, mood, depression, and anxiety could badly affect the patient’s health. As noted earlier, these problems are often more disabling than motor complications Environmental issues tend to be more affecting the quality of life of the patient than motor disturbances. Parkinson’s disease depression statistics show that about fifty percent of the patients develop depression whereas anxiety disorders affect forty percent of the patients. Motor symptoms are worsened by depression while cognitive symptoms are also impacted thus calling for a proper treatment regime.

Diagnosing and Treating Depression:

The diagnosis work can also be hard in Parkinson’s patients as the symptoms mimic those of depression such as sleep disturbances and slowed movements. Also, facial masking which is a feature of Parkinson’s disease can hamper the ability of an individual to display feelings on his or her face. In many cases, patients fail to acknowledge their mood abnormalities or can’t elaborate on them due to their cognitive limitations, and thus the caretakers or family members must notice when the patient is changed for the worse or shows signs of depression.

Signs of Depression:

- Depressed mood

- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities

- Changes in sleep or appetite

- Decreased concentration or attention problems

- Increased fatigue

- Feelings of worthlessness and guilt

- Suicidal thoughts or a wish for death

Diagnosing and Treating Depression:

CBT, pharmacotherapy for depression, and the introduction of an exercise regimen are effective methods of managing depression in Parkinson’s patients. Intermittent movements and changes in Parkinson’s drugs also may have an impact on mental well-being, Hraha says.

Living with Parkinson's Disease:

Parkinson’s disease patients and their families find most forms of life improvement through exercise, proper diet, stress reduction, and sleep. Patients and caregivers benefit from support groups, counseling, and educational materials such as pamphlets and videos.

The Impact of Your Donation:

Your contribution to Parkinson's research and support services can lead to:

- Apoptosis to create new as well as improved types of medications.

- Increased support that is available for patients and equally important, for patients’ families.

- Nonmotor symptoms like depression in Parkinson’s disease are being diagnosed accurately to enhance its treatment.

- Physical and occupational therapy to receive assistance in mobility as a result of the injuries endured.

- Support for such creative methods as deep brain stimulation in the case in an attempt to improve the symptoms.

Join Us in the Fight Against Parkinson's Disease:

Your contribution will directly contribute to the enhancement of the quality of life of many people and their close ones affected by Parkinson’s disease. It is your donations that help enable the research necessary for refining treatments and, ultimately, eradicating Parkinson’s disease.

How can I Help?

Join a walking marathon advocating for PD! Link to moving day

or, Donate Directly with our Link! Link to Donation Page

or, Be a Parkinson's Care Program Assistant! Link To The Team

or, Be part of a Research opportunity! Link To Research Foundation!

Resources:

For more information on Parkinson's disease and how you can help, visit:

- [National Institute on Aging] (https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/parkinsons-disease/parkinsons-disease-causes-symptoms-and-treatments)

- [Mayo Clinic]

(https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20376055)

- [World Health Organization]

(https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/parkinson-disease)