Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects how the person moves, including how they speak and write. Symptoms develop gradually, and may start off with ever-so-slight tremors in one hand. People with Parkinson’s disease also experience stiffness and find they cannot carry out movements as rapidly as before.
Risk factor:
- Age – the older you get the greater the risk. Although Parkinson’s disease can affect young people, however this is exceptional.
- Genetics – a person who has a close relative (brother, sister, mother, father) with Parkinson’s disease has a slightly higher risk of developing it himself/herself, compared to others. Even so, according to The Mayo Clinic, USA, the risk is still less than 5%.
- Gender – males are slightly more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease compared to females.
- Toxin Exposure – individuals who have been exposed to some chemicals, such as carbon monoxide, herbicides or pesticides have a slightly higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, compared to other people.
- Some Medications – such as antipsychotics used to treat severe paranoia and schizophrenia can cause Parkinsonism (symptoms that resemble Parkinson’s disease).
Causes:
Parkinson’s disease is caused by the degeneration or destruction of dopamine-producing nerve cells (dopaminergic cells), which in turn makes it harder for the brain to control and coordinate muscle movement.
Symptoms:
- A tendency to stoop, to lean forward
- Cramping
- Drooling
- Fatigue
- Loss of facial expression
- Slowness of movement
- Slowed motion
- Shaking
- Sexual dysfunction
- Speech problems
- Swallowing difficulties
- The arms may not swing when walking
- Sleep problems
- Depression
- Loss of energy
- Muscle stiffness
- Parenthesis
- Reduced sensation of pain
- Reduced sense of smell
- Urinary incontinence
- Urinary retention
Treatment:
- Deep Brain Stimulation:
A surgical procedure used to treat several disabling neurological symptoms, such as tremor, rigidity, stiffness, slowed movement and walking difficulties. - Thalamotomy :
The thalamus is destroyed (lesioned) or removed by cutting (ablated). The thalamus is a tiny part of the brain. The procedure may help reduce tremor. Thalamotomy is rarely performed these days. - Subthalamotomy:
Rarely performed these days. The subthalamus, a very small area of the brain, is destroyed. - Pallidotomy:
Since the introduction of deep brain stimulation, this procedure is rarely done. The gobus pallidus, a part of the brain, may be overactive in patients with Parkinson’s disease, causing a different part of the brain which controls movement to become less active. The surgeon destroys a small part of the globus pallidus by creating a scar, resulting in less activity in that area of the brain, which in turn may help relieve movement symptoms, such as rigidity and tremor. - Speech Therapy:
According to the National Health Service (NHS), UK, approximately half of all Parkinson’s patients experience communication problems, such as slurred speech and poor body language. A speech and language therapist can help with the use of language and speech. Patients with swallowing difficulties may also be helped by a speech therapist.
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