Parkinson’s Disease

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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