Parkinson’s Disease
What is Parkinson’s disease? Parkinson’s disease (PD) belongs to a group of conditions called motor system disorders, which are the result of the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells.
The four main symptoms of PD are tremor, or wobbly in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; rigidity, or rigidity of the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia, or sluggishness of movement; and postural unsteadiness, or impaired balance and coordination.
As these symptoms become more marked, patients may have difficulty walking, talking, or implementing other simple tasks. PD usually affects the population over the age of 50.
Early symptoms of PD are fine and occur steadily. In some populations, the illness progresses more quickly than in others.
Causes of Parkinson’s We do not yet know what causes Parkinson’s disease (PD) to develop in most people. Experts have identified aging as an important factor that contributes to Parkinson’s in some individuals.
For example, people over age 60 have a two-to-four percent risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, compared with the one-to-two percent risk in the general population.
While certain families share a gene that leads to Parkinson’s, this is a small percentage of the population with PD. Most Parkinson’s disease cases are sporadic — meaning that genetics and family history have not played a clear role in the onset and development of the disease.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s, Bradykinesia is slowness in voluntary movement. It produces complexity initiating movement, as well as complexity completing movement once it is in progress.
The belated transmission of signals from the brain to the very thin muscles, due to diminished dopamine, produces bradykinesia. Bradykinesia and rigidity that affects the facial muscles can result in an expressionless, “mask-like” appearance. Tremors in the hand fingers, forearm, or foot be inclined to occur at what time the member is at rest, but not when the patient is performing tasks. Tremor may occur in the mouth and chin as wel
l. Rigidity, or stiff muscles, may create muscle pain and facial masking. Rigidity tends to increase during movement. Poor balance is due to the injury or loss of the reflex that adjusts posture to maintain balance. Falls are common in people with Parkinson’s disease.
Treatment of Parkinson’s At present, there is no cure for PD, but a variety of medications provide dramatic relief from the symptoms. Usually, patients are known to take levodopa together with carbidopa. Carbidopa delays the change of levodopa into dopamine until it reaches the brain. Nerve cells can use levodopa to make dopamine and replenish the brain’s dwindling supply.
Although levodopa helps at least three-quarters of parkinsonian cases, not all symptoms respond equally to the drug.
Bradykinesia and inflexibility respond best, while shake may be only slightly reduced. Problems with equilibrium and other symptoms may not be alleviated at all.
