April is Parkinson’s Awareness month, a period where healthcare professionals, businesses, civil society groups, and support groups will be voicing support and giving information and access to education for those living with Parkinson’s disease.
The month poses an opportunity to spark discussions about actions that can ease the issues faced by Parkinson’s patients, and appreciate the efforts of those who contribute to the fight against the disease.
Parkinson’s disease is a condition that affects the brain, resulting in a progressive loss of coordination and movement problems. It is caused by the death and dysfunction of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. There is no single test to diagnose Parkinson’s; a diagnosis is made based on the presence of disease symptoms and signs. Notably, many symptoms of Parkinson’s also are found in other conditions, which can further complicate a diagnosis.
The disease is named after a British physician, James Parkinson, who first published a description of it in 1817.
Parkinson’s is characterized by the death and dysfunction of neurons (nerve cells) in part of the brain called the substantia nigra. In particular, Parkinson’s is marked by problems with dopaminergic neurons, meaning nerve cells that communicate with other neurons by releasing a signaling molecule, or neurotransmitter, called dopamine.
The exact biological processes that lead to the death and dysfunction of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s are not completely understood. Both environmental and genetic factors are thought to play a role in determining whether or not a person will develop Parkinson’s.
Parkinson’s disease can cause characteristic motor symptoms such as tremors, abnormally slow movements (bradykinesia), and muscle rigidity.
Patients often have problems with balance and walking, and may also experience abnormal muscle contractions, involuntary movements, or freezing. Many people with Parkinson’s have abnormally small handwriting.
Parkinson’s also can cause non-motor symptoms such as cognitive impairment, depression, sleep problems, and hallucinations or delusions. Some patients may experience uncontrollable outbursts of crying or laughing that are unrelated to their emotions.
Parkinson’s is a progressive disease, which means its symptoms start off gradually and then worsen over time.
Parkinson’s is diagnosed not by a single test but by examining an individual’s signs, symptoms, and history. A variety of medical tests can help to diagnose Parkinson’s and rule out other diseases that may cause similar symptoms.
Most people diagnosed with Parkinson’s have primary or idiopathic parkinsonism, better known simply as Parkinson’s disease. Patients with a family history may be said to have familial Parkinson’s, while those diagnosed before the age of 50 are said to have an early-onset disease.
Other conditions — such as dementia with Lewy bodies, corticobasal degeneration, progressive supranuclear palsy, and multiple system atrophy — can cause symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease, but stem from different underlying biological causes. These diseases are referred to as secondary or atypical parkinsonism, sometimes called Parkinson’s Plus.
There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease. Nonetheless, a variety of medications are available that can ease symptoms and improve quality of life. Many of these medicines work by increasing the amount and/or activity of dopamine in the brain.
Other medications, as well as non-drug interventions, may help to ease specific symptoms or make it easier to manage daily life. Researchers are actively working to develop new therapies for Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s itself does not cause death, but it can put substantial strain on the body and make people more vulnerable to life-threatening infections such as pneumonia. With advances in care, most people with Parkinson’s disease today have a normal or near-normal life expectancy.
The combined direct and indirect cost of Parkinson’s, including treatment, social security payments, and lost income, is estimated to be nearly $52 billion per year in the United States alone.
Medications alone cost an average of $2,500 a year and therapeutic surgery can cost up to $100,000 per person.
The primary symptoms of Parkinson’s disease – tremors, muscle stiffness, slow movement (bradykinesia), and impaired balance – can vary from person to person, but they generally get worse over time.
Anyone can get Parkinson’s, but there are certain risk factors for developing the disease: genetics, age (the average age of onset is 60 years), gender (Parkinson’s affects about 50 percent more men than women), and head injuries.
The average age of onset of Parkinson’s disease is 60 years, and the incidence rises with advancing age. About 10 percent of people have “early-onset” or “young-onset” disease, which begins before age 50.
Neurologists usually describe the progression of Parkinson’s symptoms in stages, using a system known as the Hoehn and Yahr scale. In the first stages, symptoms are seen on one side of the body only, and then eventually on both. In the later stages, balance impairment sets in, followed by severe disability.
No cure exists for Parkinson’s, but a number of treatments can help manage the disease’s symptoms. Prescription drugs are the most common, and usually the first, type of treatment given. Other therapies include a surgical procedure called deep brain stimulation.
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects dopamine-producing neurons in a certain part of the brain. It is a mobility disorder caused by a degenerative neural system dysfunction. Symptoms appear over time. At a summit in Luxembourg on April 11, 2005, the red tulip was unveiled as the global symbol of Parkinson’s disease.
Tremors, movement, and balance difficulties, limb rigidity, and delayed muscle action are all symptoms of this slowly advancing illness. While each person’s reaction to the disease differs, the consequences are frequently serious. There is no cure for this disease, and additional research is required. Although awareness, medications, and information can help those who are impacted by the condition, they are not a cure. Symptoms are used to diagnose typical cases, with motor issues being the most common complaint. Approximately 10 million people in the world have Parkinson’s.
The Parkinson’s Foundation has a weekly informative podcast. They have fitness classes for patients, as well as educational seminars. Exercise can greatly stem the symptoms of Parkinson’s. Aerobic exercise helps build new pathways in the brain to replace those that were damaged. This leads to the improvement of motor symptoms. April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month because it is the birth month of James Parkinson. He was the London physician who published “An Essay on the Shaking Palsy” in 1817. He was the first physician to describe Parkinson’s disease.
Not enough people understand what it’s like to live with Parkinson’s. They don’t know it’s a serious condition. They don’t realize that treatments are limited and that there is no cure.
But if more people understand Parkinson’s, the more people can fundraise, can fight for fair benefits, can support their local communities, and, ultimately, can get us closer to that cure.
It’s time to start the conversation. It’s time to talk about Parkinson’s.
Sources:
https://www.parkinson.org/parkinsons-awareness-month