Parkinsons Disease

With today’s medicine, we have yet to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease. However, based on the severity of the symptoms and your medical profile, we will establish an appropriate treatment protocol. Parkinson’s disease treatment will be determined by your doctor based on:

• Your age, overall health, and medical history
• The extent of the condition
• Type of condition
• Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• Expectations for the course of the condition
• Your opinion or preference

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition caused by a lack of dopamine in the substantia nigra. The substantia nigra, found in the mid-brain, is a group of nerve cells that are responsible for producing a large amount of dopamine in the body. The dopamine from the substantia nigra helps the body function properly, and is responsible for movement such as walking, talking, and eating.

Parkinson’s disease, named in 1817 after Dr James Parkinson, affects over 4.5 million people worldwide. Mostly the disease develops in over 60 years old; however, people under 50 can get it too. Behind Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s is the most common neurodegenerative condition.

Currently, the cause of Parkinson’s disease is unknown. There is ongoing research into the disease and there is evidence to suggest it could be hereditary. Furthermore, pesticides, toxins and chemicals found in agricultural work have also been linked to Parkinson’s disease.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

• Tremors, mostly in the hands but other parts of the body too.
• Stiffness in the body, sometimes causing chest pain.
• Back Rigidity & Stopped Posture
• Forward tilt of the trunk of the body
• Slightly Flexed hip and knees
• Anxiety and depression
• A short, shuffling walk.
• Slurred speech
• Constipation

Various Stages of Parkinson’s Disease

Stage 1 During the initial stage of Parkinson’s disease, daily routine is mostly uninterrupted by symptoms. It’s common for loved ones and friends to notice a difference in movement, such as light tremors in the hand, before the individual does. At this point, medication can be effective to manage symptoms.

Stage 2 From stage 1, the progression to this point can take months or even years. Symptoms are much more noticeable by now. For instance, tremors in the hand become more severe and changes in facial expressions arise. Speech difficulty at this stage is also common and overall symptoms are on both sides at the body at this stage. Daily tasks become much tougher.

Stage 3 The severity of symptoms increases in Stage 3. As balance and coordination are very difficult by this point, stage 3 Parkinson’s disease patients should be very careful as falls and trips arise more often. Part or full-time care is recommended.

Stage 4 By this point, most individuals will need full-time care, as mobility is very restricted. Daily tasks should be supervised and walking will be much slower and cause fatigue.

Stage 5 By stage 5, patients are wheelchair-bound. Full-time assistance is required to prevent injury when walking. Other side effects can include dementia, delusions, and hallucinations.

Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Options

The selected Parkinson’s disease treatment is dependent on which stage the disease is diagnosed, meaning it’s important to have regular checks if you fit the criteria of any of the above symptoms. Parkinson’s disease also varies for each person, meaning it’s common to try a range of treatments.

There is a variety of treatments for Parkinson’s disease however there’s no cure, but there are solutions that can help symptoms and enhance well-being.

Occupational Therapy

Parkinson’s disease can restrict your everyday well-being. Occupational therapy can help implement independence back into the lives of patients through the management and planning of practical issues, such as walking, eating, drinking, and building a healthy routine.

Physiotherapy

It’s important to stay as active as feasibly possible during Parkinson’s disease. A physiotherapist can advise on how best to maintain movement, good posture and stamina. This also becomes beneficial in avoiding issues or problems that may arise in the future.

Medication for Parkinson’s Disease

Medication is the most popular means of treatment. There is a diverse selection of medication for Parkinson’s. Most medication aims to increase dopamine to the brain whilst also stopping the breakdown of dopamine. It’s best to speak to your doctor to find the best medication which will work for you.

Surgery for Parkinson’s Disease

Deep Brain Stimulation is the most common type of surgery in Parkinson’s disease treatment. The procedure involves thin wires inserted into the area of the brain that controls movement. Once the wires are positioned correctly, they are connected to a battery-operated neuro-stimulator placed under the skin. The aim of the surgery is to send electronic signals to the area of the brain related to Parkinson’s to help control motor symptoms.

Motor Cortex Stimulation (MCS) is less efficacious than Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) in Parkinson’s disease. However, it might be proposed to patients excluded from DBS or unresponsive to DBS.