Facts About Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is a chronic, incurable neurological condition that gradually worsens over time, although it is manageable with treatment that includes prescription medication, physical therapy and occasionally surgery. According to the National Parkinson Foundation, about 60,000 new diagnoses occur annually in the United States, and although the risk increases as a person ages, about 15 percent of diagnoses are for people under age 50.

Description

• The section of the brain that controls movement contains neurons (nerve cells) that produce dopamine, a chemical that emits signals capable of coordinating how the body moves. When the neurons die or stop functioning properly, the lower level of dopamine leads to reduced motor control. The resulting disorder is Parkinson's disease, though what causes the neurons to cease working correctly remains unknown.

Features

• The most well-known symptom of Parkinson's disease is a noticeable trembling of a body part, such as the hands or legs, called a tremor. Additional signs include stiffness in the torso, legs and arms; lack of facial expression; poor coordination and balance; slowed movement; and speech that sounds like mumbling. Symptoms tend to worsen as time passes, eventually making it difficult or impossible for the sufferer to complete basic tasks, such as eating, talking and walking.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosing Parkinson's is difficult because the disease's symptoms develop slowly and often overlap with symptoms of other diseases or medical conditions, such as carbon monoxide or cyanide poisoning. The evaluation process includes a neurological examination to test a patient's motor coordination and movement, and compiling a medical history to determine the risk of Parkinson's based on genetics (the risk increases if a relative has had it) and to rule out other reasons for poor motor control, such as certain medications. There's no dedicated test to confirm Parkinson's, but doctors may diagnose it when two of three primary symptoms are present (rigid muscles, slowed motion, and tremors), symptoms only occur on one side; taking levodopa produces a marked response; or a tremor is more noticeable when the affected body part isn't moving.

Treatment

• Despite several medical approaches to treating Parkinson's, the disease often begins to respond less or less consistently to prescribed drugs, requiring the need for additional treatment methods, such as physical therapy to maintain muscle movement and proper nutrition. The main drugs prescribed for Parkinson's are levodopa, a pill that transforms into dopamine in the brain; dopamine agonists, which can mimic the functions of dopamine; and MAO B (monoamine oxidase B) inhibitors, which prevent natural dopamine and levodopa-produced dopamine from breaking down. The most popular surgical method to treat Parkinson's is deep brain stimulation, a procedure that involves inserting an electrode in the area of the brain that regulates movement and then attaching it to a controlling device implanted in the chest.

Complications

• Several complications related to reduced muscle control frequently accompany Parkinson's disease, including constipation, decreased interest in sex, depression, difficulty eating and sleeping, and urinary incontinence or retention. The medications taken to manage Parkinson's may also contribute to the complications or provoke others, such as hallucinations and twitching.