12/22/23, 5 mins reading

Parkinson’s Disease is a chronic, progressive, neurological disorder that originates from the brain, progresses over time, and affects its controlled muscles. At the core of the brain involved is a region called the midbrain where a cluster of nerve cells (dopaminergic neurons) get damaged and die over time. Upon the loss of nerve cells, the brain is unable to produce enough Dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter required for properly controlling body movements.

Symptoms Clinically, patients present motor and non-motor symptoms. Symptoms can vary from patient to patient, the majority of them have motor symptoms including tremors, slowed movements, rigid muscles balancing issues, and unusual postures

• Motor symptoms:

Tremors

Slowed movements

Rigid muscles

Unusual postures, and balancing issues.

Speech and writing change

• Nonmotor symptoms:

  Loss of smell

  Depression

  Anxiety

  Constipation

  Eye movement disorders

  Pain

Treatments Although there is no cure up to date, A variety of treatments including medications, surgeries, and physical therapy are available to help relieve symptoms and improve the quality of daily life for PD patients.

• Levodopa-Carbidopa (L-dopa) is one of the most used and effective drugs to treat Parkinson’s disease. It works as dopamine replacement, to supply and fill the brain’s reduced dopamine production.

• Surgeries such as pallidotomy and thalamotomy can be used to destroy parts of the brain and alleviate motor symptoms.

• Physical therapy and Exercise.

Prognosis Parkinson’s disease doesn’t directly cause death. However, symptoms especially motor symptoms could progress and get worse over the course and cause death. The complications of motor symptoms such as falls, therefore, could be fatal and cause death. Most Parkinson’s disease patients respond well to medications and with proper treatments and appropriate self-care, most Parkinson’s disease patients can live a normal or normal-near life.