Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder
that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the
nerves. Symptoms start slowly. The first symptom may be a barely noticeable
tremor in just one hand. Tremors are common, but the disorder may also cause
stiffness or slowing of movement.
In the initial stages of Parkinson's disease, your face may show
little or no expression. Your arms may not swing when you walk. Your speech may
become soft or slurred. Parkinson's disease symptoms worsen as your condition
progresses over time.
Although Parkinson's disease can't be cured, medications might
significantly improve your symptoms. Occasionally, your health care provider
may suggest surgery to regulate certain regions of your brain and improve your
symptoms.
Parkinson's disease signs and symptoms can be
different for everyone. Early signs may be mild and go unnoticed. Symptoms
often begin on one side of the body and usually remain worse on that side, even
after symptoms begin to affect the limbs on both sides.
Parkinson’s disease is cruel -but thousands no longer suffer it…
Symptoms
Parkinson's signs and symptoms may include:
·
Tremor. A tremor, or rhythmic shaking, usually begins in a limb,
often your hand or fingers. You may rub your thumb and forefinger back and
forth. This is known as a pill-rolling tremor. Your hand may tremble when it's
at rest. The shaking may decrease when you are performing tasks.
·
Slowed movement
(bradykinesia). Over time,
Parkinson's disease may slow your movement, making simple tasks difficult and
time-consuming. Your steps may become shorter when you walk. It may be
difficult to get out of a chair. You may drag or shuffle your feet as you try
to walk.
·
Rigid muscles. Muscle stiffness may occur in any part of your body. The
stiff muscles can be painful and limit your range of motion.
·
Impaired posture and
balance. Your posture may become stooped. Or you
may fall or have balance problems because of Parkinson's disease.
·
Loss of automatic
movements. You may have a decreased ability to
perform unconscious movements, including blinking, smiling, or swinging your
arms when you walk.
·
Speech changes. You may speak softly, quickly, slur or hesitate before
talking. Your speech may be more of a monotone rather than have the usual
speech patterns.
·
Writing changes. It may become hard to write, and your writing may appear
small.
Causes
In Parkinson's
disease, certain nerve cells (neurons) in the brain gradually break down or
die. Many of the symptoms are due to a loss of neurons that produce a chemical
messenger in your brain called dopamine. When dopamine levels decrease, it
causes atypical brain activity, leading to impaired movement and other symptoms
of Parkinson's disease.
The cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown,
but several factors play a role, including:
·
Genes. Researchers have identified specific genetic changes that
can cause Parkinson's disease. But these are uncommon except in rare cases with
many family members affected by Parkinson's disease.
However,
certain gene variations increase the risk of Parkinson's disease but with a
relatively small risk of Parkinson's disease for each of these genetic markers.
·
Environmental
triggers. Exposure to certain toxins or
environmental factors may increase the risk of later Parkinson's disease, but
the risk is small.
Parkinson’s disease is cruel -but thousands no longer suffer it…
Researchers have also noted that many changes
occur in the brains of people with Parkinson's disease, although it's not clear
why these changes occur. These changes include:
·
The presence of Lewy
bodies. Clumps of specific substances within
brain cells are microscopic markers of Parkinson's disease. These are called
Lewy bodies, and researchers believe these Lewy bodies hold an important clue
to the cause of Parkinson's disease.
·
Alpha-synuclein found
within Lewy bodies. Although many
substances are found within Lewy bodies, scientists believe an important one is
the natural and widespread protein called alpha-synuclein (a-synuclein). It's
found in all Lewy bodies in a clumped form that cells can't break down. This is
currently an important focus among Parkinson's disease researchers.
Risk factors
Risk factors for Parkinson's disease include:
·
Age. Young adults rarely experience Parkinson's disease. It
ordinarily begins in middle or late life, and the risk increases with age.
People usually develop the disease around age 60 or older. If a young person
does have Parkinson's disease, genetic counseling might be helpful in making
family planning decisions. Work, social situations and medication side effects
are also different from those of an older person with Parkinson's disease and
require special considerations.
·
Heredity. Having a close relative with Parkinson's disease increases
the chances that you'll develop the disease. However, your risks are still
small unless you have many relatives in your family with Parkinson's disease.
·
Sex. Men are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than
women.
·
Exposure to toxins. Ongoing exposure to herbicides and pesticides may slightly
increase your risk of Parkinson's disease.
·
Blood pressure changes. You may feel dizzy or lightheaded when you stand due to sudden
drop in blood pressure.
·
Smell dysfunction. You may have difficulty
identifying certain odors or the difference between odors.
·
Fatigue. Many people with this disease lose energy and experience
fatigue, especially later in the day.
Prevention
Because the cause of Parkinson's is unknown,
there are no proven ways to prevent the disease.
Some research has shown that regular aerobic
exercise might reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease.
Some other research has shown that people who
consume caffeine — which is found in coffee, tea and cola — get Parkinson's
disease less often than those who don't drink it. Green tea is also related to
a reduced risk of developing Parkinson's disease. However, it is still not
known whether caffeine protects against getting Parkinson's or is related in
some other way. Currently there is not enough evidence to suggest that drinking
caffeinated beverages protects against Parkinson's.
Parkinson’s disease is cruel -but thousands no longer suffer it…
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