What is Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a motor systems disorder. It occurs when the cells in the brain responsible for the production of dopamine are damaged. More than 70% of the cells have to be damaged for Parkinson’s to occur. Dopamine is responsible for smooth and coordinated body movements. Sufferers of Parkinson’s disease will progressively get worse, and eventually, will have little to no control over their body movement.
Symptoms
- Tremors, in the arms, legs are the most well known symptom. Typically it’s most noticeable when the person is at rest, stressed, or tired.
- Bradykinesia, is the slowness of moment. Sufferers have difficulty initiating and completing movement. It can effect the face, which would make the face look like an expressionless mask.
- Rigidity, or stiffness is an early sign of the disease. The stiffness seems to occur predominantly during movement.
- Poor balance, falls are common in people with Parkinson’s because the reflexes used to adjust balance have been impaired.
Treatments
There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, people with the disease will steadily get worse through their lives. Most patients are given a combination of levodopa and carbidopa. These drugs can be beneficial for the patient because they give the brain, much needed dopamine. This is effective in about three quarters of the people with the disease. Drug therapy will only be effective for 5-10 years. There are surgical options for those who don’t respond to the drug. Although the surgical option has waned in popularity since the introduction of the drug therapy.