What is Parkinson’s Disease (PD)?
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the part of the brain that controls movement. It is a chronic and progressive condition, meaning that symptoms worsen over time. While there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, there are treatments available to help manage the symptoms and improve quality of life.
Who does it affect?
Parkinson’s disease primarily affects individuals as they age, with the average onset occurring around 60 years old. It is slightly more prevalent in men.
Although typically associated with older age, Parkinson’s can manifest in adults as young as 30-40 years, although uncommonly. Often, individuals with this condition have a familial connection, such as a parent or grand parent with Parkinson’s disease.
How common is this condition?
Globally, Parkinson’s affects millions of people, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that approximately 1% of the population over 60 years old suffers from PD. This translates to over 6 million individuals worldwide. Moreover, with aging populations and improved longevity, the prevalence of PD is expected to rise substantially in the coming decades, posing significant challenges for healthcare systems globally.
How does this condition affect my body and mind?
Parkinson’s disease damages an area in the brain called the basal ganglia, leading to a loss of movement control. This is because the brain lacks dopamine, a key chemical for smooth movements of body and motivation of mind. The result? Tremors, slowness, and eventually, balance problems. As the disease progresses, it can even slowing of thinking and low mood and lack of motivation.
Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms
Motor related symptoms include:
- Slowed movements: Struggling to complete everyday tasks due to sluggish movements.
- Tremor: Uncontrollable shaking, typically in the hands or at rest.
- Rigidity: Muscle stiffness making movement feel stiff and jerky.
- Unstable posture or walking gait: A hunched posture and shuffling walk due to stiffness and slowness.
- Reduced blinking: Fewer blinks, leading to dry and irritated eyes.
- Small handwriting: Cramped and tiny handwriting due to difficulty with fine motor control.
- Drooling: Difficulty swallowing leading to excessive drool.
- Mask-like facial expression: Limited facial movement creating a flat or emotionless appearance.
- Swallowing difficulty: Challenges swallowing food or liquids.
- Soft voice: Weak or low volume voice due to muscle control issues.
Non-motor symptoms include:
- Autonomic nervous system problems: Issues with functions like bowel (long-standing constipation), blood pressure and bladder control.
- Depression: Feeling down and hopeless for no apparent reason.
- Loss of sense of smell: A weakened ability to smell, sometimes an early warning sign.
- Sleep problems: Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing restless sleep.
- Trouble thinking or focusing: Challenges with memory, concentration, and planning.
Parkinson's Treatment by Medications
Medications play a crucial role in managing the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, particularly those related to walking, movement, and tremors. These drugs work by either increasing dopamine levels or acting as substitutes for dopamine, which is typically low in individuals with Parkinson’s.
It’s important to note that while many individuals experience substantial relief from symptoms upon initiating treatment, the effectiveness of medications may diminish over time or become less consistent.
Is there any long-term cure for Parkinson’s Disease?
There is currently no known cure for Parkinson’s disease. While treatments such as medications, surgery, and therapy can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life, they do not offer a definitive cure.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical procedure that can be a powerful tool for managing some of the more severe symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Radio-frequency ablation (RFA) is an alternative procedure when DBS cannot be performed due to lack of fulfilment of criteria for DBS or lack of financial affordability, as DBS is a very expensive procedure. RFA doesn’t give as long-lasting improvement as DBS does, but is surely a better option than only medicinal treatment in advanced stage of Parkinson’s disease in selected cases.
Parkinson’s disease disrupts the brain’s production of dopamine, a crucial chemical for movement control. DBS doesn’t directly replace dopamine, but it can help modulate brain signals, leading to:
- Improved control over tremors, stiffness, and slowness
- Reduced need for Parkinson’s medications (potentially lowering side effects)
- Improved quality of life for some patients
Stages of Parkinson’s & Their Treatments
| STAGES | SYMPTOMS | TREATMENTS |
|---|---|---|
| Mild-moderate | Slow movements, tremor, stiffness | Medicines for Parkinson’s disease. Symptoms are well-responsive to medicines at this stage, which lasts for 5-10 years or more roughly from disease onset |
| Advanced | Above symptoms are more disabling, affecting quality of life. The person cannot perform his/her job and other daily activities easily as before. | Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Radio-frequency ablation (RFA) |
| Advanced stage with dementia or postural instability | Above symptoms with memory impairment, loss of balance while walking with frequent falls | Supportive and Nursing care by family and care givers. Neither DBS nor medicines make significant improvement in quality of life at this stage. |
Wrapping up…
Looking for a Parkinson’s disease treatment in Ahmedabad?
Schedule an appointment: Contact us today to schedule a consultation with a Parkinson’s specialist or Neuromodulation expert in Ahmedabad.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
No, Parkinson’s disease is not contagious. It’s a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the brain cells responsible for movement. You cannot contract it from someone else through physical contact or shared spaces.
There is currently no known way to prevent Parkinson’s disease. However, research is ongoing to identify risk factors and potentially develop preventative measures in the future. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and a balanced diet may contribute to overall brain health, although a direct link to Parkinson’s prevention hasn’t been established.
Our Specialist
Dr Sagar Betai
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