Parkinson's disease

Disorders Cure

oi-Staff

By Super Admin

Friday, June 24, 2011, 16:29

Parkinson's disease is a common neurodegenerative disease that causes slowed movements, tremor, rigidity, and a wide variety of other symptoms. Normally it's a disease of elderly. After Alzheimer's disease, it is the most common neurodegenerative diseases. Typically its beginning is in 60s and 70s. Neurodegenerative means the degeneration, or death, of neurons. Neuron is a type of cell in the brain and it is the basis for all brain activity.

How it occurs?
This chronic disease occurs when neurons in substantia nigra, a part of the brain, degenerate or die off. This will affect brain's normal control of movement. Once a person's brain loss normal control of movement, he will experience slowed movements, stiffness or rigidity, and tremor Presently there is no cure for this cause unknown disease. But, it is possible to manage the symptoms by medication and surgery.

Diagnosis
Careful neurological examination, testing movements, coordination, reflexes, and other aspects of function can diagnose Parkinson's disease. Unilateral (one-sided) tremor, slowed movements, and muscle stiffness are pre-cursor to the disease. Imaging of the brain with magnetic resource imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) are specializes test used for the diagnosis.

Symptoms

• Tremor of the hands, arms, legs, jaw and face
• Rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk
• Bradykinesia or slowness of movement
• Postural instability or impaired balance and coordination
• Orthostatic hypotension, or loss of blood pressure upon standing, which can cause dizziness and fainting
• Painful foot cramps
• Micrographic, or reduced size of handwriting
• Reduced voice volume
• Reduced facial expression
• Excessive sweating
• Constipation
• Decreased ability to smell
• Male impotence
• Drooling
• Sleep disturbance
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Panic attacks
• Late-stage dementia

Treatment
The treatment of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease is very complex. The peculiarity of this disease is that it is getting worse over time. So the early treatment may not be sufficient later on. Drugs used for the treatment have side effects. Some time these side effects go beyond control.

Levopoda is the most powerful treatment for the Parkinson's disease. It is taken into the brain and substitutes for the dopamine. Dopamine agonists are another treatment, which is similar to Levopoda in effect. Dopamine agonists, selegiline and amantadine are other medications, which are not so powerful.

In late stage of Parkinson's disease, brain surgery is done. Only persons who respond to levodopa are selected for the surgery. Patients with Dementia or other significant health-related conditions are not fit for the surgery.

Brain surgery is of two types.

1. Ablative lesions: Destroys a small portion of the brain and restores the balance of neural activity within the movement control circuits of the brain. This form of surgery is very simple less prone to long-term complications
2. Deep brain stimulation (DBS): implants an electrode in the target brain region. This is more complex and expensive. But this surgery enhances the surgical effects.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.