Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that is the result of the gradual decline of a small population of cells within the brain. Parkinson's disease typically develops gradually in the elderly, causing symptoms in people over the age of sixty. Although there is no cure for Parkinson's, there are many treatments that can help relieve the symptoms of this disease.
Dopamine
The brain is made up of cells called neurons that send chemical signals to each other via special chemicals called neurotransmitters. One important neurotransmitter is called dopamine. Dopamine is important for controlling and prioritizing movements within the body. The substantia negra is a small section of the brain that is critical for dopamine production. Patients with Parkinson's disease have the cells in their substantia nigra gradually die off. As Medline explains, it is not known what causes this to happen. The gradual death of cells in the substantia nigra causes dopamine levels to decrease. This causes a chemical imbalance to occur in the brain, leading to the symptoms of Parkinson's.
Risk factors
The Mayo Clinic notes several different risk factors for the development of Parkinson's. Foremost is age; Parkinson's generally affects middle-aged or older people. There appears to be a genetic component to Parkinson's, so having several close relatives with this disease can increase a person's chance of gettting Parkinson's. Men are more likely to be afflicted than women. Finally, regular exposure to herbicides and other toxins has been linked to Parkinson's.
Symptoms
The Mayo Clinic explains that one of the earliest symptoms of Parkinson's disease is the development of a tremor in the hands. This tremor often causes the thumb and forefinger to rub back and forth. Patients also develop bradykinesia, which is the slowing of the ability to make voluntary movements, and many develop rigid muscles and a stooped posture. As the disease progresses, patients lose the ability to perform certain automatic movements, such as blinking and smiling, and may have trouble with speech. Eventually Parkinson's disease results in dementia.
Diagnosis
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Parkinson's disease can be difficult to diagnose because there are no blood tests or other straightforward diagnostic procedures that can be used to detect it. Patients with Parkinson's often have brains that appear normal on an MRI or CT scan. Doctors will commonly attempt to rule out other causes of symptoms, such as the use of certain anti-psychotics, head trauma, and structural problems. One hallmark of Parkinson's disease is that the patient's symptoms will improve with the use of a drug called levodopa.
Treatments
Parkinson's disease cannot be cured, but there are a number of medications that can improve its symptoms and slow its progression. Levodopa is a medication which can be converted by the body into dopamine, which helps to supplement the dopamine levels in the brain. Levodopa is commonly given with another drug called carbadopa. Dopamine agonists, such as pramipexole and rotigotine can be used to mimic the effects of dopamine. Selegiline is a medication that can slow the rate at which the brain breaks down dopamine. Many patients benefit from physical therapy as well as a treatment known as deep brain stimulation, in which an electrode is surgically implanted into the brain and provides periodic electrical stimulation.
