Parkinson's Disease (PD)
Disclaimer: Not medical or professional advice. Always seek the advice of your physician.
Parkinson's disease is a progressive brain disorder that causes damage and death of nerve cells (neurons). It starts out slowly, sometimes taking 15-20 years for symptoms to appear.
Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease
The symptoms of Parkinson's disease progress gradually over the years and are not life-threatening. In most cases, people often assume that tiredness, anxiety, problems with coordination, pain in the neck and shoulders are inevitable results of the natural aging process.
Common Signs of Parkinson's Disease
- Tremor (involuntary movements of the limbs) is one of the main symptoms most commonly associated with Parkinson's. At first, it can be hard to tell if a person has a tremor. It often starts in just one arm or leg and can eventually affect other limbs. PD is characterized by resting tremor, which occurs with the body part in complete repose and often subsides with action or during sleep.
- Slowness or clumsiness. It is perhaps the most recognizable sign of PD, according to patients.
- Muscle stiffness. People with PD experience resistance to limb movement caused by increased muscle tone.
- Impaired balance. PD also compromises the ability to maintain or change posture. For this reason, patients have difficulty starting to walk or changing directions. This symptom is a common cause of falls and fall-related injuries. Such manifestations occur in the later stages of the disease.
- Gait disturbance. People with Parkinson’s disease usually take small, shuffling steps.
- Handwriting changes. Writing becomes messy and gets smaller, and eventually illegible.
- Speech disorders. In the later stages of the disease, a person with Parkinson's may start to speak more slowly and less distinctly. The voice can get weaker.
- Mental health problems. Nearly half of all people with Parkinson's have experienced psychological issues. Mostly they suffer from depression, anxiety, panic attacks, or apathy.
The later stages of Parkinson's disease are characterized by slowness of thinking, difficulty with processing information and problem-solving, as well as poor concentration.
The intensity of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease can vary widely and depend on the type of medicines being used. Do not put off getting medical care if you have early signs or symptoms of the disease. Early treatment has been proven to significantly improve the prognosis of patients and their quality of life. It can reduce the severity of symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease.
Causes of Parkinson's Disease
There is no clear understanding of the exact cause of Parkinson's disease. Scientists believe that it results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. It is not known why PD does not affect every person the same way, although research is ongoing to identify potential causes.
- Genetic factors - about 10-15% of PD cases are caused by genetics. Over the years, scientists have focused their research on studying DNA from people with this disease and comparing their genes. They found dozens of gene mutations linked to Parkinson's disease. In some families, mutations in certain genes are inherited or passed down from generation to generation. However, even when a person has a gene mutation associated with Parkinson's, the likelihood of developing the disease is low.
- Traumatic brain injuries - can trigger the development of the disease even years after the accident.
- Chronic vascular diseases, nervous system diseases.
- Brain tumor.
Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) believe that people with multiple risk factors have a greater likelihood of developing Parkinson's disease.
Prevention of Parkinson's Disease
- Keep your vascular system healthy.
- Do not stop or skip taking medications prescribed by your doctor.
- Always seek medical advice if you notice any of the symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease.
- Avoid stressful situations.
- Add more physical activity to your day (exercising or walking).
- Several studies have shown coffee drinkers and smokers to be less likely to develop this disease. But it does not imply you should start smoking or consuming large amounts of coffee as a preventive measure.
Parkinson's disease is not completely curable. While the disease progression cannot be stopped, there are some steps patients can take to minimize certain risks. For example, following doctor’s orders can slow down the course of the disease and improve the quality of life.