Parkinson's disease: symptoms, research and treatment

Parkinson's disease is a slow, progressive disease that manifests itself primarily in a person's posture and motor system. In addition, Parkinson's disease may cause disturbances in the autonomic nervous system as well as psychological changes. In this article you will read everything about the symptoms and the treatment of Parkinson's disease.  

Symptoms of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is a disorder that manifests itself when a person is around 50 to 65 years of age. The disease may be hereditary, but does not necessarily have to be. Symptoms belonging to Parkinson's disease are caused by a disturbance in the balance between neurotransmitters in the brain. What causes Parkinson's disease is as yet unknown. Some researchers think the disease is caused by a metabolic disorder.

The first symptom that might point to Parkinson's disease is a decreased arm swing of one or both arms during walking. In the same period, a sufferer's handwriting will become smaller. After a while (when the disease is in a more advanced stage), the hand will begin to shake (which is called tremor). In addition, a sufferer's actions will become clumsier (slower) which will become apparent especially when he or she makes rapid movements. The tremor is most probably the most typical symptom of Parkinson's disease. Typical for this tremor is that it is present in rest situations; emotions or attention worsen it. However, when the sufferer is busy and making conscious movements the tremor will decrease or even disappear. During sleep the tremor is completely absent.

In addition to the fact that a person who suffers from Parkinson's disease is troubled by shaking hands, he or she might also experience a diminished freedom of movement and excessive tenseness. When the disease is in an advanced stage, the sufferer's face will get a mask-like expression. This means that all expression disappears from the face and that the eyes blink less. In this stage, sufferers will take smaller steps and walk with sagging knees. Another symptom that can be observed in many people who suffer from Parkinsons's disease is a forward flexed posture.

Other symptoms that might occur are:

• A faster walking pace (people might not be able to stop on time, which might lead to them bumping into things).
• A decreased loudness of speech.
• A decreased articulation.
• Mental decay (this only happens with the most serious form of Parkinson's disease and will only manifest itself in a very advanced stage of the disease).

Treatment of Parkinson's disease

Parkinsons's disease is often treated by administering atropine or drugs with an atropine-like effect. Other drugs that can be administered to treat Parkinson's disease are L-Dopa and amantadine. L-Dopa is a drug which the human body converts to dopamine.  The chemical substance dopamine will restore the disrupted balance. Amantadine is a drug that is often prescribed in combination with L-Dopa. This medicine causes a quicker release of dopamine which makes that the treatment is successful more rapidly.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder, which means that a sufferer's health increasingly declines. This progressive course of the disease will be faster for some people than for others. Research has shown that 25% of sufferers have died or become seriously disabled within five years of their diagnosis. This percentage will only increase when time goes by.  

Sources: www.todio.nl