| Motor System Disorders is actually an umbrella term | | | | would not be depressed if they had this disease? |
| used to cover many of the neurological diseases. | | | | What is known is that depression is a very common |
| Parkinson's disease is one of those disorders. For | | | | symptom of Parkinson's disease. |
| many of these disorders, the main cause of the | | | | - Problems with eating and swallowing. |
| disorder is a loss of a chemical that is produced in the | | | | - Difficulty in speaking clearly |
| brain called Dopamine. Dopamine carries messages to | | | | - Constipation and urinary problems. |
| the part of the brain that handles body co-ordination | | | | - Sleep disorders |
| and movement. When the dopamine supply is | | | | - Hygiene, skin and hair problems |
| reduced (as in Parkinson's), the messages are | | | | There is no normal set of symptoms in the |
| reduced or eventually stop altogether which reduces | | | | progression of Parkinson's disease. Each patient is |
| the body's ability to move normally as it should do. | | | | unique in this regard. Some people will progress |
| In general, Parkinson's disease is more frequent in | | | | rapidly, with their symptoms worsening over a period |
| people over the age of 50. But there are many cases | | | | of months. Others may take several years to get to |
| where it has developed in people of a much younger | | | | the same stage. |
| age. Regardless of the patient's age at onset, if the | | | | There are no concrete rules on this, but one reason |
| disease is diagnosed while still in an early stage, and if | | | | for this discrepancy may be with the skill level of the |
| the dopamine in the brain has not been severely | | | | treating physician. As mentioned above, many of the |
| depleted yet, medical treatments can usually help | | | | symptoms of this disease can go unnoticed, and |
| with decelerating the progress of the disease. | | | | therefore untreated, for a long time. |
| The more classic symptoms of Parkinson's disease | | | | Parkinson's disease is treated by specific drugs which |
| are: | | | | include: |
| - Tremors. This is shaking of the face, jaw, and limbs. | | | | - pramipexole |
| - Rigidity or stiffness in the torso and limbs | | | | - ropinirole |
| - Slow movement | | | | - amantadine |
| - Decrease in co-ordination and balance. | | | | - pergolide |
| In the very early stages, these symptoms can seem | | | | - bromocriptine |
| minor to the point that they are ignored, missed, or | | | | Dosages for these drugs must be exact in order for |
| overlooked. However, as the disease progresses, the | | | | any to work. This requires some high level of skill on |
| symptoms become more noticeable until at some | | | | the physcian prescribing the drug and the dosage. All |
| point they literally control the patient's life. | | | | patients are unique and their treatment regime will be |
| In addition to the above, other problems are also | | | | unique as well. |
| associated with Parkinson's disease: | | | | Another reason the disease may progress faster in a |
| - Depression: There are two schools of thought on | | | | certain person is that the disease itself is more |
| depression. One is that depression may be caused by | | | | aggressive in that individual. |
| the disease itself; that it has a chemical origin | | | | While there is currently no cure for Parkinson's |
| associated with the disease. The other thought is | | | | disease, thoughtful management can ensure that the |
| that depression is caused in some patients simply | | | | majority of sufferers can enjoy a better quality of |
| because they have the disease. In other words, who | | | | life for a long time. |