| Parkinson disease is a brain disorder
| |
| | of genetic factors and environmental
|
| that affects nearly 1.5 million Americans
| |
| | exposures." (National Parkinson
|
| and 60,000 new cases are diagnosed
| |
| | Foundation)
|
| annually. There is no known cure but with
| |
| | Parkinson's isn't easy to diagnose
|
| research and medication there is hope.
| |
| | either. There is no blood test or brain
|
| A British physician, Dr. James Parkinson,
| |
| | scan that definitively points to the
|
| first described the disease in 1817. It
| |
| | condition - doctors diagnose based on the
|
| is characterized by slowness, tremors,
| |
| | process of elimination and patient
|
| stiffness and a loss of balance. Only two
| |
| | symptoms. Other signs of the disease
|
| of these symptoms need to be present,
| |
| | include: a shuffling walk, small cramped
|
| especially if they are more apparent on
| |
| | handwriting, muffled speech, depression
|
| one side of the body over the other, for
| |
| | and stiff facial expressions. There are
|
| a diagnosis of the condition to be made.
| |
| | doctors, neurologists, who specialize in
|
| Brain cells called neurons are
| |
| | the treatment of neurological disorders
|
| responsible for passing along electrical
| |
| | and of these even more specialized
|
| impulses throughout the brain, from one
| |
| | practioners who specifically treat
|
| cell to the next, allowing the brain to
| |
| | Parkinson disease.
|
| function normally. In Parkinson disease,
| |
| | There are treatment options available to
|
| cells in a certain part of the brain
| |
| | ease the symptoms of the disease. Most of
|
| called the substantia nigra begin to die
| |
| | the hallmarks of Parkinson disease are
|
| or become impaired. These cells are
| |
| | caused by the lack of dopamine-producing
|
| particularly important because they
| |
| | cells existing or still functioning in
|
| produce a chemical called dopamine. This
| |
| | the brain, so conventional treatment
|
| chemical is responsible for smooth and
| |
| | includes medications that mimic or
|
| coordinated movement of the body's
| |
| | replace dopamine. This helps to reduce
|
| muscles. According to the National
| |
| | the stiffness, tremors, slow movement and
|
| Parkinson Foundation, "When approximately
| |
| | poor balance associated with the
|
| 80% of the dopamine-producing cells are
| |
| | condition. Several promising new
|
| damaged, the symptoms of Parkinson
| |
| | medicines are being developed and studied
|
| disease appear."
| |
| | to halt the progression of the disease,
|
| So who's at risk for developing Parkinson
| |
| | too.
|
| disease? Almost everyone; the disease
| |
| | Surgery can be another option to help
|
| doesn't seem to be selective and affects
| |
| | ease the symptoms for some Parkinson
|
| women and men equally; and while it is
| |
| | sufferers - brain surgery can be
|
| generally considered a disease of the
| |
| | dangerous so this is most often only
|
| elderly that occurs after the age of 65,
| |
| | considered after treatment with
|
| about 15% of the affected population are
| |
| | medication seems ineffective.
|
| diagnosed under the age of 50. Parkinson
| |
| | There is currently no cure for Parkinson
|
| affect 1 out of every 100 people and
| |
| | disease, but there is support and
|
| there doesn't seem to be any social,
| |
| | treatment available; and with researchers
|
| ethnic, economic or geographic boundaries
| |
| | working diligently to develop medications
|
| either. "Currently, researchers suspect
| |
| | to halt the progression of the disease,
|
| that the cause of Parkinson disease in
| |
| | there is also hope for the future.
|
| most individuals reflects a combination
| |
| |
|
