When we think of Parkinson's Disease, we think of famous names like Michael J. Fox and Muhammad Ali. But what about when it happens to somebody you know? Facing a new diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease can be upsetting, so let's look at exactly what it is.
Parkinson's is a motor system disorder which is caused by a loss of dopamine producing brain cells. The brain and the body start having problems talking to one another. This will result in tremors, stiff movement, slower movement, and loss of balance. For some patients the symptoms are gradual and for others they can come on very quickly. Some people become severely disabled, while others experience only minor motor disruptions. There is simply no way to know how your loved one will progress until it starts to happen. Although Michael J. Fox is clearly the exception to the rule, most cases of Parkinson's appear in people over the age of 50.
One of the most difficult things to deal with regarding Parkinson's is that while the body starts to falter, the mind is as sharp as ever. So even though dad is going to reach the point where he is going to need help simply getting a spoon to his mouth, he is still fully aware of everything going on around him. He may just be have issues conveying his thoughts if his facial muscles are betraying him along with all of the others.
This inability to communicate causes a great deal of stress to both the person suffering the disease and to those around him. This stress can lead to anxiety and depression, so it's best to find ways to communicate long before the disease progresses to this point. Having your body betray you completely also, obviously, adds to the stress and depression levels, but having the means to communicate with others will allow the person with Parkinson's some degree of control in their own life.
Despite the promises of stem cell research, at the moment there is no cure for Parkinson's, but there are several medications to help control the symptoms. Patients can be given Levodopa and Carbidopa to help build up dopamine in the brain, in most patients this will help ease the rigidity, or “locking up” that many patients experience. Although these are the primary medications used, there are a large variety of other medications available to try.
If medications don't work, or don't work any longer, surgery could be an option. A therapy called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) has now been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In DBS, electrodes are implanted into the brain and connected to a small electrical device called a pulse generator that can be externally programmed. The intent is to stimulate the the brain cells to produce their own dopamine.
A diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease can be a frightening thing, but with plenty of preparation, information, and support patients and loved ones can learn to cope with the diagnosis.
For further information on Parkinson's Disease, check out these websites:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/parkinsons_disease/parkinsons_disease.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/parkinsons-disease/DS00295 http://www.parkinson.org/
http://www.michaeljfox.org/ http://www.parkinsons.org/ http://www.pdf.org/
http://www.boston.com/news/health/blog/2010/10/scientists_repo_1.html
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fparkinsons-disease%2Fdefault.htm&h=d0b48
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