Parkinson's Disease Treatment Options - Parkinson's disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that primarily affects the ability to control movement and motor skills. Symptoms often start gradually, with trembling hands, stiffness, or slowing movement.
Early stages of Parkinson's syndrome include showing little to no facial expressions, soft or slurred speech, and the inability to swing the arms as the affected individual walks. These symptoms tend to worsen over time as the condition progresses.
Though there is no cure for this disease, existing medications might significantly improve symptoms.
Symptoms of Parkinson's Disorder
There are a few different types of Parkinson's syndrome. Symptoms vary depending on the type, but all forms tend to develop slowly. Symptoms include:
Tremors: Tremors or shaking in one or both hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face. Tremors or shaking most often begin with a limb, in areas such as a hand or finger. Rubbing the thumb and forefinger back and forth, known as pill-rolling tremors, is another indication. Hands may tremble even while they are at rest.
Slowed Movements (bradykinesia): Slowed movements, also known as bradykinesia, and difficulties moving limbs are also common signs of Parkinson's disease. This might make simple tasks incredibly time-consuming and frustrating. An individual's steps may become shorter as they walk, or they may drag their feet while walking. It may become difficult to get up from chairs or sitting positions.
Changes in Speech: An individual suffering from Parkinson's disease may notice a change in speech, such as speaking softly, slurring, speaking quickly, or hesitating before speaking.
Loss of Automatic Movements: There may be a decreased ability to perform movements such as smiling, blinking, or swinging the arms while walking.
Stiff Muscles: Rigid muscles may occur in any area of the body. Stiff muscles may be painful at times and limit normal range of motions.
Difficulty with Balance, Coordination, and Posture: An individual suffering from Parkinson's disorder may become disorientated, notice stooped posture, or have trouble maintaining their balance.
Changes in Writing: Individuals suffering from this disorder may notice difficulty in writing or their handwriting becoming smaller.
Cognitive difficulties such as memory loss and difficulty concentrating
Parkinson's Symptoms in Women: Though Parkinson's disease is commonly thought of as a man's illness, women may also suffer from this condition. Symptoms tend to develop slowly and progress less quickly than typical male symptoms. Symptoms among women do not always match up with men who have the same strain of the disorder. Symptoms of Parkinson's disease in women may include a slower initial progression of symptoms, tremor that starts in the upper body instead of the hands, and a lack of response to medications compared with men who have the same strain of the disorder. It is sometimes difficult to diagnose Parkinson's disease in women due to this symptom overlap with other diseases such as multiple sclerosis or dystonia.
Other symptoms: Depression and anxiety, difficulty chewing and swallowing, constipation, skin problems such as dandruff, loss of smell, sleep disturbances, restless leg syndrome, and low blood pressure.
As time goes on, these symptoms will worsen and become harder to manage. Depending on the severity of the condition and how quickly it progresses, an individual might need help with daily tasks such as getting dressed, eating, or using the bathroom.
Causes and Types of Parkinson's Disease
The exact cause is unknown, but there are possible factors involved in developing Parkinson's disease.
Genetics: There may be a genetic link to developing Parkinson's disorder. If an immediate family member has this condition or another progressive neurological disorder such as multiple sclerosis, it is likely they will inherit some of those genes and therefore pass them down to their own children. Though it is not guaranteed, they may develop one of these disorders or another related disorder later on in life.
Environment: Exposure to certain environmental toxins such as pesticides and herbicides (chemicals used to kill weeds) may increase the risk for developing Parkinson's disease, especially with long-term exposure, over many years. Though research is ongoing, studies suggest these chemicals might contribute to the death of neurons in the brain, which could result in Parkinson's disease.
Illness/Infection: Illnesses such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), or infections like neurosyphilis (a sexually transmitted disease involving complications with mental health) may cause symptoms similar to Parkinson's disorder. Individuals who have suffered strokes may also develop issues that mimic what is seen in Parkinson's disease.
Unhealthy Lifestyle: Various unhealthy lifestyle choices may put an individual at greater risk for developing Parkinson's disease. These include smoking cigarettes, alcohol abuse, and obesity.
Brain Trauma: Brain trauma caused by accidents or injuries may increase the risk of developing this condition. Though rare, it is one of the leading causes.
Lifestyle changes that might ease the pain associated with Parkinson's disease include what one puts into their body through what they eat and drink as well as what medications are taken to help ease discomfort caused by this condition.
Patients may use Medical Cannabis to help alleviate suffering from tics or involuntary spasms/movements commonly seen in those suffering from Tourette syndrome or tardive dyskinesia, a side effect of antipsychotic drugs.
Individuals with Parkinson's disease may find relief from what is consumed, including what goes into the body through what one eats and drinks and what medications are taken.
Parkinson's disease treatment varies depending on the individual and what symptoms they experience. No matter what, it will involve medication that helps control those tremors, stiffness, and slowed movement associated with this condition.
Several types of medication might be prescribed by a doctor, such as Levodopa (L-DOPA), dopamine agonists, MAO-B inhibitors, COMT inhibitors, and catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme inhibitor, selegiline, monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) inhibitor.
There are a few different Parkinson's disorder types. Some types of Parkinson's disease stem from a family history. The different types are:
Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease: this type of Parkinson's disease is the most common cause of parkinsonism. The general onset age ranges between 55 to 65 but rarely occurs before the age of 50.
Juvenile and young-onset Parkinson's Disease: This type of Parkinson's disease is rare, onsetting before the age of 21. Young-onset Parkinson's refers to any type of Parkinson's disease that develops before the age of 40. A study performed in 2017 on 108 people with this type of Parkinson's disease found that 46% had a family history.
Drug-induced Parkinsonism: This type is the second most common. Usually caused by long-term use or withdrawal from levodopa or dopamine agonist medications. Other drugs that may lead to drug-induced parkinsonism include antipsychotics, antidepressants, calcium, channel antagonists, gastrointestinal prokinetics, and antiepileptic drugs.
Multiple System Atrophy: This is a rare disorder that has similar symptoms to those with Parkinson's. It often onsets individuals in their mid-50s, leading to changes in their heart rate, blood pressure, bladder control, and digestion.
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP): Symptoms usually develop after 50 to 60 years old, and cause issues with walking, swallowing, balance, eye movement, speech, and mental ability. This type also tends to progress more rapidly than Parkinson's disease.
Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD): Usually caused by a buildup of a protein named tau in the brain. Symptoms tend to begin between the ages of 50-70.
Diffuse Lewy Body Dementia: Patients will initially show signs of dementia. If they do not have dementia, their symptoms may resemble Parkinson's disease. This disease is often caused by the abnormal buildup of the protein called Lewy bodies in the brain. The typical onset age is after 50 and affects men more than women.
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus: This refers to the buildup of cerebral fluid in the brain cavities, which may put pressure on the brain and cause damage leading to parkinsonism. This type of Parkinson's disease is commonly seen in adults over the age of 65.
Vascular Parkinsonism: Usually caused by a series of small strokes that damage the area of the brain that controls movement.
Ataxia with Vitamin E Deficiency: Usually caused by a lack of vitamin E in the system.
Postencephalitic Parkinsonism: Symptoms typically develop after encephalitis, a viral infection that causes swelling in the brain.
Diagnosing Parkinson's
There is no one test for diagnosing Parkinson's. Doctors often rely on medical history, a physical examination, and a neurological exam to conclude. They will also ask about family history and perform balance and coordination tests.
In some cases, doctors might order imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look for any changes in the brain. They might also request a DAT scan, an MRI that looks at the dopamine transporter levels in the brain.
Another test that a doctor could order is called single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). This test uses a special dye and a camera to take brain pictures. The dye helps to show how blood is flowing through the brain.
The last test a doctor could do is positron emission tomography (PET). This test uses a small amount of radioactive sugar solution injected into the bloodstream. The sugar will collect in areas of the brain that are working hard. A special camera is then used to take pictures of the brain.
Parkinson's Disease Treatment
Parkinson's disease treatment varies depending on the individual and what symptoms they experience. No matter what, it will involve medication that helps control those tremors, stiffness, and slowed movement associated with this condition.
Several different types of medication might be prescribed by a doctor, such as Levodopa (L-DOPA), dopamine agonists, MAO-B inhibitors, COMT inhibitors, and catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme inhibitor, selegiline, monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) inhibitor.
Levodopa: This is the most common Parkinson's disease medication. It helps to replenish the dopamine levels in the brain.
Dopamine agonists: These drugs act like dopamine in the brain and help improve muscle movement.
MAO-B inhibitors: These Parkinson's disease medications help prevent the brain's breakdown of dopamine.
COMT inhibitors: This class of Parkinson's medication helps prevent the breakdown of dopamine in the body.
Selegiline: This Parkinson's disease medication helps to protect dopamine neurons from damage and slows the breakdown of dopamine in the body.
Other Parkinson's disease treatments include surgery, electrical stimulation,and deep brain stimulation.
Surgery: Two main types of surgery are used to treat Parkinson's disease. The first is called ablative surgery and involves destroying a small area of the brain responsible for the tremors. The second type is called deep brain stimulation and involves implanting a small electrode in the brain that sends electrical impulses to help control the tremors.
Electrical Stimulation: This Parkinson's disease treatment involves using a small electrical current to stimulate the brain's areas responsible for movement.
Deep Brain Stimulation: This Parkinson's disease treatment involves implanting a small electrode in the brain that sends electrical impulses to help control the tremors.
