Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a condition in which parts
of the brain become progressively damaged over many years. The three main symptoms of Parkinson's disease are:
- involuntary
shaking of particular parts of the body (tremor)
- slow
movement
- stiff
and inflexible muscles.
A person with Parkinson's disease can also
experience a wide range of other physical and psychological symptoms,
including:
- depression and anxiety
- balance
problems – this may increase the chance of a fall
- loss
of sense of smell (anosmis)
- problems
sleeping (insomnia)
- memory problems.
Seeking medical advice
You must see your doctor if you are concerned that you may have
symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Your doctor/ GP will ask about the problems you are
experiencing and may refer you to a specialist for further tests.
Causes of Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is caused by a loss of nerve
cells in part of the brain called the substantia nigra. This leads to a
reduction in a chemical called dopamine in the brain. Dopamine plays a vital role in regulating the
movement of the body. A reduction in dopamine is responsible for many of the
symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Exactly what causes the loss of nerve cells is
unclear. Most experts think that a combination of genetic and environmental
factors is responsible.
Who's affected?
It is thought around 1 in 500 people are affected by
Parkinson's disease, which means there are an estimated 127,000 people in
the UK with the condition. Most people with Parkinson's start to develop
symptoms when they're over 50, although around 1 in 20 people with the
condition first experience symptoms when they're under 40. Men are slightly more likely to get Parkinson's
disease than women.
Treating Parkinson's disease
Although there's currently no cure for Parkinson's
disease, treatments are available to help reduce the main symptoms and maintain
quality of life for as long as possible.
These include:
- supportive
treatments – such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy
- medication
- in
some cases, brain surgery.
You may not need any treatment during the early
stages of Parkinson's disease, as symptoms are usually mild. However, you may
need regular appointments with your specialist so your condition can be
monitored.
Outlook
As the condition progresses, the symptoms of
Parkinson's disease can get worse and it can become increasingly difficult
to carry out everyday activities without assistance. Many people respond well to treatment and only
experience mild to moderate disability, whereas the minority may not respond as
well and can, in time, become more severely disabled.
Parkinson's disease doesn't directly cause
people to die, but the condition can place great strain on the body, and can
make some people more vulnerable to serious and life-threatening infections. However, with advances in treatment, most people
with Parkinson's disease now have a normal or near-normal life expectancy.
Source: NHS Choices