By April 11 is a day to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease. This degenerative disorder affects more and more elderly people and diminishes their quality of life.
Parkinson’s is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders in older people. Every April 11, awareness of this condition is promoted as World Parkinson’s Day, in honor of the birth of the doctor who discovered and named the disease.
It is estimated that this condition affects 1% of people over 60 years of age worldwide. However, there has been an increase in cases in recent decades, which is why it is considered a public health problem.
Perhaps the most well-known aspect of this condition is the movement disorders, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Having a complete view is essential to detect it in time and not delay treatment. Keep reading, because we explain more about it.
What is Parkinson’s?
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder that affects the brain, spinal cord and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves. It therefore affects both the central and peripheral nervous systems.
It is caused by the loss of neurons in a specific area of the brain: the substantia nigra . This part is responsible for voluntary or intentional movement and coordination.
Currently, there is no specific test to diagnose the disease. The neurologist, based on an interview and complementary tests, is the professional who detects and treats the progression of the disease. Brain lesions can only be observed post mortem during an autopsy.
Symptoms of the disease
Many people associate this illness with essential tremors, which James Parkinson discovered in his time. However, it is not a warning that affects people to the same extent. It is a complicated disorder, as there is no single pattern of symptoms for everyone. In addition, the symptoms change with progressive deterioration.
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) of the United States points out a main symptomatology that is based on the following:
- Slowness of movement, such as when walking or writing.
- Essential, or resting, tremor of the hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head.
- Deterioration of walking, balance and coordination, frequently causing falls.
- Muscle stiffness or muscle spasticity, when the muscle remains contracted for a long time.
Other common signs
- Skin problems
- Low spirits and sudden mood swings
- Sphincter incontinence or constipation
- Difficulty articulating words or swallowing
- Reduced facial expression, known as mask or poker face
What are the causes of Parkinson’s disease?
In Parkinson’s disease, we can distinguish two types of causes: proximal and distal. The first refers to what happens in the brain of a person with the disease; while the others are everything that happens or happened throughout their life and that contributes to development.
The clearest proximal cause is the loss of neurons in the substantia nigra, an area that belongs to the basal ganglia . These neurons function with dopamine as a neurotransmitter. When they degenerate, the production of dopamine and the number of connections between them decrease. As a result, the basal ganglia cannot control movements as they did before.
On the other hand, the more distal causes include genetic inheritance, habits and lifestyle, as well as possible head traumas that the person may have suffered at some point.
In this regard, the Mayo Clinic points out that there are certain genetic mutations that increase the risk of suffering from Parkinson’s. In addition, the same organization states that exposure to toxins in the environment may increase the possibility, although this is small.
Probable stages of evolution
The evolution of this disorder is slow, and patients deteriorate progressively. Without treatment, over the years they will need more support and become dependent.
Typically, the condition begins on one side or limb of the body, then gradually spreads to the other half and ends up affecting both sides. During the later stages of Parkinson’s, people remain bedridden with great difficulty communicating or performing self-care tasks.
In a significant proportion of individuals, in addition to movement disorders, cognitive decline and the development of dementia associated with the disease occur . Life expectancy is similar to that of the general population, although quality of life is significantly reduced.
Neurologists Hoehn and Yahr present a classification based on the problems that these patients will present throughout their development:
- Stage I: unilateral involvement
- Stage II: bilateral involvement with normal balance
- Stage III: bilateral involvement with balance disturbance
- Stage IV: increasing dependency
- Stage V: severe involvement, requires wheelchair or bed rest
Prevention and management of Parkinson’s disease
The fact that this is a degenerative disease with no cure does not mean that nothing can be done about it. It is true that it is not possible to reverse it, but it is possible to slow down its progression or delay its onset.
The most important thing in prevention is healthy habits . This includes recommendations on diet, physical exercise and rest that apply to all people with or without the disorder.
In particular, the preventive role of physical activity against brain diseases should be mentioned. The influence of exercise on levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF) has been studied. This is a protein involved in cognitive reserve, which protects neurons from aging and damage caused by lifestyle.
On the other hand, once diagnosed, the treatment to alleviate the progression is through drugs. The best known is levodopa , which increases dopamine levels in the brain and reduces motor impairments.
Another drug is rivastagmine , which is used to treat the cognitive symptoms of dementia. It increases acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in cognitive function. Therefore, this drug improves cognitive functions or abilities , such as memory or attention.
If you have any suspicions, do not hesitate to ask for help.
Although Parkinson’s disease is neurodegenerative, it doesn’t mean that we can just resign ourselves to it and do nothing about it. Throughout the entire process, there are treatment options to improve the quality of life. It is even possible to prevent its onset by adopting a healthy lifestyle.
The sooner the disorder is detected, the better the prognosis. Therefore, if you notice any warning signs or changes, do not hesitate to contact a health professional.