Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system which affects greater than 1.5 million people in the United States. Movement and c oordination in your body are controlled in part by a chemical in your brain called dopamine. This brain chemical is used to send messages to your muscles to make them move properly. Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the central nervous system caused by a lack of dopamine. In PD, dopamine-producing nerve cells are damaged, gradually reducing dopamine levels in the parts of the brain (Substantia Nigra) thought to control movement. This loss of dopamine causes a variety of movement problems including a decrease in spontaneous movements, postural instability, difficulty with gait, rigidity and tremor. The major symptoms of Parkinson’s were originally described in 1817 by Dr. James Parkinson, an English physician, who called it “Shaking Palsy.” It wasn’t until the 1960’s, however, that pathological and biochemical changes in the brain of patients were identified, leading the way to the first effective medications for the disease.
Both men and women are affected with Parkinson’s disease. The frequency is considerably higher in the 60-plus age group, but there is an alarming increase in patients of younger age groups. It is thought that as a result of increased longevity in the United States and worldwide, an ever increasing number of people will fall victim to this disease.
Although great progress has been made in understanding Parkinson’s disease, the cause is still unknown. Many researchers believe that some combination of environmental and genetic factors contribute to the onset of PD.
If you have PD, you may find that ordinary actions become more difficult – getting dressed or preparing a meal may not be as easy as it once was. Your doctor will more than likely look for some common symptoms to determine whether you have Parkinson’s, such as tremor of a hand or arm, stiffness, slowness, and/or loss of balance. Other seemingly unrelated symptoms may include soft speech or difficulty swallowing, muscle cramping, challenges in initiating and maintaining movement, and/or depression or sleep distubances including acting out dreams while asleep.
Because PD is a progressive illness, symptoms slowly get worse over time. However, the types of symptoms and the rate of changes experienced are different for every person with PD. It is most important to remember there are many ways you can help yourself and stay active in your day to day life.
The standard medical treatment for Parkinson’s disease has been the administration of the drug levodopa. Once it reaches the brain, levodopa is converted to dopamine which replaces the same substance not present in sufficient amounts in patients of this disease. Levodopa treatment does not prevent the progressive changes of the brain typical of the disease and may also produce side effects in some patients, due to its change to dopamine before reaching the brain. The simultaneous administration with levodopa of medications inhibiting this change allows for a greater concentration of levodopa to actually reach the brain while considerably decreasing the side effects. Newer drugs have recently been approved offering a wider choice of medications for this disease. Other drugs are under investigation in the United States and abroad in an effort to obtain improved therapeutic results with fewer side effects.
The American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc., the local Parkinson’s Disease Association of San Diego and the Parkinson Disease Foundation offer educational programs that provide information and resources to patients and their families, friends and other interested parties. Their efforts, along with those of doctors and other medical professionals greatly enhance public awareness and education of the disease. Their websites are:
Parkinson’s Disease Association of San Diego: www.pdasd.org
American Parkinson Disease Association: www.apdaparkinson.org
Parkinson’s Disease Foundation : www.pdf.org
The telephone number for our local Parkinson’s Disease Association of San Diego is 877-737-7576. They have vast amounts of educational information and resources and offer support groups which provide education, counseling, assistance and referrals for patients and their families throughout the San Diego area. I have met this exceptionally compassionate and knowledgeable group of men and women and strongly encourage you to call them if you or your loved one needs assistance.
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