Parkinson’s Disease A Life Shaker

Learning to cope.

From Michael J Fox and Muhammad Ali to the average Joe on the street–religion, politics, ethnicity, or your bank balance does not demarcate Parkinson’s disease. It comes at random and the medical community is unable to explain conclusively how and why it happens. It usually strikes people in their late 50s and older, but can also happen to people in their 40s.

It is a dreaded disease as sufferers have trouble walking, talking, or completing simple tasks like eating or smiling.

Neurological disorder

The disease isn’t contagious; it is a neurological disorder of the central nervous system, resulting from damaged or dead brain neurons.

These affected neurons, called dopamine-neurons, are located in the basal ganglia, a part of the brain called the basal ganglia responsible for balance and coordinated muscle movement.

Dopamine carries information from neuron to neuron all the way to the muscles. In Parkinson’s, researchers are unable to pinpoint exactly why the dopamine-neurons die or become damaged.

What does happen is that when dopamine-neurons no longer function, communication between the brain and body is lost–the brain is no longer able to control the body.

The four main symptoms generally associated with nerve disorder are:

• Tremors in the hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face

• Rigidity or stiffness of limbs

• Slow or uncontrolled movements

• Impaired balance and coordination

These symptoms usually appear when 80% or more of the neurons have died. They tend to occur gradually, becoming quite severe with time. While some people have mild symptoms for many years, others have severe symptoms and a quicker progression; there is no defined pattern.

The irony is that symptoms start appearing as a person ages. That’s why most people who have Parkinson’s are capable of living normal healthy lives for a long time before it strikes.

Reduce the symptoms

It’s sad but there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease. What’s more, since the actual cause is unknown and the disease is unpredictable, specific preventive measures can’t be practiced.

The only recourse is medical therapy and rehabilitative practices to reduce the symptoms and help the patient live as normal a life as possible. As most symptoms are due to a lack of dopamine in the brain, medical therapy is aimed at either supplying dopamine or mimicking its activities. However, medications can relieve symptoms for a limited period only and will not arrest natural progression of the disease.

Surgery may be recommended when the disease shows no response to medication and drugs. There is also rehabilitative therapy, which comprises physical therapy centred on muscle-strengthening, and educating patients and their loved ones on how to live with Parkinson’s.

Coping

The key to living with Parkinson’s disease is to accept and understand that lifestyle changes are necessary to accommodate the patient. With the slow but steady development of the disease, a patient may find his movements progressively becoming sluggish; it’s just a matter of time before they won’t be able to move or talk quickly.