Explaining Parkinson's Disease - Part 1

One of my patients, had such tremors of his hands, that he could not sign his name anymore. We did a good job reducing tremors with my simple tremor app to 50-70% (varied with stress) in one week. Now, when he is more stable, we are preparing to rule out Parkinson's disease and my patient undergoes series of tests- hormones, heavy metals and visits to a neurologist.

Here is a quick glimpse on Parkinson's disease.

What is Parkinson's Disease:

Parkinson's disease is a neurological disease that affects nerve cells in the area of the brain that are involved with movement of the muscles. Neurons that make dopamine in this disease -die or do not work properly and dopamine is responsible for coordinating movements.

Who gets affected?

Mostly man over 60 are affected and this is the time that diagnosis of Parkinson's disease is made.

What are the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease?

• Classic sign: trembling of hand, arms, legs, jaw and face. Tremors begin with slight shaking in hands or even one finger. Tremors may occur on one or both sides of body and very often appear more noticeable under stress.

• Pill rolling sign:??Back and forth movement of rubbing of thumb and forefinger.

• Stiffness of the arms, legs, and trunk. Muscle stiffness occurs in limbs and neck. The size of movements may be limited due to the severity of the stiffness.

• Slow, shuffling walk with unsteady gate and a stooped posture.??Leg muscles may freeze up making it difficult to walk normally. There is poor balance and coordination.

• Posture becomes more unstable causing an impairment of balance.??Automatic movements like swinging of arms, blinking, or smiling become difficult?in Parkinson's disease.

• Mumbling of speech

• People with Parkinson's disease have difficulties speaking and their voices become soft and monotonous.?

• A small proportion of people with Parkinson's will develop dementia; which is marked by slowed thought processes and difficulty with concentration, however a majority of Parkinson's patients have their intellect intact.

• Lack of energy and depressed feeling or having trouble sleeping

What are possible causes of Parkinson's Disease:

Certain nerve cells (neurons) in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra are damaged or destroyed in Parkinson's disease. Substantia nigra cells release neurohormone- dopamine — a chemical, that sends information between the substantia nigra and another part of the brain, the corpus striatum. These impulses cause muscles to make smooth and controlled movements.

Patients with Parkinson's disease lose more than half of the neurons in the substantia nigra.??Naturally with age, people lose some dopamine producing neurons.

Genetics and Parkinson's Disease:

It has been speculated that people with a first-degree relative with Parkinson's disease are more likely to develop the disease. However, the risk among first-degree relatives are super small, and it is less than 5%.?

Two types of possible genetic causes.

1. Abnormalities of accumulation of alpha-synuclein, a protein that collects in the degenerating nerve cells in people with Parkinson's.

1. Problems with disposing of unwanted proteins in the body?

Are there any environmental factors predisposing to PD?

People exposed to herbicides and pesticides are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease. Fungicide - Benomyl is tight to the development of Parkinson's disease, see a link below:

Are there any hormones implicated in PD process?

Reduced estrogen levels may increase the risk of developing Parkinson's disease. This means that women in menopause, who receive little or no hormone therapy and those who have had hysterectomies may be at higher risk. Menopausal women using hormone therapy appear to have a decreased risk.?

Can certain medication contribute to the development of PD?

Certain medications when taken for a long period of time and in excessive dosages like haloperidol and chloropromazine, used for certain psychiatric disorders, can cause Parkinson's disease.??Metoclopramide, that is used to treat nausea and valprolate- used for epilepsy also cause Parkinson's.

How is PD diagnosed?

There are no definitive and obvious signs, and is very difficult to diagnose PD in the early stages. MRI and CT scans of patients with Parkinson's diseases appear normal. Electroencephalograms, which record brain electrical activity, are also not super effective.??Most common observable symptoms that lead to the PD diagnosis include gait changes, trembling, and difficulty speaking or writing. The neurological examination given to test for Parkinson's disease includes an evaluation of your walking, coordination and tests of dexterity.

What is prognosis for a Parkinson's patient?

If the disease is untreated, the disorder progresses and leads to total disability, often accompanied by general deterioration of all brain functions, and can possibly an early death.

With treatment, the disorder may progress in various ways. Most PD patients respond well to medications. The extent of symptomatic relief is highly variable. There could be also many negative side effects to medications.

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This article is written by Dr. Anna Maj ND should be used for educational purposes only and it is not a replacement for a medical consultation. Please consult with your medical provider for further evaluation.