Parkinsons Disease is best described as a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system.
What this degenerative disorder does is affect the control of the persons muscles, which in effect has a devestating effect on movement, posture and speech.
Therefore, Parkinsons Disease can be classified as belonging to a group of conditions called "movement disorders".
The progression of Parkinsons Disease is distinctly individual.
Although symptoms can occur at any age in life, the average is betwwen 55-60 for symptome to begin.
The primary symptoms of Parkinsons Disease include muscle rigidity, a tremor, and a slowing of physical movement (bradykinesia).
The secondary symptoms of Parkinsons Disease may include high level cognitive dysfunction and subtle language problems.
The diagnosis of Parkinsons Disease is based on medical history and a neurological examination.
It is also difficult to diagnose accurately.
Treatment:
At this time, there is no cure for Parkinsons Disease.
Medications or surgery can help provide relief from the symptoms.
Treatment for Parkinsons disease inclued a broad-based management system that includes patient and family education, support groups, general wellness maintenance, exercise, and nutrition.
A variety of medications provide dramatic relief from the symptoms.
Usually, patients are given levodopa combined with carbidopa.
Carbidopa delays the conversion of levodopa into dopamine until it reaches the brain.
Nerve cells can use levodopa to make dopamine and replenish the brain's dwindling supply.
Although levodopa helps at least three-quarters of parkinsonian cases, not all symptoms respond equally to the drug. Bradykinesia and rigidity respond best, while tremor may be only marginally reduced.
Problems with balance and other symptoms may not be alleviated at all. Anticholinergics may help control tremor and rigidity. Other drugs, such as bromocriptine, pergolide, pramipexole, and ropinirole, mimic the role of dopamine in the brain, causing the neurons to react as they would to dopamine.
An antiviral drug, amantadine, also appears to reduce symptoms. In May 2006, the FDA approved rasagiline to be used along with levodopa for patients with advanced PD or as a single-drug treatment for early PD.
In some cases, surgery may be appropriate if the disease doesn't respond to drugs.
A therapy called deep brain stimulation (DBS) has now been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
In DBS, electrodes are implanted into the brain and connected to a small electrical device called a pulse generator that can be externally programmed.
DBS can reduce the need for levodopa and related drugs, which in turn decreases the involuntary movements called dyskinesias that are a common side effect of levodopa. It also helps to alleviate fluctuations of symptoms and to reduce tremors, slowness of movements, and gait problems.
DBS requires careful programming of the stimulator device in order to work correctly.
Paralumun New Age Village