Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder of the brain that predominantly affects areas that produce and contain the neurotransmitter dopamine. There is no known cause, and no known cure. Symptom onset is different for all persons and usually progresses slowly over time. Symptoms may include:
Tremor or shaking
Bradykinesia (slowness of movements)
Rigidity or stiffness of limbs, neck, trunk
Gait and balance problems
Diagnosing Parkinson's Disease
Your primary care doctor is the first to suspect you may have Parkinson's disease, and consultation with a neurologist is the next step. A thorough personal and family history is obtained, and neurological examination is performed. Based on your constellation of symptoms, PD may be considered. Your neurologist may request certain diagnostic tests to exclude other diseases. The main symptoms as listed above, are evaluated on your examination. Consistently 2 or more of the above symptoms increases your diagnosis of idiopathic parkinson's disease.
Parkinson's Disease Treatment
There is no one medication or treatment for PD. The treatment for each person is individualized based on symptoms. Treatments include medications that either add dopamine (dopamine agonists) or enhance your own dopamine (inhibitors), anti-cholinergic medications, lifestyle management, some complementary medications and vitamins, dietary changes such as the Mediterranean diet, exercise and activity and rest. Some medications are used to prevent "wearing off" phases, some assist tremors.
There are surgical treatments available:
Deep brain Stimulation (DBS) is performed with a lead wire is inserted in a part of the brain that controls for movements, and stimulates the brain via a pacemaker-like device inserted in the chest. This procedure is reserved for persons who have previously responded to levodopa but have increased tremors and/or increased fluctuations in motor function.
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