Parkinson’s is a disease that affects both men and women, regardless of race. Its development is associated with age, as it usually occurs from the age of 50, although the onset of symptoms is around 60 years.
However, the number of early Parkinson’s cases has increased for some years in people under 40 years of age. What is Parkinson’s and what are its causes, symptoms, and treatment?
What is Parkinson’s?
Parkinson’s consists of a degenerative and chronic disorder, which affects a part of the brain in charge of the human motor system. The result is the progressive loss in the coordination of movements, among other effects.
The disease appears at the time when the nerve cells of the mesencephalon suffer from some alteration or die. This pathology can cause muscle stiffness in the individual, slow to make certain movements or tremors while resting.
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In Spain, it is one of the neurodegenerative diseases that appear most frequently behind Alzheimer’s.
Causes
We are very clear about what Parkinson’s is, but today it is not known what its origin is, except in the case of drug addicts, trauma, as a result of some medications, or even hereditary factors.
Some research has tried to explain why this neurological deterioration occurs, concluding that the trigger can be a cluster of circumstances: toxins and pesticides, and a certain genetic predisposition.
Free radicals could also explain their appearance in some way. These molecules are responsible for the oxidation of the tissues and neurons that appear with age. As we have already indicated, genetics is also an issue that has been suffered as a possible cause of Parkinson’s. Genetic research has provided some data to try to understand the development of this disease.
Parkinson’s leads to a degeneration in cells and the loss of dopamine, although the real cause for which it occurs is unknown. The genetic factor may be related, but to tell the truth does not play a leading role, although the disease may affect families.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s disease usually begins with mild symptoms, which are increasing over time. The first signs of this pathology are related to difficulty moving, exhaustion, and joint pains.
In much of the case, patients begin to notice these symptoms on one side of the body, although over time it extend to the rest of the body. A state of irritability or depression may also appear without any apparent cause. These symptoms may persist for quite some time before typical Parkinson’s symptoms become an act of presence.
Either way, these are the most common symptoms that would alert the person to his or her development:
- Tremblings usually begin in one hand, although they can affect in the first instance one foot or even the jaw. It tends to get worse when you are at rest or when you live in a tense situation, while during sleep it disappears.
- Rigidness in the muscles, generating uncomfortable weakness and inflexibility.
- Bradykinesia refers to the loss of spontaneous and mechanical movements, resulting in unpredictable slowness that incapacitates the person concerned in carrying out regular actions.
- Hyposmia or inability to distinguish or perceive odors. It usually appears in most of those affected by Parkinson’s.
- Weight loss is caused by depression, cognitive impairment, hyposmia, medications, or gastrointestinal dysfunction.
- Weight gain from certain treatments or the effects of surgery.
- Instability of posture or inability to maintain balance. Normally, the patient leans forward or backward, making his way of walking and running the risk of falling.
- Depression is a common symptom in the case of chronic diseases. In the case of Parkinson’s, it may occur before the common symptoms associated with the disease occur.
- Difficulty swallowing and chewing, leading to excessive accumulation of saliva and choking. Even at least half of those affected have diction problems.
- Urinary problems in the form of incontinence or difficulty urinating.
- Loss of expressiveness on the face.
- Acinesia or total immobility can suddenly appear and last a few minutes or an hour.
- Constipation is due to the progressive slowness of the intestine, as well as due to poor physical activity and diet.
- Sleep disorders such as nightmares or drowsiness, are usually caused by drug intake.
Diagnosis
Parkinson’s is not easy to diagnose in its initial stage, as its clinical picture may be similar to that of other pathologies. Some patients do not know that they suffer from the disease until one to three years, after having been diagnosed with another disease.
The diagnosis is mainly clinical, which means that it takes place from the symptoms of the affected person. To confirm this, a computerized CT or axial tomography is performed to detect possible lesions in the mesencephalon, the part of the brain responsible for controlling motor functions, among other functions. Tests associated with reflexes are also common.
After CT scans in some cases, a PET scan may be performed due to its effectiveness in diagnoses of neuropsychiatric diseases.
Either way, the best technique for diagnosing the disease is observation, something that can be done by the doctor or people close to the patient. In this way, you will be able to trust the progression of symptoms, as well as changes in products at the physical and emotional levels.
Although 70% of patients diagnosed in Spain are over 65 years of age today, it is not a pathology observed only in older persons. In addition, it is very important to make an early diagnosis, as each case requires a different treatment.
Treatment for Parkinson’s
We know what Parkinson’s is and we know different methods dedicated to slowing its evolution, but unfortunately, it has no healing. Thus, the treatment is to reduce the progress of the disease, as well as to control the symptoms and side effects associated with the drugs that aim to fight it.
Currently, there are different types of treatments depending on the state of the disease and other aspects related to the patient:
- In pharmacological treatment, Common drugs are Levodopa (curbs rigidity and bradykinesia), bromocriptine and pergolide, selegiline (causes increased production of dopamine), anticholinergics (relieves rigidity and bradykinesia), and amantadine (reduces the intensity of involuntary movements or dyskinesias).
- Surgical treatment acts on the part of the brain that is damaged. It is only done in a small percentage of patients, in those where it can have an effect. Electrical stimulation and pallidotomy are two of the most commonly used techniques to relieve symptoms of the disease.
- Subthomotomy consists of removing this area from the damaged brain through the installation of a pacemaker to create an electric field.
- Physical rehabilitation is equipped with different exercises to strengthen the affected muscles and maintain mobility in the arms, hands, legs, and feet. Other modalities of exercise consist of hydrotherapy, kinesitherapy, or massages.
- The logopedic treatment is equipped with a series of speech therapies when patients present difficulties in articulating words (dysarthria), speaking very short (hypophonia), or in the face of inadequate intonation.