Parkinson's have led to malfunction and death of vital nerve cells (neurons) that located in brain specifically in area called substantia nigra. The dying neuron will produce dopamine ( a chemical that functioned to send message to part of brain that responsible in controlling coordination and movement of body). As progressing development of parkinson's disease, the amount of dopamine that have been produced in the brain seems decreasing and make the person to unable to control his/ her movement normally. When the reason of loss of nerve cells in unclear, scientist thinks that parkinson's disease may caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Starting from tremors, parkinson's disease shows gradual symptom that that eventually will leads to slowing of movement and stiffness.
In the early stage of parkinson disease, the disease may not be recognized or detected by patient through little face expression changes. The gradual stages can be identified when arms of patient can not swing well and the patient's speech may affected as well,
In some cases, the doctor may suggest that the patient should undergo surgery to regulate certain regions of brains thus improving the symptoms that occur.
Parkinson Disease & Dopamine by Dr. Prodigious
The symptom for Parkinson's Disease
- Shaking of parts of body. The shaking event may happened at parts of body when it is in rest motion. Usually involving fingers and hands where back and forth motion of thumb rubbing with forefinger are commonly known.
- Muscle stiffness may occur at different part of body.
- Stooped posture & impaired balance of body
- Loss of unconscious movement such as swinging arms when walking, blinking and smiling.
- Hard to writeby using hands.
- Slowed movement as ability to move are reduced gradually as the stages of parkinson are worsening.
- Speech of the patients may be changed as they will speaks more soft than usual, quick and hesitating in talking.
Parkinson's disease by khana academy medicine
Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis
The significant symptoms of parkinson can be distinctive enough for a doctor to diagnose the patient in his / her office. There was no brain scan / blood test that can confirm the presence of the disease. However, if one does not having any response towards the drugs that specifically used to cure parkinson's disease, it still possible that the person may have another type of movement disorder that causing the same symptoms as parkinson's disease.
The Treatment for Parkinson's Disease
Most treatment that have been done are objectively to restore the balance of neurotransmitter acetylcholine & dopamine by increasing the levels of dopamine by help of certain drugs. If the drug treatment makes the patient's disease worsen, a deep brain simulator implantation may subjected to the patient.
Medicine for Parkinson's Disease
- L-dopa.The drug will be metabolized by the body to create & produce dopamine. This drug should be taken as by giving dopamine directly to the patient does not affect the disease because of brain's defense system that blocking the direct dopamine from being used by the patient's system. Carbidopa will be taken by patient in order to suppress nausea and other side effects. The combination of L-dopa & carbidopa are called as Sinemet. If L-dopa is been taken alone ( no carbidopa ) , it is advisable to not taking it at same time when consuming foods that contain vitamin B-6 as it will interfere the effectiveness of the L-dopa.
- COMT inhibitors( eg, tasmar & Comtan) are drugs that usually taken with L-dopa. The symptoms relief can be prolonged as it blocks enzyme activity that breaks down dopamine. Tasmar are rarely used as it is proven to cause liver damage.
- MAO-B inhibitors also have function to block enzyme activity that can break down dopamine. It have been taken alone (in early parkinson's disease) or along with other drugs ( progression of disease)
- Dopamine agonist is dopamine like drugs that directly imitates dopamine actual activity on the brain. It tends to replace the activity of original dopamin that significantly been reduced as parkinson's disease progressed.
Future Treatment for Parkinson's Disease
Rather than correcting the neurotransmitter imbalance by help of drugs, neurosurgeons & neurologists have found various steps of grafting cells that producing dopamine in the brain in parkinson's disease patients. This research are still in their early stages where stem cell research are playing important roles in this field.
By having surgical technique, a lesions in the globus pallidus / thalamus are created. These two are parts of brain that ultimately involved in parkinson's disease. This technique seems successful for years & been replaced by deep brain simulation (DBS).
For DBS, a wire is placed deep inside the patient's brain in specific area depending on the symptoms that been produced by the patient's body. DBS will provide dramatic improvements in parkinson's disease treatment & one of successful therapy for tumor and rigidity effects.
Glial-cell derived nerve growth factor also been investigated to treat parkinson's disease & other neurodegenerative diseases. The nerve growth factor are produced naturally by patient's tissue throughout the body. Scientist have prove that injections of the substance can help preserve & restore nerve cell in brain & spinal cords and eventually will produce dopamine & help restoring muscle movements.
Deep Brain Simulation (DBS by Mount Sinai Hospital)
Living a Healthy LIFE
It is very important for us to maintain our daily exercise programme and stay socially active. In many cases of parkinson's disease, a weakening of social relations because of physical difficulties that have to be taken by the patients could lead to depression. Be aware of the symptoms and quickly seek for medical attention for prevent the disease from becoming more severe. Preventing are more better than curing. Take attention in campaign that can create awareness of society towards parkinson's disease so that everyone can live a healthy life. :)
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