Parkinson’s disease is a chronic condition that affects both the neurological system and the bodily components that are under the control of the nervous system. Symptoms emerge gradually. The initial sign could be a slight tremor in just one hand. Although tremors are typical, the disease might also make you stiff or move more slowly. The inability to change facial expressions, swing your arms and legs, and slurred and slowed speech are signs of the early stages of Parkinson’s disease. As your illness advances over time, your Parkinson’s disease symptoms get worse. There is no cure for this disease, but timely consumption of prescribed medicines can keep the symptoms minimal and under control.
There are 3 main types of Parkinson’s disease:
There are 2 types of Parkinson’s symptoms. One is motor-related symptoms which are related to the loss of movement in the hands, legs, and the rest of the body. Second, is the non-motor related symptoms which are the earlier symptoms of the disease and can also be considered as a risk factor for the patient.
Here are some of the motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease:
Increased dopamine levels: In Parkinson’s disease, specific brain nerve cells (neurons) eventually degenerate or die. A decrease in neurons that produce the chemical messenger dopamine in your brain is the cause of many symptoms. Dopamine deficiency results in abnormal brain activity, which worsens movement impairment and other Parkinson’s disease symptoms.
Genetics: Specific genetic alterations that can cause Parkinson’s disease have been identified by researchers. These, however, are unusual unless several members of the family also have Parkinson’s disease. A relatively low risk of Parkinson’s disease exists for each of these genetic markers, although some gene changes do appear to raise the risk of the disorder.
Environmental factors: Exposure to certain environmental toxins and materials can cause or trigger Parkinson’s. However, the risk of environmental factors causing this disease is low.
Lewy bodies: Microscopical indicators of Parkinson’s disease include clumps of particular chemicals within brain cells. These are known as Lewy bodies, and scientists think that they may hold a crucial clue to what causes Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s disease is primarily diagnosed clinically, which means a doctor will most likely look into your symptoms, question you about them, and look over your medical history. It is feasible to perform some diagnostic and lab tests like SPECT scans, DAT scans, PET scans, and MRI; but these are typically required to rule out other disorders or particular causes. However, unless your Parkinson’s disease treatment isn’t working, which may be an indication of another condition, there is no requirement for a lab test.
Parkinson’s disease cannot be cured, however, there are several treatments to treat its symptoms. Depending on each individual’s unique symptoms and how well various treatments work, the treatments can also differ from person to person. The main treatment for this illness is medication, along with dietary specifications, workouts, and physiotherapy.
Deep brain stimulation, which includes implanting a device that delivers a gentle electrical current to a portion of your brain through surgery, is a supplementary therapy option. Additionally, there are some experimental possibilities, such as stem cell-based therapies, but their accessibility varies a lot and many of them are not accessible to those who have Parkinson’s disease.
Although there are not any guaranteed treatments to fend off Parkinson’s, there are a few things medical professionals advise. For several health benefits, you might, as an example, try including physical activity in your routine and eating a healthy, balanced diet. There hasn’t been much research done on nutritional supplements so far. However, if you have certain dietary requirements, speak with your doctor to see whether supplementation is necessary.
