Thanks to Michael J. Fox, a lot of people have heard of Parkinson’s disease in the last few years. But the disease has been around longer than that! You may know the name, but do you know the basic information about Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder caused by the loss of nerve cells in the substantia nigra part of the brain. In a normally functioning brain, these nerve cells produce dopamine — a chemical that allows coordinated function of the body’s muscles and movement. When eighty percent of the nerve cells that produce dopamine are damaged, we start to see symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Approximately 1.5 million Americans have Parkinson’s disease — sixty thousand new cases are reported each year. The disease affects men and women in just about equal numbers; eighty-five percent of those diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease are over the age of fifty. The disease mainly develops in people over the age of sixty-five.
Main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include tremor (shaking), slowed movement, rigidity and stiffness, and difficulty with balance. Other symptoms may include small handwriting, stiff facial features, a shuffling walk, muffled speech, and depression. The symptoms may be manageable for a long time.
Diagnosing Parkinson’s disease can be difficult. There is no one test or examination that can confirm the presence of the disorder. Blood tests and brain scans (like MRIs) can help rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms. If your doctor suspects that you or someone you love has Parkinson’s disease, you should seek a neurologist who specializes in the disease.
Surgery and medication and help ease the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease — most of which are caused by the lack of dopamine. Medicines most commonly try to replace or mimic the effects of dopamine, which can ease the shaking, slowness, and stiffness associated with Parkinson’s disease. Surgery is often saved as a last resort — when all appropriate medications have failed to ease the symptoms.