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Parkinson’s Disease is a disorder of the central nervous system that affects the movement and often includes tremors. Damage to the nerve cells in the brain causes the dopamine levels to drop which leads to the actual symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. This disease was discovered by James Parkinson in 1817. He wrote an essay on his discoveries titled “the shaking palsy” but later changed the name to Parkinson’s disease because the signs and symptoms of each patient was not the same so naming the disease shaking palsy was not a great fit. The neurons in the brain control the communication and messaging system of the body.
The way that neurons communicate is as follows: incoming messages are received through dendrites and get passed off all the way to the end of the axon where the sacs that contain our neurotransmitters open up and go into the synapse. The dopamine crosses the synapse and fits into specific receptors that are known as the receiving cells. This cell will now become stimulated and then pass the message onward where the receptors release the dopamine back into our synapse and the excess dopamine gets recycled in our releasing neuron. Once this process is complete the chemical MAO-B and COMT break down the remaining dopamine to clean out the synapse and begins preparing for the next exchange of messages between the brain and the body. Parkinson’s disease affects the basal ganglia and the substantia nigra of the brain.
The substantia nigra is what produces the dopamine in our neurotransmitters which is responsible for sending the messages that plan our bodies movements. The cells that produce the dopamine begin to die off in some individuals who have this disease for reasons that are still not known to science. Once about 80% of the dopamine is completely obliterated the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease begin to appear. These symptoms include tremors, slowness of movement, stiffness, and balance issues begin to occur. Depending on the patient that has Parkinson’s some extra symptoms that occur on a case-to-case basis include becoming frozen in place, gait, posture issues, insomnia, depression, lowered speaking voice, cognitive impairment and difficulty swallowing. Many scientists believe that a combination of environmental factors is what causes Parkinson’s although there is still no definite cause. Due to the fact that every person who experiences Parkinson’s is always different it has been difficult to pinpoint a specific cause but, scientists have found many commonalities between patients.
The genetics of a person can explain why Parkinson’s occurs in about ten to fifteen percent of patients. Researchers have discovered similar genetic mutations that are linked to this disease after comparing many people’s DNA. The environmental factors of this diseases cause include traumatic head injuries that have been sustained by a patient, the area where a patient resides, exposure to pesticides, etc. This disease is normally transmitted by a person who has at least one parent that is affected. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. This means that two copies of the PARK7, PINK1, or the PRKN gene in each cell has been altered. An estimated one million people are currently living with Parkinson’s Disease in the United States as of 2020. This beats the number of cases of people who have other diseases and disorders such as multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS, etc. Every year at least sixty thousand people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. The occurrence of this disease increases as a person ages but a very small percentage of people living with this disease are diagnosed before the age of fifty. This disease is most often found in men than in women. Researchers that have been looking into huge insurance company databases has shown that Hispanics have the highest incidence while African Americans appear to have the lowest.
The mortality rate for patients that have Parkinson’s Disease in adults ages sixty-five and older has increased from 41.7 percent up to 65.3 percent. The statistics for men who have this disease the death rate has increased from 65.2 per on hundred thousand people up to 97.9 per one hundred thousand. For women who has Parkinson’s the death rate has increased from 28.4 per one hundred thousand to 43 per one hundred thousand. To be diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease you must go see a healthcare professional. The issue with obtaining an accurate diagnosis is that other conditions and medications can mimic the same signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. There is no single exam that will indicate a clear diagnosis of this disease because the case of Parkinson’s Disease varies so widely from person to person. Your physician must have a thorough background of your medical history and will perform a physical exam.
The other diseases that can be confused for Parkinson’s in some patients include Parkinson’s plus, essential tremor, progressive supranuclear palsy, multi-system atrophy, dystonia, and normal pressure hydrocephalus. There a quite a few treatment options for patients who has Parkinson’s Disease. The first option is called deep brain stimulation surgery. To qualify to have this procedure done you must have Parkinson’s for at least four years minimum. The surgery begins with electrodes being inserted into a specific area of a patient’s brain that is found using a MRI and recordings of brain cell activity while this procedure is taking place. Then there is a second procedure that follows this where an implant of an IPG is placed in your collar bone but can also be placed in a patient’s abdomen. This IPG acts very similar to a pacemaker because it is an impulse generator battery. The IPG is what provides the electrical impulses to the part of your brain that is in control of your motor functions.
Once the surgery is completed the patient is given controller for the device so the patient is in control of when they want to turn the IPG on and off. Deep brain stimulation is the biggest advancement that has been made for patients who suffer from Parkinson’s. Although this is a tremendous help for those living with this disease, it is not a cure, nor does it slow down its degenerative effects on the body or brain. The next treatment option would be prescribed medications. The choice of medication that is given to each patient is based off of the needs of the patient and the severity of the Parkinson’s at the time of prescription. The medications that get prescribed are meds that replenish the diminishing dopamine that a patient’s neurons are lacking. These medications are usually paired with the patient having to go in for physical or occupational therapy. Occupational Therapists find ways for people to be able to conduct their daily activities with less difficulty in this case people who suffer from Parkinson’s. Based on how far the disease has progressed for a specific patient will determine that patients plan of care that is given by the therapist. The final treatment option available to those with Parkinson’s Disease is the use of medical marijuana.
Research has shown that the use of cannabis as a treatment for many neurological diseases has been found to improve symptoms. Our brain has an endocannabinoid system that is made up of receptors that are connected with neurons that regulate thinking and body functions. Some research has found that cannabis acts as a neuroprotector meaning it has shown to save neurons from damage that is caused by Parkinson’s Disease. At this time there is no current cure for Parkinson’s Disease. There is a few ways that can help to prevent the development of Parkinson’s. These include the following: eating organic foods that are rid of the large amounts of pesticides and herbicides that is in many non-organic food products can help because pesticides are known to contribute to the alteration of the amount of dopamine in the brain. Incorporating Omega-3 and fatty acids into your diet is a huge help.
Due to the fact that Parkinson’s disease is inflammatory naturally the consumption of these things can strongly improve the degeneration and death that is disease causes. Regular exercise has also been found to help in the prevention of Parkinson’s Disease. Overall Parkinson’s is a horrible disease that science is performing extensive research on every day. The Parkinson’s Foundation is helping to improve the lives of patients who suffer from this disease with the help of your donations. I chose to discuss this particular disease because I have seen firsthand patients that suffer from this. I previously worked in an Occupational Therapy office where I was able to observe the overall improvement that the therapy provided for these patients to be able to go on with their lives as normally as possible.
References
- Goetz, C. G. (2011). The History of Parkinson’s Disease: Early Clinical Descriptions and Neurological Therapies. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine, 1(1), a008862–a008862. https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a008862
- Brain. (2018). Parkinsons disease. Mayfieldclinic.com. https://mayfieldclinic.com/pe-pd.htm
- Genetic & Environmental Interactions. (n.d.). Parkinson’s Foundation. Retrieved November 16, 2020, from https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/causes/genetic-environmental-interactions
- Parkinson disease: MedlinePlus Genetics. (n.d.). Medlineplus.Gov. https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/parkinson-disease/
- Wright Willis, A., Evanoff, B. A., Lian, M., Criswell, S. R., & Racette, B. A. (2010). Geographic and Ethnic Variation in Parkinson Disease: A Population-Based Study of US Medicare Beneficiaries. Neuroepidemiology, 34(3), 143–151. https://doi.org/10.1159/000275491
- QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Death Rates* for Parkinson Disease† Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 1999–2017. (2019). MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 68(35), 773. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6835a6
- 7 Scientifically Backed Ways to Prevent Parkinson’s Disease. (2016). Judson Senior Living. https://www.judsonsmartliving.org/blog/7-scientifically-backed-ways-to-prevent-parkinsons-disease/
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