What Is Parkinson's Disease?
What is Parkinson disease?
Parkinson Disease (PD) is a chronic neurological condition named after Dr. James Parkinson, a London physician who was the first to describe the syndrome in 1817. PD is a slowly progressive disease that affects a small area of cells in the mid-brain. Gradual degeneration of these cells causes reduction in a vital chemical known as dopamine.
This decrease in dopamine can produce one or more of the classic signs of PD which are:
- Resting tremor on one side of the body
- Generalized slowness of movement
- Stiffness of limbs
- Gait or balance problems
Other symptoms of PD can include:
- Small, cramped handwriting
- Lack of arm swing
- Decreased facial expression
- Lowered voice volume
- Feelings of depression or anxiety
- Episodes of feeling “stuck in place” when initiating a step (referred to as freezing)
- Slight foot drag
- Increase in dandruff or oily skin
- Less frequent blinking and swallowing
Few patients experience all of these symptoms and some may experience other signs. Yet, the cause remains a mystery. Most people who develop symptoms of PD have idiopathic PD, meaning that the exact cause is unknown. Some patients attempt to link the onset of PD symptoms with some acute trauma such as an accident, surgery or extreme emotional distress. Most neurologists discount any direct link while noting that a traumatic event might trigger symptoms before they would otherwise manifest. This should not be confused with the actual causation of PD as most individuals who experience a traumatic event do not develop a movement disorder such as PD.
How rare is Parkinson?
It is estimated that as many as 1.5 million Americans are affected. It affects more persons that those diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, amytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease), muscular dystrophy and myasthenia gravis combined. Although 15% of PD sufferers are diagnosed before the age of 50, the disease usually develops around age 65. PD affects one out of 100 people over the age of sixty.
However, thanks to strides in public health and healthier lifestyle choices, many PD patients live well into their eighties thus adding to the impression that the incidence of Parkinson is increasing.
Is there a cure?
To date, there is no known prevention or cure for Parkinson disease.
How does Parkinson progress?
Parkinson disease often begins with a resting tremor of the hand on one side of the body. Tremors may be distressing because of their visibility to others, but fortunately, this symptom rarely leads to serious disability. Resting tremors may be accompanied over time with slowness and stiffness on the affected side. As symptoms progress, patients may notice impairment on the other side of the body, almost always less severe than the primary side. Due to fine motor deficits, finger and hand movements requiring skilled coordination, such as brushing teeth, shaving and buttoning clothes, may become slow and difficult.
Some patients notice a slight foot drag on the affected side or a feeling of walking with great effort at times. Steps become shorter or freezing may occur when initiating movement. The voice can become softer in volume and take on a raspy quality. Many Parkinson patients do, at some point, experience gait and balance problems. Difficulty navigating doorways and narrow passages, stutter-steps and precarious balance on turning are common Parkinson gait disturbances.