Parkinson's disease

Symptoms of Parkinson's disease can vary from individual to individual. Initial symptoms might be imperceptible or mild. Symptoms frequently manifest initially on a single extremity and tend to persist at a more severe degree on that side, even after symptoms spread to the other two limbs.

• Tremor, which is rhythmic trembling, typically originates in a limb, most frequently the hand or digits. Back-and-forth rubbing of the thumb and forefinger is permitted. The term for this is pill-rolling spasm. When your hand is at peace, it might tremor. The trembling may diminish as you carry out your duties.
• The condition of having slowed mobility is called bradykinesia. Progressive onset of Parkinson's disease may result in progressive muscle atrophy, thereby complicating and prolonging the execution of routine activities. As you walk, your strides may become shortened. Doing so could prove to be a challenging task. Attempting to walk may cause your feet to stagger or drag.
• Rigid muscles. Muscle rigidity can manifest in any anatomical region. Muscle stiffness can cause discomfort and restrict the range of motion.
• Posture and equilibrium impairment. A stooping posture may result from your actions. Balance issues or falls may also occur as a consequence of Parkinson's disease.
• Automatic movement cessation. One might experience a reduced capacity to execute unconscious movements while walking, such as beaming, blinking, or arm swaying.
• Speech changes. Before speaking, you may speak rapidly or softly, stammer, or hesitate. Your speech may exhibit a greater degree of monotony than your typical speech patterns.
• Writing changes. Writing may become difficult, and your handwriting may appear minuscule.

Parkinson's disease is frequently accompanied by the following additional, potentially treatable complications:

• Difficulties in thought. You may develop cognitive impairments, including dementia, and have trouble reasoning. Typically, these manifest during the advanced phases of Parkinson's disease. Such cognitive issues are typically untreatable with medication.
• Depression and variations in mood. One may encounter depressive symptoms, occasionally during their nascent phases. Obtaining therapy for depression may facilitate the management of the additional difficulties associated with Parkinson's disease.
• You might also encounter additional emotional transformations, including dread, anxiety, or a lack of motivation. Medication may be prescribed by your medical team to alleviate these symptoms.
• Swallowing difficulties. Slaughtering difficulties may manifest as the condition advances. As a result of delayed digestion, saliva may build up in the mouth, causing drooling.
• Eating and chewing difficulties. As a result of Parkinson's disease in its late stages affecting the oral musculature, chewing becomes problematic. Such conditions may result in suffocation and malnutrition.
• Sleep disorders and sleep disturbances. Frequently, individuals with Parkinson's disease experience sleep disturbances, such as frequent daytime awakenings, early morning awakenings, or difficulty falling asleep during the day.
• Also possible is rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, a condition in which individuals act out their hallucinations. Medications might induce sleepiness.
• Bladder complications. Parkinson's disease is associated with bladder complications, such as involuntary urination or difficulty controlling urine.
• Irritation of the constipation. Constipation is a common complication of Parkinson's disease, primarily caused by a sluggish digestive tract.

See a healthcare professional if you have any of the symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease — not only to diagnose your condition but also to rule out other causes for your symptoms.

Since the cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, there are no proven ways to prevent the disease.

Some studies have shown that regular aerobic exercise can reduce the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.

Other studies have shown that people who consume caffeine, found in coffee, tea, and cola, get Parkinson's disease less often than those who do not. Green tea is also associated with a reduced risk of developing Parkinson's disease. However, it is still not known whether caffeine protects against Parkinson's disease or is related to it in some other way.

Although there is no cure for Parkinson's disease, medication and other therapies can significantly reduce the symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.

Your doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes, especially in terms of adding consistent aerobic exercise. In some cases, physical therapy that focuses on balance and stretching is important.

Medications

People with Parkinson's disease have low levels of dopamine in their brains. However, dopamine cannot be injected directly because it cannot get to the brain on its own.

Medications used to treat Parkinson's disease:

• Carbidopa-levodopa. Levodopa, the most effective drug for Parkinson's disease, is a naturally occurring chemical that enters the brain and is converted to dopamine. In some formulations, levodopa is combined with carbidopa, which protects levodopa from premature conversion to dopamine outside the brain. Over the years, as the disease progresses, the benefits of levodopa may decrease, with a tendency to weaken the effect of the drug.
• Dopamine agonists. Unlike levodopa, dopamine agonists are not converted to dopamine. Instead, they mimic the effects of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine agonists are not as effective as levodopa in relieving symptoms. However, they last longer and can be used with levodopa to smooth out the sometimes inconsistent effects of levodopa.
• Monoamine oxidase B inhibitors (MAO B). They help prevent the breakdown of dopamine in the brain by inhibiting the brain enzyme monoamine oxidase B (MAO B), which breaks down dopamine.
• Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors. These medications gently prolong the effect of levodopa therapy by blocking the enzyme that breaks down dopamine.

Transcranial Pulse Stimulation (TPS) is a therapeutic method approved in many progressive countries for the treatment of mild to moderate Parkinson's disease. The goal of TPS is to improve cognitive abilities by stimulating different parts of the brain and maintaining this state for as long as possible.