Parkinson's Disease

What Is Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson's disease (or Parkinson's syndrome, colloquially usually "Parkinson") is a chronic disease that affects the nervous motor system. A progressive loss of nerve cells characterizes it. The so-called substantia nigra cells are affected, which appear dark in the brain due to their high iron and melanin content. These cells synthesize the neurotransmitter (a chemical "messenger") dopamine. Present in sufficient quantities, dopamine ensures the transmission of a stimulus from the brain to the muscles and is thus responsible for movements. However, if not enough dopamine is produced, the symptoms characteristic of Parkinson's disease develop.

Parkinson's Symptoms

The cardinal symptoms of Parkinson's disease are hypo- or akinesia (lack of movement or complete immobility), rigor (increased tension of the muscles), tremor (shaking), and decreased body stability. However, these usually occur at a relatively late stage.

Early in the course of the disease, symptoms are usually nonspecific and include, for example, fatigue, muscle tension, insomnia, and constipation. Over time, the motor system is increasingly attacked. Initially, those affected have difficulty performing fine motor activities, then gait and facial expressions change.

What are the Causes of Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson's disease is an "idiopathic" disease, which means that the exact cause is unknown. It usually occurs after the age of 60; women and men are affected about equally often.

Research shows that there are other related disorders besides PD that can be inherited in families. However, these are not nearly as common.

How Is PD Diagnosed?

The diagnosis is made based on clinical tests. To do this, the neurologist examines the patient's motor function and asks him and his relatives in detail whether they have noticed any complaints (such as problems with fine motor activities, pain, or muscle tension). The next step is to examine the brain using imaging techniques (CT and MRI). This is also used to exclude other diseases that may cause neurological disorders.

Parkinson's Therapy

Parkinson's disease is always treated with medication. The starting point of the medication is the deficient messenger substance dopamine. Then, various active substances can be used to increase their concentration in the brain, slow down its degradation and reduce the messenger substances that have an effect opposite to that of dopamine.

Treatment can be supported by physiotherapy or exercise. The goal is to maintain the ability to perform everyday movements.

Surgical Therapy: Brain Pacemaker for Parkinson's Disease

If medication does not provide sufficient relief of symptoms, so-called deep brain stimulation is also an option. This relatively new procedure involves placing a small electrode in the brain and using electrical impulses to inhibit certain brain regions that produce neurotransmitters opposite to dopamine. This leads to a more balanced concentration of both neurotransmitters.

Life Expectancy in Parkinson's Disease

If Parkinson's disease is diagnosed early and the patient is well controlled with medication, life expectancy is about the same as a healthy person. However, there is still no cure for this disease.

Sources:

https://www.morbus-parkinson-aktuell.de/

http://www.parkinson-web.de/content/