What is Parkinson’s
Disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a disorder
of the brain that affects body movement and emotions.
Named after Dr. James Parkinson, a London
physician who first described the disease in 1817, Parkinson’s
disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive disorder of the central
nervous system. Once you get PD, it does not go away and the symptoms
get worse over time. In general, tremor is followed by stiffness,
slowness of movement (bradykinesia), and in the later stages,
lack of balance. Emotional symptoms such as depression and
anxiety are also characteristic of Parkinson’s disease.
PD patients have fewer dopamine-producing neurons.
Although the exact cause of PD is unknown,
many of the symptoms occur when certain brain cells, called
neurons, die or become
damaged. Neurons produce a chemical substance called dopamine
that is important in the control of movement. Over time, the
dopamine level in the brain decreases and a chemical imbalance
is caused that makes movement more difficult and less fluid.
By the time characteristics of Parkinson’s disease like
tremor and stiffness are visible, the normal level of dopamine
has been greatly reduced.
Diagnosis.
Detecting PD in its early stages can be difficult, but most
skilled practitioners can usually diagnose PD accurately.
If you think you might have Parkinson’s
disease, or if your doctor suspects that you may, he will perform
an assessment to detect Parkinson’s disease
that consists of
• Taking your medical history
• Questions about things you
do at home on a regular basis such as dressing, showering,
bathing, walking, and eating
• A special exam by a neurologist
More sophisticated tests are available if
a diagnosis is uncertain, but these are generally not used
due to their cost and the
overall strength of the standard exam. If you receive a positive diagnosis.
At first, patients will probably have a lot of questions.
Is this certain? Is it a good idea to get another opinion?
Is medication right, or another form of therapy? What does
the future look like?
Doctors will be able to answer most of these
questions. It is important that patients and their doctors
decide on the
best treatment as soon as possible. The checklists on this
site will help patients talk to their doctors about important
things like medication, lifestyle changes, feelings or other
concerns.
Often, doctors choose to treat Parkinson’s
disease with levodopa/carbidopa, the mainstay of drug therapy
for PD. In addition
to levodopa/carbidopa treatment, doctors often prescribe other
medications like Zelapar® (selegiline HCl).
» About Zelapar
» Parkinson’s Caregiver
» Patient Resources
» For Healthcare Professionals
» Doctor Visit Checklist |
