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Parkinson's Disease FAQs
What is Parkinson's Disease?
Parkinson's disease (PD) belongs to a group of conditions called motor system disorders, which are the result of the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. The four primary symptoms of PD are tremor, or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; rigidity, or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia, or slowness of movement; and postural instability, or impaired balance and coordination. As these symptoms become more pronounced, patients may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks. PD usually affects people over the age of 50. Early symptoms of PD are subtle and occur gradually. In some people the disease progresses more quickly than in others. As the disease progresses, the shaking, or tremor, which affects the majority of PD patients may begin to interfere with daily activities. Other symptoms may include depression and other emotional changes; difficulty in swallowing, chewing, and speaking; urinary problems or constipation; skin problems; and sleep disruptions. There are currently no blood or laboratory tests that have been proven to help in diagnosing sporadic PD. Therefore the diagnosis is based on medical history and a neurological examination. The disease can be difficult to diagnose accurately. Doctors may sometimes request brain scans or laboratory tests in order to rule out other diseases.
Is there any treatment?
At
present, there is no cure for PD, but a variety of medications provide
dramatic relief from the symptoms. Usually, patients are given
levodopa combined with carbidopa. Carbidopa delays the conversion of
levodopa into dopamine until it reaches the brain. Nerve cells can use
levodopa to make dopamine and replenish the brain's dwindling supply.
Although levodopa helps at least three-quarters of parkinsonian cases,
not all symptoms respond equally to the drug. Bradykinesia and rigidity
respond best, while tremor may be only marginally reduced. Problems
with balance and other symptoms may not be alleviated at all.
Anticholinergics may help control tremor and rigidity. Other drugs,
such as bromocriptine, pramipexole, and ropinirole, mimic the role of
dopamine in the brain, causing the neurons to react as they would to
dopamine. An antiviral drug, amantadine, also appears to reduce
symptoms. In May 2006, the FDA approved rasagiline to be used along
with levodopa for patients with advanced PD or as a single-drug
treatment for early PD. In
some cases, surgery may be appropriate if the disease doesn't respond
to drugs. A therapy called deep brain stimulation (DBS) has now been
approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In DBS, electrodes
are implanted into the brain and connected to a small electrical device
called a pulse generator that can be externally programmed. DBS can
reduce the need for levodopa and related drugs, which in turn decreases
the involuntary movements called dyskinesias that are a common side
effect of levodopa. It also helps to alleviate fluctuations of symptoms
and to reduce tremors, slowness of movements, and gait problems. DBS
requires careful programming of the stimulator device in order to work
correctly.
What is the prognosis?
PD
is both chronic, meaning it persists over a long period of time, and
progressive, meaning its symptoms grow worse over time. Although some
people become severely disabled, others experience only minor motor
disruptions. Tremor is the major symptom for some patients, while for
others tremor is only a minor complaint and other symptoms are more
troublesome. No one can predict which symptoms will affect an
individual patient, and the intensity of the symptoms also varies from
person to person.
