.. ..Parkinson's disease is one of a larger group of neurological conditions called motor system disorders. Historians have found evidence of the disease as far back as 5000 B.C. It was first described as "the shaking palsy" in 1817 by British doctor James Parkinson. Because of Parkinson's early work in identifying symptoms, the disease came to bear his name.In the normal brain, some nerve cells produce the chemical dopamine, which transmits signals within the brain to produce smooth movement of muscles. In Parkinson's patients, 80 percent or more of these dopamine-producing cells are damaged, dead, or otherwise degenerated. This causes the nerve cells to fire wildly, leaving patients unable to control their movements. Symptoms usually show up in one or more of four ways:tremor, or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face rigidity, or stiffness of limbs and trunk bradykinesia, or slowness of movement postural instability or impaired balance and coordination. Though full-blown Parkinson's can be crippling or disabling, experts say early symptoms of the disease may be so subtle and gradual that patients sometimes ignore them or attribute them to the effects of aging. At first, patients may feel overly tired, "down in the dumps," or a little shaky. Their speech may become soft and they may become irritable for no reason. Movements may be stiff, unsteady, or unusually slow
Parkinson's Disease Symptoms I done wrassled with an alligator. Tussled with a whale. I done handcuffed lightening, threw thunder in jail. I murdered a stone, I hospitalised a brick, I'm so mean I make medicine sick.- Muhammad AliHistory's most famous athlete was as nimble with word play as he was fleet of foot. He dazzled opponents and global audiences alike with his athletism in the ring and his unflappable verbosity outside of it.Gradually these trademark characteristics began to fade. His lightening reflexes slowed. His speech became impaired. His mind was still sharp, but his rhymes failed to dance off his tongue as readily as they once had. Over the years his body co-operated with his mind less and less. Explosive footwork slowed to a deliberate shuffle. A flight of stairs or a car door became as daunting a physical challenge as 15 rounds with Joe Frazier. The famous Mississippi Mouth became barely audible. Ali had fallen victim to a merciless, cruel opponent- Parkinson's disease.Parkinson's disease attacks the central nervous system, reducing the brains ability to co-ordinate movement. The brain does its best to give instructions but the message gets lost in translation. This results in unimaginable frustration for the sufferer and ultimately renders the individual a prisoner in his or her own body.SYMPTOMS Tremors- the most noticeable early symptom. It often begins very localised, such as in a finger of one hand. Over time it spreads throughout the whole arm. Tremors often occur when the limb is at rest or when held in a stiff, unsupported position. Tremors also may occur in the lips, feet or tongue.Bradykinesia- slowness of motion. The individual's movements become increasingly slow and over time muscles may randomly "freeze".Akinesia- muscle rigidity. Often begins in the legs and neck. These muscles become very stiff. When it affects the muscles of the face the individual adopts a mask like stare.Digestion problems- the ability to process food slows down, resulting in low energy and constipation.Depression- Parkinson's causes chemical changes in the brain that may result in depression. This can be an early warning sign, but as depression becomes more common in older adults, it is not often associated with the disease.Low Blood Pressure- can result in light headedness and fainting.Temperature sensitivity- perception of temperature can be affected, and may result in hot flashes and excessive sweating.Leg discomfort- some patients report burning sensations and cramp in the legs.Balance- There is a progressive loss of coordination and sense of balance, putting the individual at risk of falls.Over time, Parkinson's sufferers take on similar external characteristics. There is the continual tremor, the stooped posture, the slow shuffle and the blank stare. At the present time there is no cure and it is not completely understood as to what causes the disease. However, it is manageable through medication and lifestyle, especially when identified in the early stages. As Ali himself so famously proved, just because an opponent has you against the ropes, it doesn't mean the fight is over.
Parkinson's Disease Risk Factors Although a primary cause for Parkinson's disease is yet to be identified, a number of risk factors are clearly evident.Advancing age- Although there is the occasional case of the disease being developed as a young adult, it generally manifests itself in the middle to late years of life. The risk continues to increase the older one gets. Some researchers assume that people with Parkinson's have neural damage from genetic or environmental factors that get worse as they age.Sex- Males are more likely to get Parkinson's than females. Possible reasons for this may be that males have greater exposure to other risk factors such as toxin exposure or head trauma. It has been theorised that oestrogen may have neuro-protective effects. Or, in the case of genetic predisposition, a gene predisposing someone to Parkinson's may be linked to the X chromosome.Family history- Having one or more close relatives with the disease increases the likelihood that you will get it, but to a minimal degree. This lends support to the idea that there is a genetic link in developing Parkinson's.Declining oestrogen levels- Post menopausal who do not use hormone replacement therapy are at greater risk, as are those who have had hysterectomies.Agricultural work- Exposure to an environmental toxin such as a pesticide or herbicide puts you at greater risk. Some of these toxins inhibit dopamine production and promote free radical damage. Those involved in farming and are therefore exposed to such toxins have a greater prevalence of Parkinson's symptoms.Genetic factors- A Mayo Clinic led international study revealed that the gene alpha-synuclein may play a role in the likelihood of developing the disease. Studies showed that individuals with a more active gene had a 1.5 times greater risk of developing Parkinson's. These findings support the development of alpha-synuclein suppressing therapies, which may in the long run slow or even halt the disease.Low levels of B vitamin folate- Researchers discovered that mice with a deficiency of this vitamin developed severe Parkinson's symptoms, while those with normal levels did not.Head Trauma- Recent research points to a link between damage to the head, neck, or upper cervical spine and Parkinson's. A 2007 study of 60 patients showed that all of them showed evidence of trauma induced upper cervical damage. Some patients remembered a specific incident, others did not. In some cases Parkinson's symptoms took decades to appear.Parkinson's Disease is a rare and curious phenomenon, affecting approximately 1 in 300 people. Risk factors mentioned above influence its likelihood to only the tiniest of degrees. Most individuals will have one or more of the risk factors above and never experience any of the symptoms. The one risk factor we all possess is aging, which is a condition that is currently incurable! However, more and more is becoming understood as to how and why these various risk factors influence likelihood of Parkinson's. As knowledge grows, so does the possibility of a cure.
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