PARKINSONISM

YAHAYA JJ
 Parkinson disease is a brain disorder. It

occurs when certain nerve cells (neurons) in a
part of the brain called the substantia nigra
die or become impaired. Normally, these cells
produce a vital chemical known as dopamine.
Dopamine allows smooth, coordinated
function of the body's muscles and
movement. When approximately 80% of the
dopamine-producing cells are damaged, the
symptoms of Parkinson disease appear.
The key signs of Parkinson disease are:
 Tremor (shaking)
 Slowness of movement
 Rigidity (stiffness)
 Difficulty with balance
Other signs of Parkinson disease may include:

 Small, cramped handwriting
 Stiff facial expression
 Shuffling walk
 Muffled speech
 Depression
 Early symptoms of PD are subtle and occur
gradually. In some people the disease
progresses more quickly than in others. Slow
progressively moving disease.
Parkinson disease affects both men and women in
almost equal numbers. It shows no social, ethnic,
economic or geographic boundaries. In the United
States, it is estimated that 60,000 new cases are
diagnosed each year, joining the 1.5 million
Americans who currently have Parkinson disease.
While the condition usually develops after the age of
65, 15% of those diagnosed are under 50.
Genetics – 15 – 25% of people with Parkinson's
report having a relative with the disease . The vast
majority of Parkinson's cases are not directly
inherited, but researchers have discovered several
genes that can cause the disease in a small number
of families.
 Environmental Factors - Epidemiological research
has identified several factors that may be linked to
PD, including rural living, well water, herbicide use
and exposure to pesticides.
There is though no evidence to prove there is
environmental factors that cause Parkinsons.
Carbidopa/Levodopa-may cause- low blood
pressure, nausea, confusion, dry mouth, dizziness.
Carbidopa/Levodopa-(controlled release) may
cause-low blood pressure, nausea, confusion, dry
mouth, dizziness.
 Carbidopa/Levodopa- Entacapone-may cause-
nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness,
harmless discoloration of urine, saliva and/or sweat.
 Along with these medications you can take
Dopamine- which is a drug that stimulates the parts
of the human brain that receive dopamine.
 Vitamin E- has been suggested to lower the
risk of PD risk.
 Health Food- papaya and blueberries have
been suggested to slow nerve cell death.
Neither one of these medications have

provided any real evidence that they slow
down the progression of Parkinson’s or
manages symptoms.
Has No Known Cure
 Patient and Doctor relationship
 Exercise
 Support Groups

Diet
Physical, Speech and Occupational Therapy

Clinical Trials

 Choosing a doctor is very important for a
person with parkinson’s since they may work
with a doctor for many years.
 A person should feel comfortable
communicating with their neurologist.
 A person should have an open line of
communication with their neurologist.
 Support groups can provide a caring
environment for asking questions about
parkinson’s.
 People who attend support groups can share
stories, form friendships and trade advice
with people who have experienced similar
problems.
 Many people find online support groups
beneficial.
 To find a support group a person can call or
email the Parkinsons Disease Foundation.
 A poor appetite and inadequate food intake
affect many people who have parkinsons.
 A person who has parkinsons should
maintain a full diet that contains all the daily
nutritional requirements.
 Extra fresh fruits and vegetables can help
prevent constipation’
 Drinking plenty of fluids can help prevent
dehydration.
 These types of therapies can help parkinsons
patients control their symptons and make
their daily life easier.
 Physical therapy may increase muscle
strength.
 Speech therapy can help increase voice
volume and assist with word pronunciations.
 Occupational therapy give people alternative
methods of doing tasks that they can no
longer perform with ease.
 Clinical trials help researchers answer specific
questions about the safety and efficacy of
new treatments by studying its effects on
people.
 Clinical trials are essential and necessary
components of the scientific research
process.
 Without clinical trials and research there
would not be a possibility of finding a cure in
the future.
Richard Sidman et all of the Harvard Institutes of
Medicine in Boston injected African green monkeys
with a chemical that damages neurons that make
dopamine. (Much like the effects of Parkinson’s.)
Later these monkeys were injected with neural stem
cells from human fetuses that had been miscarried

at 13 weeks. A month later the monkeys showed
marked recoveries.
Team now plans to see if immunosuppressive drugs
and repeat injections can prolong the benefits over

the longer term. (New Scientist, 2007.)
 Israeli researchers at the Fourth International Scientific
Symposium on Tea and Human Health in Washington D.C.
experimented with animal neurons that had been chemically
poisoned to model the death of dopamine producing cells in
Parkinson’s Disease.
 In this test tube study, low doses of epigallocatechin gallate
(EGCG) revived sick and dying neurons. The withered cells
became fatter and more robust.
 Second study mice got oral doses of EGCG (comparable to
what me might receive from 3 – 4 cups of green tea)for 2
weeks after the animals already lost about half their
dopamine making cells. Dopamine production rebounded for
these animals. Not sure yet if it permenently rescued the cells
or just bought the animals extra time.
Parkinson’s Disease has been connected to
exposure to pesticides. People exposed to low levels
of pesticides had a 9 percent higher risk of
developing Parkinson's, say the researchers, who
work at Aberdeen University. People exposed to high
levels had a 39 percent greater risk. Several North
American studies have also connected Parkinson's
and pesticides.
 The study also found that being knocked
unconscious ups the risk of Parkinson's. One
knockout increased the odds of getting the disease
by 28 percent More than one knockout increased the
odds by 156 percent.
• People who exercise regularly and vigorously more than
just an occasional stroll around the block may see their
efforts rewarded with a lowered risk of Parkinson's
disease. That's the promising news from researchers at
the Harvard School of Public Health who found that
subjects who were the most active, performing 30
minutes of moderate to intense physical exercise a day,
had a 40% lower chance of developing the disease.
• Gene therapy may be living up to its promise. Dramatic
and sustained improvements have been reported in the
first people to get gene therapy for Parkinson's disease.
In all 12 patients, symptoms improved by at least 25
percent for up to a year after the treatment, as
measured by standard tests of Parkinson's severity.

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YAHAYA JJ

 Parkinson disease is a brain disorder. It

 Difficulty with balance

Other signs of Parkinson disease may include:

 Stiff facial expression

Neither one of these medications have

cells from human fetuses that had been miscarried

and repeat injections can prolong the benefits over

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