By Miranda Miller
Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the US, is a chronic, progressive neurological disease that affects the dopaminergic neurons, which control the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is a critical chemical in our brain that controls pleasure, attention, motivation, and movement. When dopaminergic neurons die due to Parkinson’s, dopamine levels are disrupted and have a debilitating effect on movement control and efficiency.
Causes and Prevention
The direct causes of Parkinson’s Disease remain unknown, but researchers have made significant efforts in discovering factors that may increase one’s risk. For example, while the disease is not hereditary, if a family member is diagnosed, it may slightly increase your chances of developing it. Some ethnicities and nationalities have genetic factors that make them slightly more susceptible, like North African Arab Berbers and Ashkenazi Jews, though the reasoning behind this remains unknown. In general, genetics can play a minor part in disease development, making up to 15% of all Parkinson’s cases. Additionally, studies show that toxins can play a large role in the development of Parkinson’s. Exposure to specific pesticides, like Paraquat, can lead to an increase in likelihood of developing the disease.
Just like there is no identifiable cause, there aren’t any specific preventative measures to take. Besides avoiding toxins and leading a healthy lifestyle with sufficient exercise, there aren’t many ways to lower your chances of developing this disease.
Symptoms
Most symptoms of Parkinson’s are movement related, and begin on one side of the body. The most commonly reported symptoms are tremors, which is a continuous shaking in specific limbs, bradykinesia, or slowed movement, impaired gait, and muscle stiffness. These symptoms tend to be progressive, meaning the longer you have them, the more intense they become.
Treatments
Parkinson’s is a chronic, and therefore incurable, disease. Since the disease affects dopamine release, it would be ideal to have a treatment that replaces this neurotransmitter. However, ingested or injected dopamine can’t directly enter the brain. Therefore, most treatments aim to mimic or enhance dopamine production. For example, Carbidopa-Levodopa is a common treatment that enters the brain and converts into dopamine. Dopamine agonists are used to imitate the neurotransmitter. However, since these treatments increase dopamine production, they can cause severe side effects such as compulsive behavior like overeating, hypersexuality, gambling, and a loss of inhibition. It is important for patients to understand the possible effects of these medicines.
In all, despite being an incredibly daunting and frightening disease, Parkinson’s Disease can be a manageable disease with the right support system. It’s vital for individuals with this disease to create a treatment plan with their healthcare provider that aligns with their individual needs.
Sources-
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/current-research/focus-disorders/parkinsons-disease-research/parkinsons-disease-challenges-progress-and-promise#:~:text=Following%20Alzheimer's%20disease%2C%20Parkinson's%20disease,before%20the%20age%20of%2050.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15743669/#:~:text=Dopaminergic%20neurons%20of%20the%20midbrain,%2C%20Parkinson's%20disease%20(PD).
Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board