What is PD? | Managing Parkinson’s | The Takeaway
Overview
Did you know Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is the second-most common neurological disorder after Alzheimer’s?[1] Most people who have heard of this often-debilitating illness know it can come with tremors and loss of bodily control.
But, the progression of the disease can differ significantly from one person to the next due to the multiple, complex, and often seemingly unrelated symptoms that it can present.
This article will look at PD, its symptoms, and management methods and hopefully dispel some long-standing myths.
What is PD?
PD is a degenerative brain disorder primarily affecting people aged 60 and up.[2] Although it appears to affect men predominantly, women can also develop the disease.[2] The reason for this difference is unknown and is subject to further research.
The risk factors and causes of PD are also not yet fully understood, although scientists suspect that a combination of genetic and environmental factors, such as exposure to toxins, could be to blame.[3]
Although there is a prevalent belief that PD is a terminal illness, it’s not deadly. Most of the time, death can occur from complications arising from the condition and the stress the symptoms put the body under. However, the disease can be debilitating.
Symptoms of the disease develop very gradually over long periods.[4] The most common ones include impaired motor function, muscle stiffness, slow movements, and tremor.[4] Changes in gait and balance that can lead to falls are also frequent.[4]
In addition, non-motor symptoms are experienced by those with the disease. Mood disorders such as depression and apathy, cognitive issues, behavioral disorders, sleep problems, memory issues, constipation, and problems with urination can also occur.[5]
According to the Parkinson’s Foundation Parkinson’s Prevalence Project, 1.2 million people in the U.S. will live with Parkinson’s disease by 2030.[6]
Managing Parkinson’s
Currently, there is no cure for PD; however, the symptoms can be managed and allow a person with the disease to live a relatively functional, normal life.
With a diagnosis of PD, the best first step is understanding the disease and its progression, working with your neurologist, and following a prescribed treatment plan closely. That said, there are multiple treatment options available that can be used alone or in combination:
Exercise: Physical activity is excellent for overall health for anyone. However, for people with PD, it is essential for mobility, balance, and brain function – es[especially when started before PD diagnosis or at the earliest stages.[7] Any exercise plan should include aerobic activity (walking, running, biking, etc.), strength/resistance training (weights, resistance bands), flexibility (pilates, yoga, stretching), and balance exercises (biking, weight shifts, and yoga).
Medications: The medications used in PD target the symptoms of the disease rather than the PD itself. Levodopa is commonly used to replace dopamine (also known as the “feel-good hormone”) in the brain, as that hormone is broken down rapidly by PD progression. It is considered the best medication for improving the quality of life in patients with PD. However, it’s usually given once symptoms become more difficult to control with other medications, such as dopamine agonists.[8]
Surgery: There are surgical interventions that can be used to treat PD. However, these are primarily used for the most advanced PD, where even levodopa fails to control tremors and motor fluctuations which are back-and-forth changes in one’s ability to move (from easier movement to stiffness and back).[9]
Other therapies: In addition to the most common therapies for PD, rehabilitative treatments such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech pathology can all help with improving daily functioning, mood, and mental health.
The Takeaway
PD is not a death sentence. Science is getting closer to finding more answers and perhaps even a cure for the disease in the future.
In the meantime, solid treatments and lifestyle changes can slow the progression of PD and allow a person with the disease to live a good quality life.
If you suspect you may have PD, please speak to your doctor.
References:
- Kalia, L. V., & Lang, A. E. (2015). Parkinson’s disease. Lancet (London, England), 386(9996), 896–912. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61393-3
- DeMaagd, G., & Philip, A. (2015). Parkinson’s Disease and Its Management: Part 1: Disease Entity, Risk Factors, Pathophysiology, Clinical Presentation, and Diagnosis. P & T : a peer-reviewed journal for formulary management, 40(8), 504–532.
- de Lau, L. M., & Breteler, M. M. (2006). Epidemiology of Parkinson’s disease. The Lancet. Neurology, 5(6), 525–535. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(06)70471-9
- Sveinbjornsdottir S. (2016). The clinical symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Journal of neurochemistry, 139 Suppl 1, 318–324. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.13691
- Poewe W. (2008). Non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. European journal of neurology, 15 Suppl 1, 14–20. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02056.x
- Prevalence & Incidence. Parkinson’s Foundation. (n.d.). https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/statistics/prevalence-incidence
- Xu, X., Fu, Z., & Le, W. (2019). Exercise and Parkinson’s disease. International review of neurobiology, 147, 45–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.irn.2019.06.003
- Rao, S. S., Hofmann, L. A., & Shakil, A. (2006). Parkinson’s disease: diagnosis and treatment. American family physician, 74(12), 2046–2054.
- Obeso, J. A., Rodríguez, M. C., Gorospe, A., Guridi, J., Alvarez, L., & Macias, R. (1997). Surgical treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Bailliere’s clinical neurology, 6(1), 125–145.
