Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s or Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological degenerative disorder.

It is related to decreased dopamine levels, the crucial brain chemical that controls coordinated movements.

The symptoms of Parkinson’s gradually begin and gets worse as time passes.

With the progress, patients may face shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with walking, talking, balance, and coordination.

Although both men and women are affected by Parkinson’s disease, it hits about 50 percent more men as compared to women.

Older people are more prone to this disease and only 4 out of 100 cases happen under age 50.

Patients also encounter mental and behavioral changes, sleep problems, depression, memory difficulties, and fatigue.

Therefore, it is important for people with Parkinson’s disease to be assessed by a professional neuropsychiatrist in Patna Bihar like Dr. Vivek Pratap Singh in order to receive some specialized treatment.

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that slowly affects movement over time.

It usually starts with mild symptoms that the person may not notice, but eventually, these symptoms can make daily activities difficult.

Common symptoms include shaking, stiffness, slow movements, and balance problems.

These issues happen because the brain loses cells that make a chemical called dopamine, which helps control smooth movements.

In the brain, this problem occurs in a part called the substantia nigra, where the cells that produce dopamine die over time.

As dopamine decreases, the brain struggles to control body movements accurately, leading to the typical symptoms of Parkinson’s.

There is no cure for Parkinson’s, but treatments are available to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Parkinson’s Symptoms

Parkinson’s symptoms and signs may differ from person to person.

There is also a possibility that the early signs may go unnoticed.

Parkinson’s symptoms begin and worsen on one side and then begin to affect both sides of the body.

Tremor

Tremor refers to shaking that begins in a limb usually your hand and fingers.

It is a pill-rolling tremor when you rub your thumb and forefinger back and forth. Your finger, thumb, or chin may tremble when at rest.

Damaged Posture and Balance

It is one of the most common Parkinson’s symptoms. 

You may have a stooped posture over time or you may have an impaired balance problem.

Bradykinesia

Simple tasks may get difficult and time-consuming for you as overtime Parkinson’s may slow down your movement.

Your steps may get shorter and you may drag your feet while walking. You may also find it hard to get out of a chair.

Decreased Automatic Movements

You may lose or lower your ability to perform unconscious movements that also include smiling, blinking, or swinging your arms while walking.  

Changed Speech

You may slur or hesitate while trying to talk. You may also speak quickly or very softly and you may have a monotone speech rather than having the usual inflections.

Rigid Muscles

The muscles in any part of your body may become rigid or stiff. This muscle stiffness can limit your range of motion and be very painful and unendurable.

Writing Changes

You may either have small handwriting or it may become hard for you to write.

Parkinson’s Causes and Risk Factors

Parkinson’s occurs when nerve cells (neurons) in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra die or become impaired.

These neurons produce dopamine, a chemical messenger crucial for coordinating smooth movement.

When dopamine levels drop, the hallmark motor symptoms of PD emerge.

Here’s what drives this process:

1: Loss of Dopamine-Producing Neurons

The primary cause is the degeneration of dopamine-producing cells.

Why these cells die isn’t entirely clear, but it’s linked to both genetic and environmental triggers.

2: Lewy Bodies

Abnormal protein clumps called Lewy bodies, made up of a protein called alpha-synuclein, form in the brain.

These are a hallmark of PD and may disrupt normal brain function, though their exact role in causing the disease is still under study.

3: Genetic Factors

In some specific cases, genes like SNCA (which codes for alpha-synuclein), LRRK2, and PARK7 have been linked to familial (inherited) Parkinson’s.

Though this accounts for only  a small percentage of cases (about 10% to 15%) of mutations associated with Parkinson’s.

These inherited forms appear usually at the younger ages, with clustering in families thus suggesting transmission via genetics; however, in most cases, no obvious genetic linkage exists.

4: Environmental Factors

Certain environmental exposures have been determined to increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s:

• Pesticides and Herbicides: Long exposure to these agricultural chemicals has been associated with a higher risk of developing the disease.
• Industrial Toxins: Exposure to heavy metals and solvents is yet another risk-enhancer.
• Head Trauma: A history of head trauma may impose an increased risk for developing the disease, sometimes referred to as Parkinson’s, that occurs with injury.

Risk Factors for Parkinson’s Disease

While anyone can develop Parkinson’s, certain factors increase the likelihood:

• Age: As people get older, they have more risk factors because disabilities are usually found in older people, mostly those over sixty. It is rare to see these issues in people between fifty and sixty, and even less common in those under sixty (young-onset Parkinson’s).
• Gender: Men are about 1.5 times more likely to develop PD than women, possibly due to hormonal differences or greater exposure to environmental risks.
• Family History:If a person has a close family member, like a parent or sibling, who has the disease, they are more likely to get the disease themselves. This suggests that genetics may play a role in some cases.
• Head Trauma: Repeated head injuries (e.g., from boxing or concussions) may increase PD risk by damaging brain structures over time.
• Lifestyle Factors: Smokers and coffee drinkers might be less likely to get PD, but these habits are not healthy ways to avoid it because they can cause other health problems. Eating badly or not exercising could contribute to PD, but there isn’t strong proof of this.

How Parkinson’s Affects the Brain?

How parkinson’s disease affects the brain?  Primarily seen as a movement disorder, it goes well beyond the lack of motor activity, interrupting both motor and non-motor functioning.

Role of Dopamine:

Dopamine is a chemical in the brain that helps with movement and emotions.

It is made in a small part of the brain called the substantia nigra.

In Parkinson’s disease, the cells that make dopamine die, which lowers the amount of dopamine.

When dopamine levels get too low, the brain can’t send the right signals for movement, which leads to the early signs of the disease.

Symptoms of Motor Impairment

As the disease progresses, the individual will experience:

• Tremors: Involuntary manifestation or shaking, habitually commencing in one hand, more conspicuously in a resting position.
• Muscle Rigidity: This refers to stiffness found in the arms, legs, or trunk, which severely restricts mobility and results in discomfort.
• Bradykinesia: Movement that is bradykinetic is a glacially slow one that impedes any activity from a walking session to eating, or getting dressed.
• Postural Instability: Stumbling or falling due to difficulty with sensations of balance.

Non-Motor Symptoms

Parkinson’s not only interferes with movement; it also attacks other systems of the body:

• Depression and Anxiety: With changes in bodily states, alterations in brain chemistry cannot be excluded from mood disorders.
• Sleep Disturbances: Including issues with falling asleep and staying asleep while physically acting out dreams (as seen in REM sleep behavior disorder).
• Cognitive Impairment: Includes occasional deficits in memory, attention, and decision-making skills, mainly as the diagnosis is fully established.
• Digestive Issues: Symptoms of digestive complications could arise, such as constipation, which could emerge as one of the earlier signs when the digestive system slows down.
• Loss of Smell (Anosmia): This is very often an early sign, with several years passing before motor symptoms such as tremors set in.
• Fatigue, together with a general feeling of low energy, is also commonly seen and affects an individual’s normal daily activities.

Who It Affects?

Parkinson’s disease can affect anyone, but certain groups may be more at risk due to factors like age, gender, genes, and environment.

• Older Adults (60 and Up): Most people with Parkinson’s are diagnosed after age 60. As people get older, their brains may not work as well, which can increase the chance of getting Parkinson’s due to the loss of brain cells that make dopamine.
• Young Adults with Early-Onset Parkinson’s: Sometimes, young adults between ages 20 and 50 can get Parkinson’s. This form of the disease usually progresses more slowly, but young patients face bigger social and emotional challenges because they are diagnosed at a younger age.
• Gender Differences: More men than women are diagnosed with Parkinson’s. There isn’t a clear reason for this, but it might be due to hormonal differences or exposure to certain environments.
• Family and Genetics: If a parent or sibling has Parkinson’s, you have a slightly higher chance of getting it too compared to someone without family history. Most cases are not inherited, but some genetic changes are linked to family cases of the disease.
• Environmental Exposure: Being around toxins like herbicides, pesticides, and heavy metals for a long time can increase the risk of getting Parkinson’s. Working or living in places where these toxins are common can be harmful and may lead to the disease.

Parkinson’s Stages      

Doctors who diagnose Parkinson’s rely on the Hoehn and Yahr rating scale that is divided into five stages based on disease progression.

This helps in evaluating how far the disease has advanced.

The 5 Parkinson’s stages are:         

Stage 1 – Mild Symptoms (Early Stage)

It is characterized by mild symptoms that are not severe enough to interfere with your daily lifestyle.

These minimal symptoms are often missed. Tremors, stiffness, or slight movement changes (usually on one side of the body)

Stage 2 – Moderate Symptoms (Bilateral Involvement)

Tremors, rigidness, trembling and changes in facial expressions are much more noticeable than those experienced in stage 1.

Symptoms can be seen on both sides of the body and difficulties in walking and impaired posture may develop.

Stage 3 – Mid-Stage (Loss of Balance & Slowed Movements)

It marks the middle of Parkinson’s stages with slower movements, reduced reflexes, and loss of balance.

Falls become more common and daily tasks are significantly affected.

Stage 4 – Severe Symptoms (Limited Independence)

Assistive devices become a must for regulating movements.

People are unable to stay on their own and daily tasks get near to impossible. 

Stage 5 – Advanced Stage (Full-Time Care Needed)

It is the most advanced stage where freezing upon standing or walking occurs.

People need wheelchairs and around-the-clock assistance to prevent falls.

Sometimes they encounter hallucinations, confusion, delusions, and dementia.

Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosis

There are no specified tests for Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. 

A neuropsychiatrist, who is trained in brain conditions, will diagnose Parkinson’s on the basis of your medical history, a physical and neurological examination, and a review of Parkinson’s symptoms and signs.

A specific SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography) scan, called a Dopamine Transporter scan (DaTscan) may be suggested by your doctor to support the suspicion of Parkinson’s.

However, your symptoms and neurological examination provide the ultimate diagnosis. Most patients do even need DaTscan.

To rule out other conditions for the symptoms, your doctor may order lab tests like blood tests, imaging tests like MRI, PET scans, and ultrasound of the brain.

Additionally, your doctor may give you sufficient doses of carbidopa-levodopa (Rytary Sinemet, others), a Parkinson’s medication as a significant improvement with this will confirm your Parkinson’s disease diagnosis.

Sometimes, it requires time and regular follow-up appointments with neurologists to diagnose Parkison’s disease.

That is why, it is crucial for you to contact well-trained top neuropsychiatrist in Patna Bihar like Dr. Vivek Pratap Singh, who is well versed in movement disorders to evaluate your symptoms.

How to Prevent Parkinson’s Disease? 

Unfortunately, there is no known cure and it is not fully acknowledged what causes the dip in Parkinson’s disease dopamine.

Nonetheless, with exercise and proper diet, you can try to prevent the disease before the symptoms arise.

A regular balanced diet will give you the strength to fight Parkinson’s symptoms. 

You should incorporate organic, fresh, and raw vegetables, vitamins like B, D3, and omega-3 fatty acids into your diet. 

Other than that CoQ10 and green tea are also essential. The importance of exercise cannot be overstated.

Regular aerobic exercise provides overall longevity and reduces inflammation in the brain.

How to Test Yourself for Parkinson’s?  

You can begin to test yourself for Parkinson’s by trying to identify the symptoms at home even though you need a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.

Look out for tremors in your hands or fingers. Check if your movements are slowed or distorted.

You can also lookout for a shuffling gait with short steps and a tendency to lean forward. 

Do examine your posture, cognitive impairment, and speech disturbances if any. 

Signs of depression, gastrointestinal issues, and difficulty in sleeping should be taken into consideration as well.

Parkinson’s Treatment

As mentioned above, this disease can’t be cured but certain medications can keep the symptoms in control.

The prescribed medications may comprise Carbidopa-levodopa, dopamine agonists, MAO B inhibitors, Catechol O-methyltransferase inhibitors, Anticholinergics, and Amantadine.

Besides, Parkinson’s treatment via surgical procedures includes Deep brain Stimulation (DBS).

Needless to say, healthy eating and exercise are of paramount importance as they make living with this disease much easier.

In addition, supportive therapies like massage, tai chi, yoga, etc can also ease your lifestyle.

Parkinson’s Foundation

Established in 2016, Parkinson’s foundation was set up through the union of the National Parkinson Foundation and Parkinson’s disease Foundation.

It is a national organization with the mission to make life better for people with Parkinson’s disease through improved care and advanced research towards a cure.

Its headquarters are located in Miami and New York City.

Parkinson’s Treatment Center in Patna Bihar

In case you’re looking for the finest Parkinson’s treatment center in Patna, then Dr. Vivek Pratap’s Neuro and Child Psychiatry Clinic should be your foremost choice.

Dr. Vivek Pratap Singh is referred to as the best neuropsychiatrist in Patna Bihar.

He had the privilege of working as a Neuropsychiatrist at the prestigious AIIMS and PMCH Patna.

Dr. Vivek Pratap Singh, the top neuropsychiatrist in Patna Bihar, is a committed high-profile doctor who is reputed for his high level of patient satisfaction score.

Patients come to his care centre for mentally challenge in Patna bihar for the best possible Parkinson’s treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can you still live a normal life with Parkinson’s?

Many healthy people with early Parkinson’s can still take care of themselves and continue working or enjoying hobbies for a long time.

Although the disease gets worse over time, it can be slowed down a lot with prompt medical help, changes in habits, and emotional support.

These approaches help manage symptoms, allowing most patients to live fulfilling and productive lives.

2: Can you recover from Parkinson’s Disease?

No cure exists at present. Their reliefs include medicines, surgeries like DBN (Deep Brain Stimulation), and therapies.

They are meant to improve the quality of life by relieving the associated motor and non-motor symptoms due to Parkinson’s disease.

This subject is being researched all over the world for the hope of finding any cure or preventive therapy.

3: Is Parkinson’s painful?

Parkinson’s itself does not hurt, but certain symptoms cause pain or discomfort.

The following are typical sources of pain:

• Muscle tonus
• Cramps or spasms that occur (dystonias)
• Pain in the joints resulting from misalignment or lack of mobility.

Typically, it can be treated physically, stretched, medicated, and relaxed.

4: What is end-stage Parkinson’s?

Parkinson’s is at its ugliest in the final phase.

The affected persons may:

• Barely move even with help
• Dementia or other confused cognition is usually associated with deep impairment.
• Completely at the mercy of caregivers to perform all daily activities, from eating to bathing to dressing
• Spend most time in either the wheelchair or their beds from here on.

At this stage, the patient is likely to develop complications, such as infection or aspiration pneumonia, as well as swallowing problems, potentially leading to his mortality.

5: Can you stop Parkinson’s if caught early?

Parkinson’s cannot be stopped or reversed, even if detected early.

Early diagnosis, though, will lead to early treatment, which would delay symptoms and better the quality of life.

Immediate initiation of medication and therapy could preserve more function and mobility much longer.

6: Has anyone survived Parkinson’s?

On its own, Parkinson’s Disease is not fatal, and, on average, none of its complications can shorten life.

Many patients can live a further many years past their diagnoses because of treatment.

The age of onset, general health, and efficacy of symptom control influence such survival capabilities.

7: Is Parkinson’s close to being cured?

As of now, there is no cure, but significant progress is being made in Parkinson’s research.

Promising areas include:

• Gene therapy
• Stem cell research
• Neuroprotective drugs
• Immunotherapy and anti-inflammatory strategies