What is Parkinson's Disease?
What is Parkinson's and why does it occur?" are among the most frequently asked questions about the disease. Parkinson's disease is a condition that arises primarily from a decrease in cells that produce dopamine. There can be many reasons for the decrease in cells. In our article, each of these reasons and everything else related to Parkinson's disease is explained in detail, one by one.
What is Parkinson's Disease?
It is a disease that occurs due to the loss of cells that produce dopamine as a result of damage to the substantia nigra region in the brainstem. Symptoms manifest when at least 60-80% of the cells within the substantia nigra are lost. Parkinson's disease is a type of disorder more commonly encountered in males than females.
What Does Parkinson Mean?
The answer to the question 'What does Parkinson mean?' can be given as follows: Parkinson's disease was described by James Parkinson in 1817, who wished for the disease to be named after himself.
Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease
The onset, timing, types, and severity of Parkinson's symptoms vary among patients. Symptoms of Parkinson's disease can be listed as follows:
- Slowness of movement: It is one of the most important parameters for diagnosis. This condition progressively impedes the patient's ability to perform daily tasks, eventually leading to dependency on others for living. Patients experiencing slowness of movement may have difficulty with tasks such as buttoning clothes, tying shoes and ties, using utensils, writing, chewing food, sitting down and getting up, getting out of bed, getting into and out of a car, etc.
- Mask-like facial expression: Hypomimia is characterized by a reduction in natural facial movements and reflex behaviors such as blinking.
- Micrographia: Some patients' initial complaints involve a feeling of stiffness when using a pen. When the handwriting of patients complaining of slowness of movement is examined, although the letters are initially legible, the size of the writing gradually decreases and becomes illegible.
- Tremor: It is the most noticeable symptom among the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and is often the reason patients seek medical attention. Tremors may start in a single finger or hand and spread to the arm, leg, and even the opposite limbs. They can also be observed in the tongue, lips, and jaw. Tremors usually occur regularly and at a certain speed.
- Stiffness of limb muscles (Rigidity): Under normal circumstances, muscles are slightly tense at rest. However, in Parkinson's patients, muscles are excessively tense even at rest, and this rigidity can be felt during manual examination.
- Postural abnormalities: Some Parkinson's patients have a slight forward inclination in their posture, especially noticeable when in motion. Constantly leaning forward can lead to posture abnormalities and back and lower back pain.
- Walking difficulties,
- Speech impairments,
- Swallowing difficulties,
- Drop in blood pressure,
- Excessive saliva in the mouth,
- Constipation,
- Sexual dysfunction,
- Urination problems,
- Increased sweating,
- Depression,
- Forgetfulness (Dementia),
- Emotional complaints,
- Insomnia,
- Loss of sense of smell,
- Behavioral disorders during REM sleep,
- Redness in the eyes (conjunctivitis),
- Vision problems.
Young Onset Parkinson's Symptoms
Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease is not dependent on age. Just like in any age group, symptoms of Parkinson's may not manifest suddenly in young individuals, and symptoms vary from person to person. Slow movement, one of the main symptoms of the disease, may be less common in younger individuals.
Parkinson End-of-Life Symptoms
The question of Parkinson end-of-life symptoms is often researched by patients. However, Parkinson's is not a fatal disease; it is a chronic condition. Patients can live for up to 15-25 years after diagnosis.
What Causes Parkinson's Disease?
The question 'What causes Parkinson's?' is associated with lifestyle, environmental exposures, frequent consumption of tobacco and coffee, genetic predisposition, stress, head traumas, inadequate water intake, and other factors.
Treatment of Parkinson's Disease
Currently, there is no definitive cure for Parkinson's disease, but symptoms of the disease can be significantly reduced with medication. The medications used need to be taken regularly and for a lifetime. If these medications are discontinued without medical supervision, Parkinson's symptoms will inevitably return, and interruptions in the treatment process can lead to life-threatening risks.
Parkinson's treatment is entirely individualized. A medication that works well for one patient may be ineffective for another. In cases where symptoms cannot be controlled, surgical methods are also employed.
Stages of Parkinson's Disease
Different symptoms may appear in patients at different times. These symptoms have typical progression stages. The stages of Parkinson's can be listed as follows:
- Stage One: Diagnosis is often made during this stage. The symptoms of the disease are quite mild, and symptoms are minimal. Signs of tremors and slowness of movement may occur in a specific area of the patient's body. At this stage, the disease does not significantly affect the person's life. Medication may not be necessary, or symptoms can be alleviated with low-dose medication.
- Stage Two: Symptoms are more pronounced compared to the first stage. Symptoms like tremors may be noticeable by others. Difficulty in walking and movements may occur but are not constant. Postural abnormalities and body stiffness can be observed. The individual does not need assistance yet. Symptoms may not be limited to one area.
- Stage Three: The patient can live independently but struggles with daily tasks such as eating, drinking, and dressing. Postural abnormalities and difficulty in movement become significantly pronounced. Slowing of reflexes is observed. Foot dragging, freezing, and falling may occur while walking.
- Stage Four: Patients can no longer live independently. There is a decrease in handwriting and steps become smaller. Movements have significantly slowed down. Speech difficulties or even confusion may occur. Medications may not be as effective as in previous stages, and due to high doses, the likelihood of side effects is considerably high.
- Stage Five: This is the final stage. The individual is completely dependent on others for assistance. They cannot stand or walk without help. There is severe rigidity in the body. Daily needs cannot be met. Due to the disease and side effects of medications, sleep problems and hallucinations may occur.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are many questions that Parkinson's patients and their families often wonder about. Here are these questions and their answers:
Is Parkinson's Genetic?
The answer to the question 'Is Parkinson's genetic?' is yes. The likelihood of the disease occurring is higher in individuals with a family history of the disease compared to others. In individuals with a genetic history, symptoms of the disease may appear at earlier ages.
How Long Do Parkinson's Patients Live?
With proper diagnosis and treatment, Parkinson's patients can live for a long time. While the duration of the disease varies from person to person, it generally lasts for 20 years or longer. So, the answer to the question 'How long do Parkinson's patients live?' varies from patient to patient.
What Should Parkinson's Patients Avoid Eating?
There is no clear answer to the question 'What should Parkinson's patients avoid eating?' because patients are generally not prescribed a specific diet, and there is no food that exacerbates the symptoms or worsens the course of the disease. However, it is important to maintain a balanced and regular diet and avoid excessive weight gain. Since symptoms such as constipation may occur, consuming fiber-rich foods is crucial for alleviating this symptom. Monitoring vitamin D levels and starting an appropriate diet in case of deficiency may be necessary to mitigate the risk of falls. Adequate water intake is also crucial for the course of the disease.
How Should One Treat a Parkinson's Patient?
The answer to the question 'How should one treat a Parkinson's patient?' is of significant importance to family members. Patients should be treated with patience, understanding, and gentleness. Due to the disease, there may be a slowdown in movements and speech, so it is important to be patient and adapt to the individual. In advanced stages, the patient will need significant physical and psychological support, which can greatly improve the individual's quality of life and help alleviate depression, anxiety, and similar psychological disorders.
Surviving Parkinson's Disease
The treatment protocol aims to slow down the progression of the disease and alleviate symptoms.
If you suspect Parkinson's disease, be sure to consult a physician. Remember that early diagnosis is crucial for slowing down the progression of the disease.
* Contents of this page is for informational purposes only. Please consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. The content of this page does not include information on medicinal health care at Liv Hospital .
