World Parkinson’s day: What you need to know about Parkinson’s disease

It is estimated that over seven million people around the world have Parkinson’s disease.

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkison.org describes Parkinson disease (PD) as a neurodegenerative disorder that affects predominately dopamine-producing (“dopaminergic”) neurons in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include:
-       Tremor - shaking knees and hands
-       Bradykinesia - slowness of movement
-       Limb rigidity
-       Gait and balance problems

The video below by Parkinson's UK, is about people with Parkinson’s describing what it feels like to live with the disease. 

What causes it?

According to Medical News Today, it is not clear what causes PD, however, it happens when nerve cells die in the brain.

"Once lost, these cells never grow back. This loss results in a number of symptoms which include stiff muscles, extremely slow movements and reflexes, involuntary trembling of the body and limbs, and difficulty in maintaining balance," Neurologist Prof Jonathan Carr of Stellenbosch University told Sun.ac.za.

Is it curable?

According to multiple publications, there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease. However, there is medication and surgery available to help better manage the symptoms.

Some of the treatments according to parkinsons.org.au include:

• Oral medications
• Advanced therapy medications given by injection or by a tube directly into the small intestine
• Surgical treatments including deep brain stimulation
• Advice and support from a Parkinson's Specialist Nurse
• Physical and Supportive therapies including Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Psychology and Social Work.

In the below video, Dr. Sarah King, a Physical Therapist who specialises in Parkinson’s disease, shares what to do to better manage Parkinson’s disease.

Image courtesy of iStock/ ogichobanov

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