Relevant answers to your frequent questions...

Parkinson S Disease: Frequently Asked Questions

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that affects muscle control and is characterized by tremors, lack of coordination, and difficulty walking.
Parkinson’s is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. It occurs when neurons that produce dopamine die off quickly. When a large portion of the neurons that produce neurons die, patients begin to feel the symptoms of tremors, stiffness. Parkinson’s is a chronic and progressive disease, but because each person is different the disease may manifest itself in different ways.

How is Parkinson’s disease treated?

There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, so treatment is aimed at controlling symptoms. Parkinson’s disease symptoms are usually treated with drugs that increase the amount of dopamine available to the brain.
At this time, there is no known cure for Parkinson’s disease. Medications are the most useful form of treatment. PD medications include: -Carbidopa/Levodopa (Sinemet) -Pramipexole (Mirapex) -Pergolide (Permax) -Ropinirole (Requip) -Bromocriptine (Parlodel) -Entacapone (Comtan) -Amantadine (Symmetrel) -Selegiline (Eldepryl) These medications can be used in various combinations and typically provide good symptom management. ...
There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease. The two main treatments for Parkinson’s disease are medications called levodopa and dopamine agonists. Both of these medications involve supplementing the supply of dopamine, which is lacking in PD patients, to the brain. These drugs are used to stimulate the brain’s dopamine receptors, though they do so in different ways. Levodopa was introduced in the 1960’s, while dopamine agonists have been used commercially since the mid-1970’s.

Is Parkinson’s disease fatal?

Despite common misconceptions, Parkinson’s disease itself does not shorten one’s life expectancy. However, late stage symptoms such as immobility, poor balance, and difficulty swallowing, place patients at a higher risk for fatal complications. These complications can include fractured hips, pneumonia, and choking.

What is Parkinson’s Disease (PD)?

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder or disorder of the brain. It was first described by Dr. James Parkinson in 1817 in a paper titled “Essay on the Shaking Palsy.” The average age of onset for Parkinson’s disease is 60 years old however, it can be seen in people much younger. It affects men slightly more than women and Caucasians more than people of color. As many as 1.5 million Americans are currently affected by PD. The cause of PD is still not clearly understood. ...

What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?

The most common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include tremor at rest, rigidity (stiffness), bradykinesia (slowness of movement) and postural instability (lack of balance). Generally, at least two of these four symptoms must be present for a diagnosis of PD to be made. Parkinson’s disease is not limited to these four symptoms. ...
Parkinson's disease has many symptoms like muscle rigidity, difficulty in walking, muscle pain, tremors, speech difficulties, failure of fine motor skills, gastrointestinal difficulties, loss of sexual function, depression, confusion, memory loss etc. Parkinson’s disease patient were found to have lower levels of glutathione People over 50 years of age are at an increased rate of risk of developing this disease as they have lower levels of glutathione.

How is Parkinson’s disease diagnosed?

Unlike many other disorders, medical tests and procedures cannot be used to diagnosis PD. Diagnosis is almost always based on a clinician’s physical examination. Again, diagnosis is typically made if an individual experiences two of the four chief symptoms (resting tremor, stiffness, slowness of movement and/or poor balance). Once PD is suspected, medication therapy may be started depending on the severity of the symptoms. ...
In order to diagnose Parkinson’s disease, physicians rely on a person’s symptoms, medical history, and neurological exam. Symptoms begin to appear slowly, over many years. At first they can be mistaken for simple nerve pain, muscle strain, or stress-related “twitches.” But eventually, if you have Parkinson’s disease, doctors can spot the pattern and make the diagnosis. To help in the diagnosis, a doctor may give you a Parkinson’s medication. ...

What is the best treatment for Parkinson’s disease?

There is no one best treatment, because each person is so different. People with Parkinson’s have many different symptoms. Furthermore, some people may respond very well to one medication or procedure, while others have a less favorable experience. Your neurologist will help you match your symptoms with treatments that are likely to be ideal.

Is there a cure for Parkinson’s disease?

There are therapies that treat the symptoms to some degree. Nevertheless there is no cure.
There are treatments that have been proven to increase improvement, but there isn’t an outright cure for Parkinson’s.

Is RLS related to Parkinson’s disease?

Yes, it may be related to Parkinson’s disease. Dopamine deficiency is a feature of Parkinson’s disease, but the nature of its deficiency in RLS still needs to be resolved

Why Parkinson’s Disease Research?

Well, quite honestly, it was chosen for personal reasons. Through researching and founding The Difference of One , we’ve met so many others who know and love someone with Parkinson’s. What is exciting is that current research shows, with no unwarranted hope, that a cure for Parkinson’s and other related neurological diseases will be found sooner rather than later. There is every reason to believe that those we love who are living with the disease right now can be cured in their lifetime. ...

Is there a best treatment for Parkinson ‘ s disease?

There is not one perfect treatment. Some people see substantial improvement with deep brain stimulation, medication, or physical therapy or any combination of the three (these are not the only treatments). The best treatment or treatments differs for each person and circumstance. One of our goals is to supply information for consideration in finding the best treatment for those involved with Parkinson’s.

Is Parkinson’s disease hereditary?

No, Parkinson’s disease usually is not hereditary although there are a few families reportedly having a hereditary form of

How do physicians treat Parkinson’s disease?

The most common treatment is medication. Your choice of medication will depend on many factors. Deep brain stimulation is a surgical procedure that offers some patients significant relief from symptoms. Many patients also report benefits from physical therapy, exercise, stress reduction and proper nutrition.
The most common treatment is through medication. There are a few different medications out there so your conditions and consultation with your physician will play a large role in what medications to pick. Deep brain stimulation and physical therapy are also standard treatments.

What kind of physician treats Parkinson’s disease?

In most cases a neurologist will be the physician that helps you manage Parkinson’s disease. Many patients choose to see a neurologist that is even more specialized in movement disorders, often called a ‘movement disorders specialist’ or MDS. If your community does not have a neurologist, you may elect to work with a family practice or internal medicine physician. Nevertheless, it may be advisable to travel to a neurologist for consultation as frequently as possible.
Mostly a neurologist because he specializes in diagnosing and treating nervous system disorders, including brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles. If a neurologist isn’t nearby then a family doctor or general practitioner can assist you in treatment and services regarding Parkinson’s disease.

How did I get Parkinson’s disease?

The truth is that no one is sure what causes Parkinson’s. Most researchers believe that some people have a genetic abnormality that makes them more susceptible to damage from pesticides and other environmental contaminants. The one thing that they are sure of is that you can't ‘catch’ Parkinson’s. It isn't congagious.

Does MagPro help with cramping associated with Parkinson’s disease?

Yes, MagPro applied directly to area of cramping can help ease the symptom.

How common is Parkinson’s disease?

An estimated 15 000 people in Sweden have Parkinson’s disease, which is about 1-2 people in 1 000 of the population. This level increases to 1% among people over the age of 65. Reliable data are hard to get, and there is always a small group with mild symptoms that is not yet diagnosed.

What are the causes of Parkinson’s disease?

The causes of Parkinson’s disease are as yet unknown. Some poisons, for example mould toxins and synthetic drugs can give Parkinson’s. Additionally there are some genes that can trigger Parkinson’s if they become damaged. Boxing can give Parkinson’s symptoms (e.g. Mohammed Ali) although this is most likely due to more extensive brain damage resulting from repeated blows to the head.

What are the effects of Coenzyme Q10 in Parkinson’s disease?

A small study of 80 patients with early Parkinson’s disease not requiring treatment were given Coenzyme Q10 at dosages of 300, 600, or 1200 mg a day. The study concluded that Coenzyme Q10 seemed to slow the progression of movement dysfunction necessitating the need of prescription medication in Parkinson disease. The greatest gain was at the highest dose, 300 mg four times a day. Because this was a small study group, the results need to be confirmed in a larger study before being recommended for Parkinson’s disease. ...

Why is Duodopa® treatment available only to patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease?

The early stages in Parkinson’s disease, the “good years”, are adequately treated with tablets. At this stage, there is no need for a constant administration of the medicine for the purpose of achieving stable mobility. This is partly because patients are still able to store dopamine in their nerve cells for future needs.

How can I learn more about Parkinson’s disease?

You can register here to receive our monthly email newsletter. We will update you on news and treatment options. You can follow some of these links to some respected Parkinson’s websites: Parkinson's Disease: An Overview from the National Parkinson’s Foundation Parkinson’s Booklet Downloads from the American Parkinson Disease Association (You will have to register. ) Free publications from the National Parkinson Foundation You can attend a support group in your area. ...

Are there any treatments that can slow down Parkinson’s disease?

There is not a clear answer to that question yet. Many patients and physicians think that exercise, physical therapy, and a proper diet may slow the progression of Parkinson’s. Furthermore, the Parkinson’s community is researching a new medications that may slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Further studies will clarify the answers. Parkinson's Hope Digest follows these studies, and reports their results promptly in our Daily Updates , News and Research and Newsletter Articles .
Bookmark this page  

Also on SnappyFingers: