What is Parkinson’s Disease?

• Overview of Parkinson’s disease and how it affects a patient’s body.
• Review the symptoms and causes of Parkinson’s disease.
• Learn the diagnostic process, treatment options, and outlook for patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease as well as dementia affects the brain and is one of the most common diseases that affects older adults today.  It is a disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement and often includes tremors in most individuals.  The disease can last for years or it can ultimately be lifelong for some individuals.

Overview of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which a part of the brain deteriorates, causing more severe symptoms over time.  This condition is best known for how it affects muscle control, balance, and movement.  It can also cause a wide range of other effects on the senses, thinking ability, and mental health.

The risk of developing Parkinson’s disease naturally increases with age, and according to research, the average age at which it starts is sixty years old.  It is slightly more common in men than women.  Although symptoms typically manifest later in life, it can happen in adults as young as twenty years old, but this is rare.

Parkinson’s disease is quite common overall, ranking second among age-related degenerative brain diseases and it is known as the most common movement related brain disease.

Effect on the Human Body

Parkinson’s disease causes the area of the brain that affects movement to deteriorate.  As this area deteriorates, the ability to control movement is lost.  When the brain is affected, the chemical in the brain known as dopamine is lacking, which prevents proper communication with neurotransmitters in the brain.  This lack of dopamine causes the slowed movements and tremors associated with Parkinson’s.  Later stages affect how the brain functions, causing dementia-like symptoms and depression.

Symptoms and Causes

Symptoms

The most well-known symptom of Parkinson’s disease is loss of muscle control.  There can also be slowed movements, tremors, rigidity or stiffness, and unstable posture or walking gait.  Other symptoms that may be present are blinking less often, cramped or small handwriting, drooling, facial expressions that do not change, trouble swallowing, and trouble speaking.

Causes

The main risk factor for developing Parkinson’s disease is related to genetics.  It is possible to develop the condition without predisposing genetic factors, but it is most often developed genetically.  Another way that this disease can develop is through medications, inflammation of the brain, toxins, or damage from injuries.

Diagnosis, Treatment, and Outlook

Diagnosis

In order for Parkinson’s disease to be diagnosed, a thorough examination by a healthcare provider is necessary.  The provider will ask questions, assess the presenting symptoms, and review the patient’s medical history and order labs or other diagnostic tests.  Blood tests, Computed Tomography scans, genetic testing, spinal taps, skin biopsies, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging are among some of the testing that may be administered.

Treatment

There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease but there are treatment options available to manage symptoms.  The most common and effective treatment is Levodopa.  Levodopa is a medication that enters the brain and helps replace the missing dopamine, which allows patients with Parkinson’s disease to function better.  By increasing the amount of dopamine in the brain, levodopa helps control symptoms and helps the patient perform daily activities such as dressing, walking, and handling items.  Levodopa is commonly prescribed along with other medications to assist with minimizing the possible side effects.

Outlook

Parkinson’s disease is not fatal, but the symptoms and effects can often be contributors to death. Since most cases aren’t diagnosed until after sixty years of age and people live with the condition for quite a few years, Parkinson’s disease does not change life expectancy by more than a few years.  As long as the patient is compliant with their treatment plan and medication regime, he/she can live a long time and have a good quality of life with the condition.

The Bottom Line

Parkinson’s disease is currently an incurable, but treatable disease affecting the brain that must be understood by nurses and other healthcare professionals.  One must have a thorough understanding of the disease and ways to improve the lives of patients struggling with this disease.  It is important to understand that consistent monitoring and noting how patients are responding to treatment is imperative when dealing with Parkinson’s disease. 

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