April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. Parkinson’s is a disease that affects the way your brain controls your muscles. More than one million people in the United States have Parkinson’s, and every year as many as 60,000 new cases are diagnosed.
Doctors and researchers still have much to learn about Parkinson’s disease (PD); however, they know a lot about how the disease affects the brain. PD causes a slow loss of a certain type of brain cell which produces a chemical called dopamine. When 60% to 80% of these cells are lost, dopamine levels drop so low that movement related symptoms appear such as shaking, stiffness and slowness of movement. Other symptoms may include difficulty swallowing and speaking, depressed mood, sleep disruption, pain in the arms and legs, impaired balance and coordination and constipation.
Although there are no blood or laboratory tests that have been proven to help in diagnosing PD, there are many clinical trials being conducted, and there are a variety of medications that provide relief from the symptoms. Usually, affected individuals are given levodopa combined with carbidopa. Carbidopa delays the conversion of levodopa into dopamine until it reaches the brain. Nerve cells can use levodopa to make dopamine and replenish the brain’s dwindling supply.
The vast majority of Parkinson’s cases are not directly inherited. Approximately 15-25% of people with PD report having a relative with the disease. Some scientists have suggested that PD may result from exposure to an environmental toxin or from a traumatic injury. Epidemiological research has identified several factors that may be linked to Parkinson’s, including rural living, well water, manganese and exposure to pesticides. In 2009, the US Department of Veteran Affairs added Parkinson’s to a list of diseases possibly associated with Agent Orange. The CDC rated complications from PD as the 14th leading cause of death in the US. Other scientists are working to develop new protective drugs that can delay, prevent or reverse the disease.
At the Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, where I run a monthly support group for more than 20 residents with PD and their family members, we use the latest information to increase the quality of life for our residents. We go over research and breakthroughs to keep our residents informed. We review facial stretching and other exercises they can do daily to maintain and increase voice projection and slow muscle decline. Guest speakers not only provide education to our residents, but to our staff, as well, in order to help them understand the unique needs of a person with PD.
On Saturday, April 25, the Parkinson’s Unity Walk will be held in Central Park. Join us to support those affected with PD. You’ll be comfortable knowing that 100% of the money raised at the walk goes directly to Parkinson’s research.
