Parkinson's disease involves:
Dopamine Deficiency: Loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, a region of the brain that plays a key role in movement control.
Lewy Bodies: Accumulation of abnormal protein aggregates (Lewy bodies) in neurons, contributing to cell dysfunction and death.
Clinical Evaluation
Motor Symptoms: Presence of primary motor symptoms such as tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and postural instability.
Non-motor Symptoms: Assessment of non-motor symptoms such as cognitive impairment, sleep disturbances, autonomic dysfunction, and mood disorders.
Response to Medication: Improvement of symptoms with dopaminergic medications like levodopa can support diagnosis.
Tremor (typically at rest) in hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head.
Muscle rigidity, stiffness, and difficulty with initiating movements.
Bradykinesia (slowness of movement) and impaired balance and coordination.
Postural instability leading to problems with balance and falls.
Speech changes, including soft or slurred speech.
Non-motor symptoms such as depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and cognitive changes (e.g., dementia in advanced stages).
Treatment aims to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life:
Medications: Dopaminergic medications (e.g., levodopa, dopamine agonists) to replace dopamine in the brain and improve motor symptoms. Other medications may address non-motor symptoms.
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS): Surgical procedure involving implantation of electrodes in specific brain regions to modulate abnormal neural activity and alleviate motor symptoms.
Physical Therapy: Exercises to improve mobility, flexibility, and balance.
Lifestyle Modifications: Healthy diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep to support overall well-being.
Speech Therapy and Counseling: Speech therapy to improve communication skills and counseling to address emotional and psychological aspects of the disease.