What Causes Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is caused by degeneration of brain cells, particularly those that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter essential for normal brain function. Reduced dopamine levels lead to movement-related abnormalities.

Symptoms and Course of Parkinson’s Disease

• Physical Symptoms
  Tremor, slow movement, reduced facial expression, slow and soft speech, drooling, muscle rigidity, difficulty walking, shuffling gait, freezing of gait, and frequent falls.
• Psychological Symptoms
  Depression and anxiety.
• Other Symptoms
  Mild short-term memory problems in the early stage and dementia in later stages, excessive sweating, bloating, constipation, frequent urination, urinary incontinence, reduced sense of smell and taste, and dizziness upon standing due to low blood pressure.

Course of the Disease

Symptoms generally become progressively more severe as brain cells continue to degenerate. The brain gradually loses cells responsible for producing neurotransmitters, and these cells cannot be fully replaced.

Treatment

1. Self-Care

   Exercise and practice as advised by the physical therapist.

2. Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
   • Muscle-strengthening exercises.
   • Coordination training.
   • Balance training.
   • Gait training.
   • Cognitive stimulation.
3. Other Treatments

   There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease and no treatment that can completely stop its progression. Common treatment approaches include:

   • Medication is used to manage symptoms, primarily through medicines that act on the dopamine system.
   • Deep brain stimulation is a surgical treatment in which electrodes are implanted to stimulate specific areas of the brain. It may be considered for patients whose symptoms have progressed despite medication or whose response to medication is no longer adequate.
   • The physician will determine the most appropriate treatment for each patient.

    

Slowing Functional Decline

1. Take medication as prescribed to help control symptoms and slow functional decline.
2. Exercise regularly to reduce muscle wasting associated with decreased physical activity.