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Understanding Parkinson's disease
Audience: patients-public, students-learners ยท Review state: published
What it is
Parkinson's disease is a progressive condition of the nervous system in which cells that make dopamine, a chemical messenger that helps control movement, gradually die. It is most often diagnosed after age 60, and is slightly more common in men.
The cause is usually unknown, with a mix of genetic and environmental factors playing a part.
Symptoms
The main movement symptoms are tremor at rest, slowness of movement, muscle stiffness, and problems with balance and walking. Handwriting often becomes small, and the voice may soften.
Non-movement symptoms are common and can appear years earlier: loss of smell, constipation, sleep disturbance, low mood, and later memory or thinking changes.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is mainly clinical, based on the pattern of symptoms and examination by a doctor, often a neurologist. Scans or blood tests may be used to rule out other causes, as there is no single definitive test.
A good response to dopamine-replacing medicine supports the diagnosis.
Treatment and living with it
Levodopa, which the brain converts to dopamine, is the most effective medicine for movement symptoms, and other drugs extend or supplement its effect. Timing of doses matters. Deep brain stimulation, a surgical option, helps some people with advanced disease.
Regular exercise, physiotherapy, speech therapy, and support for mood and sleep all improve quality of life. Treatment does not cure the disease but can keep people active for many years.
Limitations
General educational overview, not medical advice and not a diagnosis. Medicine timing and doses are individual and belong with the treating clinician.