What is Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the nervous system which occurs because of deficiency of a chemical known as dopamine. Patients start having slowness of movements, rigidity & tremors of hands and later on patients complain of imbalance & abnormal gait.What causes Parkinson's disease?
Some types of nerve cells (neurons) inside the brain start dying. When dopamine producing nerve cells start dying, it leads to low levels of dopamine in the body. It leads to symptoms of Parkinson's disease.What are the symptoms of Parkinson's disease?
- Tremors
- Slow movements
- Change of speech
- Impaired balance and posture
- Rigidity of muscles
Which doctor should be consulted for Parkinson's disease?
Neurologists (brain specialists) manage Parkinson's disease. In case, surgery is the useful option, neurosurgeon's consultation is required.Is Parkinson's disease genetic?
Certain specific genetic mutations that can lead to Parkinson's disease have been identified, but these are not at all common except in situations with several family members afflicted with the same disease. Certain gene variations are likely to add to the risk of Parkinson's disease.How is Parkinson's disease diagnosed?
There exists no specific test to detect Parkinson's. It develops slowly and can be identified by an expert neurologist after looking into the signs/symptoms of the patient.Can Parkinson's disease be prevented?
Since the causes of Parkinson's disease are not clearly known, currently there is no prevention and no cure for this disease. However, few medications help to provide relief from the symptoms.Is there a cure for Parkinson's disease, how can it be treated?
Currently there is no cure for Parkinson's disease.Some medications, like Carbidopa, levodopa, dopamine agonists, MAO inhibitors, COMT inhibitors help to relieve the symptoms. Surgical options include deep brain simulation. Psychological support is also required for some patients.
Does Parkinson's affect mental health?
Parkinson's disease can result in mental health problems like depression and paranoia. But in most cases, it can be prevented.
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