INTRODUCTION The array of pharmacologic and surgical treatments available for the treatment of idiopathic (or Lewy body) Parkinson disease (PD) is broader than for any other degenerative disease of the central nervous system. Management of individual patients requires careful consideration of a number of factors, including the patient's symptoms and signs, age, stage of disease, degree of functional disability, and level of physical activity and productivity. Treatment can be divided into pharmacologic, nonpharmacologic, and surgical therapy. The pharmacologic treatment of PD can be further divided into neuroprotective and symptomatic therapy. In practice, nearly all of the available treatments are symptomatic in nature and do not appear to slow or reverse the natural course of the disease. However, several potential neuroprotective agents for PD have shown some promise in animals and/or humans and are undergoing further investigation. Neuroprotective therapy for PD is discussed in greater detail separately. (See "Neuroprotective therapy for Parkinson disease".) The routine medical management of PD is reviewed here. The nonpharmacologic management of PD, including education, support, exercise, and nutrition, is discussed separately. (See "Nonpharmacologic management of Parkinson disease".) Treatment of advanced PD, particularly the complications associated with long-term levodopa therapy, and management of the comorbid problems including … Continue reading →

ZANESVILLE, Ohio-One local group is shaking things up when it comes to treating Parkinsons disease. All Shook UP is the Zanesville Parkinsons group. They pride themselves on their treatment for Parkinsons symptoms and movement disorders; which they do in a unique and fun way. Amy Dunn, President of All Shook UP, said they serve patients from five counties. Theycome here to get some exercise relief from Parkinsons. Exercise is a treatment, it is a medicine for Parkinsons and people need to know that, get out and exercise, said Dunn. Dunn said the exercise treatment stretches the muscles to ensure atrophy doesnt set in and mobility is not lost. The group works with therapists who are trained specifically in Parkinsons exercise; a treatment she can attest to first-hand. This exercise class has benefited me to the point that my neurologist was freaked out he said you should be getting worse, I dont think you have Parkinsons. Exercise does that much for me, said Dunn. The group exercises twice a week. The IBEW provides the location for their boxing class and strength class on Tuesdays. And on Thursdays the Zanesville Fraternal Order of Eagles sponsors their aquatic class at the Muskingum Recreation … Continue reading →

Excerpt from Cannabis Revealed: How the worlds most misunderstood plant is healing everything from chronic pain to epilepsy Parkinsons disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects motor function and coordination. PD results from the death of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the area of the brain in the basal ganglia called the substantia nigra, an area responsible for movement. The cause of PD in most cases is unknown. However, a small percentage of cases are genetic. There are some environmental risk factors that have been associated with increased risk of PD, including pesticide exposure and head injury. PD patients suffer with tremor, rigidity, slowness of movement, and postural instability. Patients can also have depression, cognitive decline, sleep disorders, and occasionally psychosis. The mainstay of treatment is medications, rehabilitation with exercise and occupational therapy, and surgery in advanced cases. There is limited scientific literature on the effectiveness of medical cannabis for treatment of PD symptoms. One study reported no improvement in tremor with smoked cannabis. (1) In a survey of 339 patients with PD in the Czech Republic, 25% reported experimenting with cannabis to treat symptoms. Almost half of those using cannabis reported improvement with at least once-a-day use. Use … Continue reading →