Parkinson Treatment – emcell

Posted: Published on November 12th, 2013

This post was added by Dr Simmons

Parkinsons disease (PD) is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system characterized by different neurological disturbances related to motor skills, balance, psychoemotional disturbances, cognitive impairment and social behavioral disorders. PD is a progressive disorder: with time the condition of the sufferer tends to gradually aggravate. PD incidence doesnt depend on sex or race, social status or place of residence. Despite the prevailing opinion that PK is a disorder involving elderly people, the average age of PD diagnosis is 57 years. However, 10% of the diseased are people under 40. With the increase of life span and average age of the population the incidence of PD is expected to rise.

The symptoms of PD mainly result from degeneration of dopaminergic neurons neurons of the brain that produce and accumulate dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, i.e. chemical serving to relay electric impulses from neurons, and a hormone. Dopamine deficit results in impaired transmission of nervous impulses, thus causing such distinctive PD symptoms as tremor of hands and legs, jaws, facial muscles, slowed movements, muscle stiffness, difficulties to initiate a movement and keep balance. Losing expressed mimicry, PD patients can seem apathic (indifferent). Speech can become slurred and monotonous. Other PD symptoms include depression, anxiety, dementia (weakness of mind), difficulties in chewing and swallowing, appetite disturbances, hypersalivation, and bowel and urinary bladder disorders. Not all the above PD symptoms develop in each PD case.

The causes of PD have not been defined. Common causes of Parkinsons diseases include combination of several factors, in particular:

Other causes of PD include cerebral atherosclerosis, head trauma, tumours, virus infections, etc.

Due to commonly slow progression, Parkinsons disease at its early stages can be difficult to diagnose for several years. Typically, at the initial stage of Parkinsons disease patients complain of some rigidity in the extremities, decreased joint flexibility, difficulty in walking and performing active movements. It is worth noting that PD progresses more rapidly in those who developed it at younger age.

Depending on how PD progresses at the advanced stages, the quality of PD sufferers life can significantly deteriorate. In severe disorders, such as disturbed swallowing or total immobilization and in case of impropriate nursing, such concomitant problems as respiratory disturbances, secondary infection, etc., can develop. In average, Parkinsons disease cuts down the life expectancy by 3-9 years.

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Parkinson Treatment - emcell

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