What You Need To Know About Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is a type of motor system disorder, which means it occurs as a result of a loss of brain cells. Once someone is diagnosed with PD, it may move very slowly, or the onset can be quite sudden and severe. The main symptom of PD is tremors, causing the patient to suffer from trembling in the hands, arms, face, legs and jaw. Other signs of PD are stiff limbs, slow movement, and impaired coordination.

Who Gets Parkinson's Disease?

People over the age of 50 are usually most often affected by PD, although it's onset can be earlier. As PD progresses, the person may have more and more difficulty with tasks like daily care, eating and drinking, and getting around. PC may also cause depression, sleep interruptions and other emotional changes. If you suspect you or someone you love has PD, a medical diagnosis must be done. This will include a complete medical history and neurological examination, as PD can be hard to diagnose.

Parkinson's Disease Treatment

Unfortunately, there is no cure for PD, just medications to relieve symptoms. The good news is that many of these medications have shown dramatic results in a number of patients. Usually, the course of Parkinson's Disease treatment is levodopa and carbidopa. Sometimes, surgery is done if the patient doesn't respond to drugs. There is a therapy called deep brain stimulation that has recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, which involves implantation of a small electrical device into the brain that can be programmed.