Parkinsonism (Parkinson's disease)

Introduction
Classical Parkinson disease is also called as shaking palsy or Paralysis Agitans. It was first described by James Parkinson in 1817 and hence the name. Parkinsonism may be primary or secondary to various other causes. All cases are caused by the loss of dopamine (a neurotransmitter in the brain) production in the brain.

Parkinsonism affects approximately 1% of the Americans aged more than 50 years. Most of the cases occur in male population (Male to female ratio is 3:2). There is no clear correlation between the disease and environmental and genetic factors.

What is the cause of Parkinson disease?
It is now accepted that a loss of pigmented cells in the substantia nigra ( a region in the brain) and other pigmented nuclei is the most constant finding in the brain of Parkinson patient. This leads to reduced amount of dopamine (it is a neurotransmitter in the brain which sends signals to various parts of the brain) in the neostriatum (its also a region in the brain).

Symptoms of Parkinson disease
The following are some of the commonest symptoms of parkinson's disease:

• Resting tremor (fine movement of the hand while in rest)
• Rigidity (stiffness of the muscles)
• Bradykinesia (slowness in initiation and execution of any movements of the body)
• Patient frequently loses balance while walking.
• Micrographia (while writing the letters become very small)
• Mask like facies(expressionless face)
• Festinating gait or small shuffling steps (marche a' petits pas). Patient walks with small steps and spine and limbs become less pliable and elastic.
• Infrequent blinking is another feature. Usually normal person blinks 12-20 times per minute and the Parkinson's patient only 5-10.
• While speaking the patient voice become monotonous without any melody and finally he only whispers.
• Sometimes patient suffer from dementia (impaired memory).

Secondary Parkinsonism or Parkinson's like disease
There are several other conditions that have the features of Parkinson's disease and are called secondary Parkinsonism or Parkinson's like disease. These are:

• Olivopontocerebellar degeneration
• Drug induced like antipsychotics, prochlorperazine, metoclopromide
• Poisoning with carbon monoxide
• Following head trauma.
• Huntington's disease

What are the treatment options available?
Although there is no known treatment that will halt or reverse the neuronal degeneration that causes Parkinson's disease, methods are available that will cause considerable relief from symptoms. Treatment can be medical (by drugs) or by surgery.

At present, L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa) is unquestionably the most effective agent for the treatment of Parkinson disease, and the results, even in those patients with advanced disease, are much better than have been obtained with other drugs, even newer ones.

Drugs like bromocriptine, pergolide and lisuride are also useful. Newer drugs like ropinirole and pramipexole seems to have fewer side effects and are being increasingly used as the initial drug.

Does surgery cures Parkinson's disease?
Since there are many side effects for the drugs and also patient in long course of treatment may show resistance to the drugs, newer surgical therapies have evolved.
Tissue transplantation from fetal (obtained from the aborted babies or dead born babies) brain cells or patient's own adrenal medulla into Parkinson patient brain is still in the research stage.

Patients refractory to medical therapy and having serious side effects to L-dopa and patients with rigidity or bradykinesia are suitable candidates for surgery. Patients who have serious bleeding tendency, age more than 85 years, memory disturbances, and with secondary Parkinsonism are not suitable for surgery.

Surgery like pallidotomy and deep brain stimulation of certain areas of brain using implanted electrodes in the brain are helpful. If properly done, surgical effects may last more than five years, with failures possibly due to improper case selection. Permanent cure is not possible with surgery and to a greater extent the symptoms can be reduced.

Finally, in managing the patients with Parkinson disease, proper general health of the patient must be looked into. Exercise, proper nutrition and yoga may be helpful in achieving these goals.

Did you know?
Parkinsonism affects approximately 1% of the Americans aged more than 50 years. Most of the cases occur in male population (Male to female ratio is 3:2). There is no clear correlation between the disease and environmental and genetic factors.