Parkinson Disease Symptoms

Parkinson disease belongs to the group of degenerating diseases that injure the brain, the hub of the central nervous system. The primary symptoms of Parkinson’s disease stem from the deterioration of the part of the brain that controls motor functioning. The primary cause of Parkinson’s disease is still speculative, though most researches believe it’s a combination of genetics and environment. One theory hypothesizes that neuronal deterioration in the brain is caused by the accumulation of free radicals as a result of exposure to toxins possible from food and pesticides.

It’s hard to track when a person with this disease first experienced signs of the disease. Most patients mentioned that they first noticed that something is wrong when one of their limbs was trembling. However, a closer inquiry indicates the subtle signs appeared before. The early signs many patients recalled having before the tremor were lack of blinking, Failure to swing one arm when walking, painful shoulder, discomfort of the neck, and feeling of inner trembling.

In most cases the first symptoms that were impossible to ignore appeared in one side of the body, for example, tremble in one of the limbs. The disease progresses slowly and gradually for a decade or more and than strikes the other limb at the same side of the body. Because of the deterioration in motor functioning most patients use a wheel chair in later stages of the disease.

Other symptoms caused by the decreasing of dosage of dopamine in the brain are involuntary tremors when resting-usually involuntary tremors of the limbs, muscles stiffness (losing the ability to make fast and spontaneous movements), slow voluntary movement, difficulties maintaining balance and stable gait (Stooped posture, a tendency to lean forward) an increased production of saliva (drooling), difficulty swallowing, softness of the voice and slurred speech (caused by lack of muscles control), ansomia- reduced sense of smell(inability to sense certain odors), loss of facial expression or “masking”, depression, anxieties, insomnia-sleep problems, constipation, increased sweating and inability to control urine.

Parkinson Disease Treatment

Parkinson disease is a chronic age related disease (mainly develops in people over the age of 50). The disease that affects the control of muscles causing uncontrolled shivering, tremors, muscles stiffness, speech disorders and unbalanced movement is resulted in the deterioration of certain nerve system. The deterioration is caused by the decrease of dopamine in the area of the brain that controls motor functioning called substantia nigra, when 80% of dopamine is lost the symptoms of the disease appear.  Currently, there is no cure; however, there are ways to control the symptoms and to prevent the disease from escalating at least for considerable period.

As many disease researches believe that the causes for this disease is a combination of both genetic tendencies and environmental stresses causing brain cell death.

The treatment today revolves around controlling the signs and symptoms for a long period as possible whilst minimizing possible side effects. However, even with medication and a close treatment the disease usually progresses after 4-6 years causing motor complications and dyskinesia.( a phenomenon that diminishes the control over voluntary movements) The efficacy of medication changes as the disease changes and progresses .

The treatment available today is medications that help protect the neurons that produce dopamine. They decelerate the cells degeneration rate.  One of the medicine is L-dopa is converted into dopamine crossing the blood-brain barrier. The discovery of this medicine was a real breakthrough; however the main shortcoming of this medicine is that overtime the efficacy wears off and may cause involuntary movement. Another drug therapy is usually used along with L-dopa to make it more effective is the Seligiline that functions an inhibitor of the enzyme monoamine oxidase B which breaks down dopamine. Seligiline is usually given in the early stages of the disease and known to cause fewer side effects than other drugs.

what are very early signs of Parkinson’s or Epilepsy at a young age (20) im very worried that i might have one of these knowing that i show signs of both
I ask this question because
A. Parkinson ran in my family (grandmother and Aunt)

B. I have had for a long time very bad twitches or could be a very tiny sign of ecliptic seizure, i feel it when its coming and i just fall to the ground not knowing how in the world i got there just feels like my body is in shock and shaking when i get up quickly or i drop things and go into a 1 second twitch (but both these never last more than 2 seconds)

C. Recently a while ago my hand was shaking for almost a whole day straight if i didn’t put pressure on it, it shook uncontrollably and my fingers twitched all day with it. This has happened 3 times in past 2 months

I’m going to get tested in a bit from know but im still curious on knowing. maybe someone who knows, has, seen it could help me out because symptoms like these worry me especially at this age

I have been reading about glutathione IV treatments for slowing down or improving the symptoms of Parkinson’s. However, it only seems to be practiced in the alternative field. Has anyone had real experience with this treatment to validate it’s effectiveness? And safety?

my acting director was just diagnosed with parkinson’s. so I loked it up on wikipedia, but a lot of teh stuff didn’t apply to her, or it was about the history, causes, etc.

so what can you tell me about the treatment, will she get better, does it hurt, etc. thanks in advance!

i dont wanna get into too much personal stuff but i have a friend who never used to have symptoms of the disease but recently i noticed alot of head twitching and other symptoms of Parkinson’s…i just wanted to kno if its possible and if i should worry?

Parkinson’s phenotypes appear in older age and the person has equal chance to have normal reproduction like usual people.

my mom found out she had Parkinson’s last year. Probably runs in families too I suppose. what would be the treatment or medications for this disease? please tell me if you know, it will be very appreciated.

I recently went to a local fish and chips restraunt for a lunch date. I order the fish special which contains pollack fish. After eating the fish Approximately 15-20 minutes after eating the fish I began to realize that my tremor had stopped. My lunch date spotted the change in the tremor. As well my slurred speech vanished. I then laid out a hand full of change on the table and picked up the coins normally with my hand that normally tremors. I have since repeated this same occurance 4-5 times with the same results. I also went to my nuerologist and ate the fish before him with the same results. The doctor is totally baffled. A 11 year PD sufferer such as myself should be experiencing negative results from the protein content not positive results. Could I have something other than Parkinson`s? I have had blood work and all levels including blood sugar are fine.

I remember Michael J Fox saying if he’s moving around playing hockey his symptoms are not as bad which I can understand because he’s moving around but also during sleep.
I’ve had the worse pain lately, just the right side of my face/head I think from allergies somehow but I have it before I sleep and when I wake up but not when I’m asleep almost like it is temporarily turned off.
How can sleep do things like this especially in the case of Parkinson’s

In my research on Parkinson’s (I have it), I came across an interesting finding - a disease called tardive dyskinesia which is caused by TOO MUCH L-dopa. Parkinson’s is caused by not enough L-dopa (which is converted to dopamine in the brain– the dopamine deficiency is the cause of the neurological symptoms).

The treatment for tardive dyskinesia is to reduce L-dopa.
The treatment for Parkinson’s is to increase L-dopa.

The amino acids which convert to L-dopa are the aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan) . Those with tardive dyskinesia are prescribed a regimen which avoids these amino acids. Instead they take a set of amino acids known as ‘branched chain amino acids’ (bcaa) on an empty stomach because these bcaa’s do not produce L-dopa. But, the VERY INTERESTING fact is that bcaa’s and the aromatic amino acids compete for transport across the blood-brain barrier.

Would a regimen of aromatic amino acids on an empty stomach promote L-dopa synthesis?

Now at age 60, I have a diagnosis of Parkinson’s. I read that they might be related. My parkinson’s symptom’s don’t seem typical. Thanks!

How does Parkinson’s start? What are the symptoms? How can the process be slowed or can it be cured? Average length of life after being diagnosed?

I’m doing a brochure for a health class I’m in and I want to list the most common treatments in brief sentences. Also, are there any lifestyle and/or nutritional changes this disease requires?

Also, what is the prognosis, and how do people with Parkinson’s usually cope with it?

Thanks a bunch!

I’m watching a program featuring Michael J. Fox, filmed this year, and I think he’s the producer as well. It’ about optimism. I am completely amazed and so glad to see his improved appearance. There is hardly any of the shakiness, uncontrolled movement, and difficulty speaking he’s had for several years! I haven’t seen him on TV for quite a while, but always thought Parkinson’s was a condition that always gets progressively worse. His condition in this program almost seems to be reversed.

My grandad who has Parkinson’s had a fall about 3 months ago and hasn’t had much strength since but also his symptoms of Parkinson’s seem to be worse.

HOw would you feel if you were to see a parkinson’s sufferer trembling in public?

Frightened
or
Manageable to cope with seeing
or
Ok

i liked jade goody very much and followed her through her career , and did like parkinson but have gone right off him after what he said about jade goody , how could he be so heartless ? , i think he is a very arrogant smug old man who thinks very highly of himself now does anybody else ?

Current medical symptoms for past 6-9 months - Age 50/Male
1. Parkinson’s like tremors in hands and arms and progressively becoming worse as time continues.
2. Losing cognitive ability and memory and these are getting progressively worse as well. I frequently lose track of work or a though right in the middle of it and I have to stop and think for nearly a half a minute to get back on track.
3. Lethargic and lacking in motivation. Kind of depressed, nothing unmanageable.

Over 1 1/2 year ago I had severe tremors occuring in hands, arms and face and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. The neurologist pronounced his diagnosis when I had taken Mirapex for a week and the tremors had vanished in arms and face, and were nearly gone in my hands.

I’m still taking the same amount of Mirapex but now the original symptoms have returned along with the memory and cognitive loss symptoms as well.

Could I have Alzheimers rather than Parkinson’s? I need help.

Does Deep Brain Stimulation Treatment for Parkinson’s Patients treat other symptons beyond shaking? Does it help with the rigidity?

Parkinson’s law: That work expands to fill the time available for it.
Murphy’s law (also known as Sod’s law): If something can go wrong it will go wrong.

When they work together just one of the things you wanted to get done, gets done, because everything which could go wrong while doing it goes wrong, it means that even Parkinson’s law goes wrong, and there is not enough time to get the work done, no matter how much time you put aside for it.