All About Parkinson’s Disease

Even if you don’t know anyone who has Parkinson’s disease, PD, think of Muhammad Ali, former boxing champion, one of the high profile people living with the disease. Ali was diagnosed with the disease in 1984, at the age of 42, and just three years after retiring as a pugilist. Though it has generally made him unable to speak in public, Ali has so far survived the disease with modern treatment and care.



The disease belongs to a group of conditions called motor system disorders, which are the result of the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. Usually, the disease starts with a tremor in one hand, and then progressively catches up with the other hand, legs, arms and face. With time, limbs and trunk become stiff and rigid. Other symptoms are slowness of movement, postural instability as well as impaired balance and coordination.



As these symptoms become more pronounced, patients may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks. PD usually affects people over the age of 50. Early symptoms of the disease are subtle and occur gradually. In some people, the disease progresses more quickly than in others. Other symptoms may include depression and other emotional changes; difficulty in swallowing, chewing and speaking; urinary problems or constipation; skin problems; and sleep disruptions. There are currently no blood or laboratory tests that have been shown to help in diagnosing sporadic PD. Therefore, the diagnosis is based on medical history and a neurological examination, and it can be difficult to diagnose accurately. Doctors may sometimes request brain scans or laboratory tests in order to rule out other diseases.



At present, there is no cure for PD, but a variety of medications provide dramatic relief from the symptoms. Usually, patients are given levodopa combined with carbidopa. Carbidopa delays the conversion of levodopa into dopamine until it reaches the brain. An antiviral drug, amantadine, also appears to reduce symptoms of PD. In some cases, surgery may be appropriate if the disease doesn’t respond to drugs. PD is chronic, meaning it persists over a long period of time, and progressive, meaning its symptoms grow worse over time. Although some people become severely disabled, others experience only minor motor disruptions.



Tremor is the major symptom for some patients, while for others tremor is only a minor complaint and other symptoms are more troublesome. No one can predict which symptoms will affect an individual patient, and the intensity of the symptoms also varies from one person to another.