How Does Parkinson's Disease Start?
The Disease
Parkinson's disease (PD) is actually one term for an entire group of motor system disorders. These conditions are caused by the loss of the brain cells that produce dopamine. Most people afflicted with Parkinson's Disease are over the age of 50 and suffer from four major symptoms: trembling in the limbs, such as a tremor in the hands or legs (sometimes face), stiffness of the limbs, slow movement (bradykinesia), and instability or impaired balance. The disease progresses over time, meaning that these symptoms worsen as the patient gets older. People afflicted with PD may eventually have difficulty with even simple tasks such as walking or talking.
No one is sure how or why Parkinson's Disease starts. Some scientists speculate that it is triggered by a combination of age and environmental factors, while others think it could be hereditary or a result of a genetic mutation. Men are affected more often than women.
Early Symptoms
Parkinson's Disease usually starts quietly. You may notice a slight tremor in your hands, or other people might notice that you are moving more slowly and carefully. These first symptoms are very subtle and begin gradually. They vary from person to person, so while one person afflicted with PD might notice his knees trembling as a first symptom, another might notice that her face, jaw, and neck feel very stiff. Still another person might feel dizzy and unbalanced before any other symptoms appear. Other early symptoms deal with emotional changes such as depression and difficulty sleeping.
Treatment
Parkinson's Disease is usually treated with a drug called Levodpa. Levodpa is actually a natural substance that is present in our bodies. When swallowed in pill form, it travels to the brain and is transformed into dopamine. Levodopa is combined with Sinemet, which is a drug that prevents the Levodopa from converting into dopamine until it is in the brain. While Levodopa works very well during the early stages of PD, the effectiveness of it tends to diminish as the disease progresses.
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