Parkinson's Disease

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Parkinson's disease (PD) belongs to a group of conditions called motor system disorders, which are the result of the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. The four primary symptoms of PD are tremor, or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; rigidity, or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia, or slowness of movement; and postural instability, or 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.

Parkinson's disease is a disorder that affects nerve cells, or neurons, in a part of the brain that controls muscle movement. In Parkinson's, neurons that make a chemical called dopamine die or do not work properly. Dopamine normally sends signals that help coordinate your movements. No one knows what damages these cells

There are currently no blood or laboratory tests that have been proven to help in diagnosing sporadic PD. Therefore the diagnosis is based on medical history and a neurological examination. The disease can be difficult to diagnose accurately. Doctors may sometimes request brain scans or laboratory tests in order to rule out other diseases.

Sources:
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/parkinsons_disease/parkinsons_disease.htm 
MedlinePlus: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/parkinsonsdisease.html 

Parkinson's disease is caused by the progressive impairment or deterioration of neurons (nerve cells) in an area of the brain known as the substantia nigra. When functioning normally, these neurons produce a vital brain chemical known as dopamine. Dopamine serves as a chemical messenger allowing communication between the substantia nigra and another area of the brain called the corpus striatum. This communication coordinates smooth and balanced muscle movement. A lack of dopamine results in abnormal nerve functioning, causing a loss in the ability to control body movements.

In some cases, Parkinson's disease occurs within families, especially when it affects young people. Most of the cases that occur at an older age have no known cause.

While it is not clear what events cause the abnormal nerve function linked to Parkinson's disease, there are certain conditions and medications that can cause Parkinson's disease-like symptoms.

These include:

The onset and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are usually very slow and gradual, seldom occurring before the age of 65.  The diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease depends upon the presence of one or more of the four most common motor symptoms of the disease, which are: resting tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity and postural instability.

In addition, there are other secondary and nonmotor symptoms that affect many people and are increasingly recognized by doctors as important to treating Parkinson’s.

Each person with Parkinson's will experience these symptoms differently. For example, many people experience tremor as their primary symptom, while others may not have tremors, but may have problems with balance. Also, for some people the disease progresses quickly, and in others it does not. It occurs in the following three stages:

People who are only mildly affected by Parkinson's disease may need no treatment at first. As symptoms progress, various treatment approaches are available.

Medication selection and dosage are tailored to the individual. The doctor considers factors such as severity of symptoms, age and presence of other medical conditions. Every patient responds differently to a medication or dosage level, so this process involves experimentation, persistence, and patience. As the disease progresses, drug dosages may need to be modified. Sometimes drugs are combined. Patients need to receive care from doctors who have extensive experience treating all stages of Parkinson's disease - increasing the effectiveness of treatment at every stage of the disease.

Surgical treatments such as ablation, deep brain stimulation, and pallidotomy may control some symptoms.

Complementary Treatments - Numerous therapies and nutritional supplements may help relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. Physical therapy can help strengthen and tone underused muscles, and give rigid muscles a better range of motion. The goal is to help build body strength, improve balance, overcome gait problems and improve speaking and swallowing.

· Morgan Elser tells Herbacall, "My father-in-law had advanced Parkinson's, was under weight with severe tremors and was over 90 years old. We started him on Longetics or Formula 1 2x a day, Formula 3 2x a day, vitamin C 4-5tabs a day. He gained 18lbs in the first 6 weeks, his tremors were much less severe and he was more stable when he walked. It put roses back into his cheeks and gave him a better quality of life."

· Cathryn said proudly, "As of 4 weeks ago my neighbor started on products. He is 72 yrs. old and has had Parkinson's for 6 yrs. now, is very thin due to weight loss from disease, and for the last several yrs has walked like he was 101 yrs. old and stooped over. While he expressed concern about the proteins (in Formula 1), he just decided to try them and in days he called me and said he was regular for the first time in Yrs. and in about a week my husband and I couldn't believe it - he was skipping around his yard. We always had to help him with getting his mail and garbage - not anymore! He looks decades younger!"

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