Parkinson's Disease Treatment in Mumbai, India

Parkinson's disease is a condition in which a portion of the brain degenerates, leading to increasingly severe symptoms over time. Although this disorder is most well-known for its impact on movement, balance, and muscular control, it can also have a variety of additional implications on your senses, cognitive function, mental health, and more.

Improving the quality of life for people who have Parkinson's disease requires an understanding of the neurodegenerative condition. It aids in increasing awareness of the symptoms, which are frequently misunderstood or disregarded and include tremors, stiffness, and trouble moving. Better management, which slows the course and improves quality of life, can result from early diagnosis and intervention. Furthermore, knowledge of Parkinson's promotes funding for continued research, which could result in improvements in available treatments and even a cure. Additionally, education increases empathy, which lessens stigma and guarantees that family members, caregivers, and medical professionals provide the right kind of care and support to people with Parkinson's disease.

Types of Parkinson's Disease

• Parkinson-Plus Syndrome: Approximately 15% of individuals who are first diagnosed with Parkinson's disease start exhibiting symptoms of "atypical" parkinsonism, often known as "Parkinson-plus" syndrome. Conditions that resemble Parkinson's disease, such as tremors, slow movements, stiff muscles, and trouble walking and balancing, are referred to as Parkinsonism.
• Progressive Supranuclear Palsy: A rare brain condition called progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) results in severe and long-lasting issues with walking and balance control. Symptoms include attitude and behaviour changes and trouble targeting the eyes. PSP starts slowly and damages certain brain regions, leading to weakness (palsy).
• Multiple System Atrophy: Movement, blood pressure, and other bodily processes are all impacted by the symptoms of multiple system atrophy (MSA), a rare and progressive neurological disease. The majority of MSA patients are in their 50s.
• Corticobasal Degeneration: The loss of nerve cells and atrophy (shrinkage) of numerous brain regions, including the cerebral cortex and the basal ganglia, are symptoms of corticobasal degeneration (CBD). The illness develops gradually. Usually, around age 60, symptoms can begin on one side of the body and spread to the other as the disease worsens.
• Diffuse Lewy Body Disease: The second most prevalent cause of dementia is diffuse Lewy body disease (DLBD), a group of illnesses that include both motor symptoms and dementia. The disease can be challenging to identify because the dementia resembles Alzheimer's, and some symptoms mimic those of Parkinson's.
• Vascular Parkinsonism: Small strokes, not a loss of nerve cells, cause the symptoms of vascular parkinsonism, a neurological condition. A person may acquire parkinsonism on the opposite side of their body if they have one or more strokes in the basal ganglia, which are the brain's movement-controlling regions, on one side of their brain.

Parkinson's Disease Symptoms

Muscle atrophy is one of the most well-known symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Nevertheless, specialists now understand that Parkinson's disease can present with other symptoms besides problems with motor control.

Motor-Related Symptoms

• Slowed Movements: Having this symptom is necessary for a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.
• Trembling When The Muscles Are Not Moving: About 80% of people with Parkinson's disease experience this regular shaking of their muscles, even when they are not being used.
• Stiffness or Rigidity: Cogwheel stiffness and lead-pipe rigidity are typical signs of Parkinson's disease.
• An Unstable Gait or Posture: A stooped or bent posture results from Parkinson's disease-related rigidity and slower movements.

Non-Motor Symptoms

• Autonomic nervous system symptoms like gastrointestinal issues and constipation, sexual dysfunction, urine incontinence, orthostatic hypotension, or low blood pressure when standing
• Depression
• Loss of sense of smell (anosmia)
• Sleep issues include restless legs syndrome, rapid eye movement (REM) behaviour disorder, and periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD)
• Difficulty concentrating and thinking (dementia associated with Parkinson's disease)

Parkinson's disease Causes

• Age: As people age, their risk of having Parkinson's disease increases. The disease typically manifests at about age 60.
• Gender: Parkinson's disease is more common in men than in women.
• Genetics: People who have a parent or sibling with Parkinson's disease are about twice as likely to get the disease themselves.
• Environmental Factors: According to medical professionals, environmental factors may contribute to the onset of Parkinson's disease.
• Head Trauma: Frequent head injuries likely raise the risk of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis

• Neurological and Physical Examination: This includes reviewing your medical history and performing a neurological exam that assesses your reflexes, senses, coordination, and mental and cognitive capacities.
• Laboratory and Blood Testing: These are employed to rule out further illnesses that might be the source of your symptoms.
• Imaging Procedures: They include PET scans, brain ultrasounds, and MRIs. They are utilised to rule out additional conditions, but they are not particularly useful for diagnosing Parkinson's disease.
• Dopamine Transporter (DAT) Scan: This is a single-photon emission computerised tomography (SPECT) scan. This can help distinguish between various forms of tremor and bolster the idea that you have Parkinson's disease.
• Follow-up Appointments: Over time, routine visits with neurologists skilled in movement disorders may be required to confirm a diagnosis.
• Brief, Low-Dose Course of Medication: This may be prescribed to you to see if you improve. If your symptoms significantly improve, this may help confirm your diagnosis. You must be given a sufficient dose to demonstrate the benefit, as receiving low doses for a day or two is unreliable.
• Test for Alpha-Synuclein: Another name for this test is the alpha-synuclein seed amplification assay, which identifies Parkinson's disease before symptoms appear.

Parkinson's Disease Treatment Options

• Supporting treatments, like physical therapy
• Medicine
• Surgery (for specific individuals)
• Since Parkinson's disease symptoms are typically moderate in the early stages, you might not require any treatment.
• However, to monitor your condition, you might need to see your parkinsons disease specialist regularly.
• A device that tracks your symptoms may be recommended for you to wear at home. The device provides essential information to your specialist.
• Your family, carers, and healthcare team should agree on a care plan.
• This should be evaluated frequently and will list the therapies and assistance you currently require as well as what you may require in the future.

Prevention of Parkinson's Disease

• Regular Exercise: Regular exercise can lower the chance of getting Parkinson's disease and assist people who currently have the diagnosis to manage their symptoms and quality of life.
• Consuming Nutritious Foods: Maintaining a nutritious diet helps lower the risk of Parkinson's disease and improve general health.
• Preventing Toxin Exposure: Pesticides and other pollutants have been associated with an elevated risk of the illness. Therefore, it is advised to avoid exposure to these compounds as much as possible.
• Handling Stress: Although the exact relationship between stress and Parkinson's disease (PD) is unknown, there are a few possible ways that stress could influence the onset or course of PD.
• Getting Adequate Rest: Since research on the connection between sleep and Parkinson's disease is still underway, there is no conclusive response to this topic. Nonetheless, some research indicates that obtaining adequate, high-quality sleep may lower the chance of Parkinson's disease.

Risk Factors Of Parkinson's Disease

• Age: Growing older is the largest risk factor for Parkinson's disease. The onset age is 60 on average.
• Gender: Parkinson's disease is more common in men than in women.
• Genetics: People who have a parent or sibling with Parkinson's disease are about twice as likely to get the disease themselves.
• Environmental Factors: According to medical professionals, environmental factors may contribute to the onset of Parkinson's disease.

Complications Of Parkinson's Disease

• Difficulty Thinking Clearly: People with Parkinson's disease may experience difficulties with language, logic, and memory.
• Depression And Changes In Emotions: In the early stages of Parkinson's disease, some persons may experience anxiety and agitation.
• Difficulty Chewing And Swallowing: Parkinson's disease, in its advanced stages, affects the mouth muscles.
• Sleep Abnormalities And Issues: You might experience frequent nighttime awakenings, nightmares, and daytime sleepiness.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How Does Parkinson'S Disease Progress Over Time?

Parkinson's disease develops gradually, with tremors and stiffness becoming worse over time. Later stages of the disease can cause problems with mobility and balance.

2. What are The Differences Between Parkinson'S Disease and Other Movement Disorders?

While some illnesses, such as essential tremors, concentrate primarily on tremors without other Parkinson's symptoms, Parkinson's disease is characterised by tremors, stiffness, and slowness.

3. Are There Any Lifestyle Changes That Can Help Manage Parkinson'S Disease?

Stress reduction, exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep can all help control symptoms and enhance general health.

4. How Can Caregivers Support Someone With Parkinson'S Disease?

In addition to helping with everyday duties, caregivers can guarantee safety, offer emotional support, and promote treatment compliance.

5. Can Parkinson's Disease Be Cured?

Treatments can control symptoms and enhance quality of life, but no cure exists.

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