How Does Parkinson's Disease Affect The Body

The Nervous System & Dopamine

How Parkinson’s Disease Affects the Body — The Doctors

To understand Parkinson’s, it is helpful to understand how neurons work and how PD affects the brain .

Nerve cells, or neurons, are responsible for sending and receiving nerve impulses or messages between the body and the brain. Try to picture electrical wiring in your home. An electrical circuit is made up of numerous wires connected in such a way that when a light switch is turned on, a light bulb will beam. Similarly, a neuron that is excited will transmit its energy to neurons that are next to it.

Neurons have a cell body with branching arms, called dendrites, which act like antennae and pick up messages. Axons carry messages away from the cell body. Impulses travel from neuron to neuron, from the axon of one cell to the dendrites of another, by crossing over a tiny gap between the two nerve cells called a synapse. Chemical messengers called neurotransmitters allow the electrical impulse to cross the gap.

Neurons talk to each other in the following manner :

Establishing Pd Research Priorities

The NINDS-organized Parkinsons Disease 2014: Advancing Research, Improving Lives conference brought together researchers, clinicians, patients, caregivers, and nonprofit organizations to develop 31 prioritized recommendations for research on PD. These recommendations are being implemented through investigator-initiated grants and several NINDS programs. NINDS and the NIHs National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences held the Parkinsons Disease: Understanding the Environment and Gene Connection workshop to identify priorities for advancing research on environmental contributors to PD.

Research recommendations for Lewy Body Dementia, including Parkinsons disease dementia, were updated during the NIH Alzheimers Disease-Related Dementias Summit 2019 .

Introduction: The Nervous Systems

In my pursuit of pragmatic solutions to Parkinsons Disease, I found myself increasingly researching the nature of stress in humans, and inevitably drawn towards studying the Nervous System .

I have already shared much of what Ive learned, together with the practical applications to lessening Parkinsons symptoms, via this website, but here is a summary of my current understanding. We consist of many Nervous Systems in one body we could say there are, at least, five of me in each of us. These include the Central , Sympathetic , Para-sympathetic , Enteric , and Somatic Nervous Systems . We may consider each one of these as a semi-autonomous program, which becomes more or less active in response to bio-rhythms and our internal/external environments. As each program is excited or inhibited, this can profoundly affect how we think, feel, move, act and re-act.

These internal and external imbalances can create circumstances in which some of the NS programs may become over-active or under-active for prolonged periods. These confused NS states can then lead to chronic illness, especially if the body receives contradictory signals from multiple programs at once, leading to a breakdown of self-identity.

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What Tests Will Be Done To Diagnose This Condition

When healthcare providers suspect Parkinsons disease or need to rule out other conditions, various imaging and diagnostic tests are possible. These include:

Positron emission tomography scan.

New lab tests are possible

Researchers have found possible ways to test for possible indicators or Parkinsons disease. Both of these new tests involve the alpha-synuclein protein but test for it in new, unusual ways. While these tests cant tell you what conditions you have because of misfolded alpha-synuclein proteins, that information can still help your provider make a diagnosis.

The two tests use the following methods.

Spinal tap. One of these tests looks for misfolded alpha-synuclein proteins in cerebrospinal fluid, which is the fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord. This test involves a spinal tap , where a healthcare provider inserts a needle into your spinal canal to collect some cerebrospinal fluid for testing.
Skin biopsy. Another possible test involves a biopsy of surface nerve tissue. A biopsy includes collecting a small sample of your skin, including the nerves in the skin. The samples come from a spot on your back and two spots on your leg. Analyzing the samples can help determine if your alpha-synuclein has a certain kind of malfunction that could increase the risk of developing Parkinsons disease.

Causes Of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in part of the brain called the substantia nigra. This leads to a reduction in a chemical called dopamine in the brain.

Dopamine plays a vital role in regulating the movement of the body. A reduction in dopamine is responsible for many of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Exactly what causes the loss of nerve cells is unclear. Most experts think that a combination of genetic and environmental factors is responsible.

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What Happens As Parkinsons Progresses

As the disease progresses, the physical symptoms of Parkinsons become more severe and make everyday tasks more difficult.

In the third and fourth stages, movement and coordination are slowed and impaired, limiting mobility. Secondary symptoms such as voice changes, an altered sense of smell, or digestive system issues can often appear in these mid-stages . You may also suffer from anxiety, depression, confusion, or dementia.

In the fifth and final stage, the symptoms of Parkinsons result in a loss of mobility to the extent that individuals are unable to walk or live without full-time assistance. Non-motor skills also deteriorate at this stage, and a patients symptoms may include hallucinations, delusions, and even dementia.

While this is a life-changing disease, its important to remember that all is not lost with new developments in treatment, prevention methods, and medication, life after the onset of Parkinsons has never looked brighter.

What Does Parkinson’s Do To The Brain

Deep down in your brain, there’s an area called the substantia nigra, which is in the basal ganglia. Some of its cells make dopamine, a chemical that carries messages around your brain. When you need to scratch an itch or kick a ball, dopamine quickly carries a message to the nerve cell that controls that movement.

When that system is working well, your body moves smoothly and evenly. But when you have Parkinson’s, the cells of your substantia nigra start to die. There’s no replacing them, so your dopamine levels drop and you can’t fire off as many messages to control smooth body movements.

Early on, you won’t notice anything different. But as more and more cells die, you reach a tipping point where you start to have symptoms.

That may not be until 80% of the cells are gone, which is why you can have Parkinson’s for quite a while before you realize it.

What Can Be Done About These Unpleasant Gi Problems

Unfortunately, research studies on GI problems related to PD have been few and far between, so doctors do not have any tried and true methods to deal with them. Some of the drugs to treat GI problems in people without PD cannot be used for those with PD because these drugs negatively impact dopamine systems in the brain.

If you have PD and experience constipation, it makes sense to try to use safe and simple methods to address this issue before you add new drugs to your daily regimen. Increasing dietary fiber and drinking lots of water and other fluids is a reasonable first step in treatment. If your doctor approves it, you might also consider taking fiber supplements, such as psyllium or methylcellulose. If these simple methods dont work, your doctor might consider giving you a stool softener or a laxative.

Tips For Dealing With Parkinsons Disease Tremor

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Because the Parkinson’s tremor appears at rest, many people find that exercise helps control their symptoms. Here are some tips to help you limit the effects of Parkinson’s tremor:

If the tremor presents in your jaw, try chewing gum to keep the area moving.
Foot tremors present when you are sitting or lying down, and they always disappear when you stand up. Therefore you should try to avoid long periods of inactivity, as staying still may worsen your tremor symptoms.
Finger twitching and the “pill roll” tremor refer to tremors in the thumb and fingers. You may find hand exercises such as rotating your hands, moving your fingers or squeezing a stress ball will help ease your symptoms. If you feel self-conscious about your tremor, you can always hide your hands in your pockets or place them under a table until the shaking subsides.

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What Are The Complications Of Parkinson Disease

Parkinson disease causes physical symptoms at first. Problems with cognitive function, including forgetfulness and trouble with concentration, may arise later. As the disease gets worse with time, many people develop dementia. This can cause profound memory loss and makes it hard to maintain relationships.

Parkinson disease dementia can cause problems with:

Speaking and communicating with others
Problem solving
Paying attention

If you have Parkinson disease and dementia, in time, you likely won’t be able to live by yourself. Dementia affects your ability to care of yourself, even if you can still physically do daily tasks.

Experts don’t understand how or why dementia often occurs with Parkinson disease. Its clear, though, that dementia and problems with cognitive function are linked to changes in the brain that cause problems with movement. As with Parkinson disease, dementia occurs when nerve cells degenerate, leading to chemical changes in the brain. Parkinson disease dementia may be treated with medicines also used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, another type of dementia.

Psychological Issue: Depression And Sex

With diagnosis and decreased physical capacity, a persons sense of self is disrupted with Parkinsons. Parkinsons itself can cause changes in the brains chemicals that impact ones mood and well-being. Depression can affect up to 40 percent of those with Parkinsons. This is important to realize since sexual disorders may be due to the depression that can come with Parkinsons diagnosis more than by the actual disease itself. The antidepressant medications that may be administered can also result in sexual dysfunction.

Other emotional issues for those who have Parkinsons, which may result in sexual difficulties, include: anger, stress, grief, and mental fatigue. An individual grappling with Parkinsons may experience reduced self-esteem, which can inhibit ones sexuality. Such is made even more difficult by the body image problems that can arise, due to issues like changes in skin texture or the body smell that results from consuming Parkinsons drugs.

The partner of a person with Parkinsons can also have trouble coping with the situation. Issues that may arise include:

Fatigue and resentment in taking on more responsibility.
Dealing with their own feelings related to a partners diagnosis, like fear, anxiety, and depression.
Loss of attraction and sexual interest due to the symptoms of PD, e.g., involuntary movements or changes in appearance, like the lack of facial expression.

Parkinsons Gut Health Jump Start

Its no surprise that the hunt is on for new therapeutic approaches for Parkinsons that target the gut microbiota . Fortunately, you dont have to wait for the next scientific breakthrough to get a jump start on improving the health of your gut.

The goal of this jump start is to begin to decrease inflammation, heal the gut lining, and restore healthy gut balance through 4 simple strategies that you can start today with very little investment and very little change to your diet.

Lets take a look

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Who Does It Affect

The risk of developing Parkinsons disease naturally increases with age, and the average age at which it starts is 60 years old. Its slightly more common in men or people designated male at birth than in women or people designated female at birth .

While Parkinsons disease is usually age-related, it can happen in adults as young as 20 .

Does Parkinsons Affect The Bladder

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Parkinsons disease is a progressive disorder that is caused by degeneration of nerve cells in the part of the brain called the substantia nigra, which controls movement. These nerve cells die or become impaired, losing the ability to produce an important chemical called dopamine.

How Does Neuron Dysfunction Affect Parkinsons Patients

Parkinsons disease is a disorder that affects the brain and the nervous system of its sufferers.

Over time, neurons in the regions of the brain that control movement degenerate, leading to a loss of motor control and a host of primary and secondary symptoms. People with Parkinsons disease often experience tremors and shaking, a slow, shuffling walk, and an occasional sensation of being frozen in place, incapable of voluntary movement. Parkinsons sufferers also routinely experience other, more subtle, motor symptoms, such as very small, cramped handwriting, a rigid, mask-like facial expression, and difficulty controlling the tone and volume of their voice.

These symptoms are caused by dysfunction in the neurons that control movement. These densely packed nerve endings in the brain and throughout the body send and receive chemical signals relating to movement. In Parkinsons, these neurons lose their ability to produce dopamine, a chemical messenger essential to transmitting these signals. This leads to random firing of the neurons and compromised movement. Eventually, Parkinsons often effects other body systems, causing digestive, urinary, skin, and psychiatric problems.

Edison Home Health Care is happy to advise and assist you or any loved one seeking a home attendant for Parkinsons related issues. Give us a call at 888-311-1142, or fill out a contact form and we will respond shortly.

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Nervous Systems And The Nervous System

Nervous SystemThe human body is one of the most complex structures known to mankind. To this day, we still do not have all the answers to how our body functions. One of the most complex structures in the human body is the nervous system, which controls the voluntary and involuntary actions, as well as send signals throughout the body. The nervous system is split up into two parts the peripheral and central nervous systems. The central nervous system consists of two main parts the

Mimicking Human Conditions In Animal Models

Dr. James Beck – How does Parkinson’s disease affect the brain?

With the advance of the medical research, it is possible to mimic certain human conditions in selected animals, such as mouse or rat, to study the development of a disease and search for treatment. In addition to being very close to the human physiology, these animal models are reliable and critical to develop new treatment strategy and to understand the pathophysiology of a disease.

In the laboratory of Professor Musa V. Mabandla, we have by exposing pups to early maternal separation once daily, from post-natal day 1 to 14. We thereafter injected these rat models with depressive-like behaviors with a preclinical dose of 6-hydroxydopamine stereotaxically into the medial forebrain bundle to mimic Parkinsonism. This has resulted to a rat model of PD associated with depressive-like behaviors.

We also injected these animal models with Fluvoxamine maleate , an antidepressant widely used for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, to investigate the neuroprotective effects of the drug on a parkinsonian rat model of neurodegeneration.

Our findings show that early maternal separation exacerbated the effects of 6-hydroxydopamine, but FM treatment attenuated neurodegeneration associated with 6-hydroxydopamine toxicity.

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Risks And Side Effects Of Deep Brain Stimulation

Like any surgery, deep brain stimulation can have side effects, and it carries potential risks. Its also important to consider the complications and side effects of medications you take since their dosages can often be reduced following surgery.

While DBS may cause side effects, it may also reduce side effects from medications.

How Is Essential Tremor Treated And Is There A Cure

Theres no cure for essential tremor, but there are ways to treat it. The main treatment options are medications, assistive devices, botulinum toxin, deep brain stimulation and focused ultrasound. Your healthcare provider may recommend deep brain stimulation or focused ultrasound if other treatments arent enough to help your tremors.

Medication: The most common medications, taken either on their own or in combination, to treat essential tremor are beta-blockers like propranolol and anti-seizure drugs like primidone.
Adaptive devices: Many devices have been developed to improve tremor control, such as weighted items, tremor-canceling devices, vibration devices and peripheral nerve stimulation.
Botulinum toxin: This involves injection into the tremoring muscles to temporarily weaken the muscles and lessen tremor severity.
Deep brain stimulation: This is a surgery to implant a device that delivers electrical impulses to a specific part of your brain. The electrical impulses interrupt the signals that cause essential tremor muscle movements. This can improve tremors on both sides of your body.
Focused ultrasound: This procedure uses ultra-high-frequency sound waves focused onto a single point in your brain involved in the production of tremor, destroying the targeted tissue. This destruction can greatly reduce the severity of the tremor and improve hand steadiness. This can improve tremors on only one side of your body.

Complications/side effects of treatments

When Should I Call The Doctor

Difficulty walking or controlling limb movements.
Memory issues or signs of dementia.
Problems with speech, swallowing or breathing.

What should I ask my provider?

You may want to ask your healthcare provider:

Could a different disease cause these symptoms?
What should I plan for as the disease progresses?
Which medications or other therapies help?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Corticobasal degeneration is a rare, slow-progressing brain disease that affects memory, communication and movement. It causes symptoms similar to Parkinsons disease: muscle spasms and twitches, tremors and slowed movements. It can also affect your ability to talk, swallow and complete simple tasks like buttoning a shirt. As the disease progresses, dementia or memory loss may occur. There currently isnt a cure for the disease. But therapies for speech and movements may help you maintain independence longer.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 03/16/2022.

How Does Parkinson’s Disease Affect The Body