Is Parkinson’s Disease Serious

Living Well With Parkinsons

While medication and DBS surgery are the most effective treatments for PD, individuals often choose to delay these treatments because of their adverse side effects. Until a therapy is developed that can halt the progression of PD, there is a significant need for strategies that provide symptom relief without causing negative side effects.

Diet, Exercise, and Stress Reduction

Findings from several studies suggest that exercise has the potential to provide relief from certain PD symptoms. Anecdotally, people with Parkinsons disease who exercise typically do better. However, many questions remain. Among them is whether exercise provides a conditioning effect by strengthening muscles and improving flexibility or whether it has a direct effect on the brain.

In an NINDS-funded trial comparing the benefits of tai chi, resistance training, and stretching, tai chi was found to reduce balance impairments in people with mild-to-moderate PD. People in the tai chi group also experienced significantly fewer falls and greater improvements in their functional capacity.

Technologies that Improve Quality of Life

For People Who Are Not Eligible Because They Do Not Get The Enhanced Rate Is There A Demand For Opening Up Access To The Motability Scheme

21. Yes, in particular people over 65 who are receiving Attendance Allowance. They currently cant access the Motability scheme but many might want to opt-in using their own money to pay for a car, as the scheme offers vehicle adaptations, is reliable and convenient.

22. Also, some people getting the standard rate of PIP mobility still may have significant problems with moving around and might want to access to the scheme. Perhaps Motability could scope whether having a wider range of price points with smaller cars available at a lower cost would be attractive for this client base.

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Treating The Symptoms Of Parkinsons Diseasehow Palliative Care Can Help

While there is no cure for Parkinsons disease, there are a growing number of treatments that can provide you with relief from its symptoms. People with Parkinsons disease are often prescribed a combination of levodopa and carbidopa, which helps replenish the brains shrinking supply of dopamine.

A new therapy uses electrodes surgically implanted inside the brain, and a small electrical device called a pulse generator to provide electrical deep brain stimulation . Parkinsons patients also benefit from the expertise of physical, occupational and speech therapists to help them manage practical issues in their daily lives.

Other symptoms of Parkinsons disease include a variety of motion-related issues, as well as sleep disturbances, fatigue , constipation and other gastrointestinal problems, and low blood pressure.

Another whole area of Parkinsons symptoms is called cognitive decline, whereby ravages of the disease affect thinking and other uses of the brain. These include troubling mood disorders like depression and anxiety, unclear thinking, difficulty concentrating on a task and the potential emergence of dementia.

Some people become more disabled and dependent over time despite the best treatments. They may come to need so much help with the routine tasks of living that they require 24-hour care. This care may be provided at home or in a setting like assisted living, where they get the personal care they need.

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What Are The Potential Complications Of Parkinsons Disease

Complications of Parkinsons disease seriously affect the ability to function in everyday life and can be life-threatening in some cases. You can slow the progression of symptoms and reduce the risk of some serious complications of Parkinsons disease, such as falls, by following the treatment plan you and your healthcare professional design specifically for you.

Complications of Parkinsons disease include:

• Adverse effects of treatment

How Do You Prevent Parkinsons Disease

The exact cause of Parkinsons disease is not known, so there are no proven methods of preventing it. Neurologists are actively studying the disease to learn more about its causes and risk factors. You may be able to lower your risk of developing PD or parkinsonism by:

• Avoiding exposure to pesticides and herbicides and following the manufacturers instructions for their use

• Exercising regularlyaerobic exercise is associated with a lower rate of Parkinsons disease and Alzheimers disease

• Using carbon monoxide detectors

• Using recommended protective head and neck gear when performing dangerous activities or contact sports

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Myth : Parkinsons Is Only A Motor Condition

Fact: While its true that Parkinsons disease symptoms include shaking and tremor, rigid muscles, slowness of movement, and a frozen or flat expression, its a lot more than that.

Nonmotor symptoms deserve and are getting more attention from doctors and researchers. These symptoms include cognitive impairment or dementia , anxiety and depression, fatigue, sleep problems and more.

For some patients, nonmotor symptoms are more disabling than motor symptoms, which are the focus of treatment. Be sure to talk to your doctor about other issues so you can get all of your symptoms addressed.

Managing Your Health With Pd

Patients living with PD can take steps to ensure they get quality care from their healthcare team, as well as take good care of themselves.

Staying as active as possible with help from an occupational therapist who can show you how to modify daily activities, eating a healthy and well-balanced diet, and taking medications as prescribed can all help optimize your health and promote well-being.

Talking with the doctor about any challenges or concerns can also help you brainstorm solutions to problems or help create a plan to address issues.

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What Are Medicares Coverage Options

Medicare is offered through the federal government as a fee-for-service program, designed to provide affordable health insurance coverage to elderly and disabled Americans. Medicare has two parts: Part A and Part B .

Part A Medicare coverage includes:

• All normal hospital services

• Transfusion of blood and blood components provided on an outpatient basis
• Out-patient surgery

Part B Medicare benefits require that you pay a monthly premium. You must also be entitled to Part A benefits to receive Part B benefits.

How Is It Treated And Is There A Cure

For now, Parkinsons disease is not curable, but there are multiple ways to manage its symptoms. The treatments can also vary from person to person, depending on their specific symptoms and how well certain treatments work. Medications are the primary way to treat this condition.

A secondary treatment option is a surgery to implant a device that will deliver a mild electrical current to part of your brain . There are also some experimental options, such as stem cell-based treatments, but their availability often varies, and many aren’t an option for people with Parkinsons disease.

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Prognosis Of Parkinsons Disease

As Parkinsons progresses, symptoms often worsen. Some people who respond well to therapy have minimal disability issues. Others, however, become severely incapacitated.

Although Parkinsons isnt considered a fatal disease itself, it can cause life-threatening complications that may shorten your life span.

Today, most people living with Parkinsons disease have close to a normal life expectancy.

Parkinsons Disease Is A Progressive Disorder

Parkinsons Disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects movement and, in some cases, cognition. Individuals with PD may have a slightly shorter life span compared to healthy individuals of the same age group. According to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research, patients usually begin developing Parkinsons symptoms around age 60 and many live between 10 and 20 years after being diagnosed. However, a patients age and general health status at onset factor into the accuracy of this estimate. Age is the greatest risk factor for this condition, but young-onset Parkinsons disease, which affects people before age 50, accounts for between 10 and 20 percent of PD cases.

While there is no cure for Parkinsons disease, many patients are only mildly affected and need no treatment for several years after their initial diagnosis. However, PD is both chronic, meaning it persists over a long period of time, and progressive, meaning its symptoms grow worse over time. This progression occurs more quickly in some people than in others.

Pharmaceuticals and surgical interventions can help manage some of the symptoms, like bradykinesia , rigidity or tremor , but not much can be done to slow the overall progression of the disease. Over time, shaking, which affects most PD patients, may begin to interfere with activities of daily living and ones quality of life.

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How Will My Doctor Test For It

There’s no one test for Parkinson’s. A lot of it’s based on your symptoms and health history, but it could take some time to figure it out. Part of the process is ruling out other conditions that look like Parkinson’s. The docotor may do a DaT scan, which looks for dopamine in the brain. This can aid in a diagnosis.

Because there is no single test, it’s very important to go to a doctor who knows a lot about it, early on. It’s easy to miss.

If you do have it, your doctor might use what’s called the Hoehn and Yahr scale to tell you what stage of the disease you’re in. It ranks how severe your symptoms are from 1 to 5, where 5 is the most serious.

The stage can help you get a better feel for where your symptoms fall and what to expect as the disease gets worse. But keep in mind, some people could take up to 20 years to move from mild to more serious symptoms. For others, the change is much faster.

How Soon After Treatment Will I Feel Better And How Long Will It Take To Recover

The time it takes to recover and see the effects of Parkinson’s disease treatments depends strongly on the type of treatments, the severity of the condition and other factors. Your healthcare provider is the best person to offer more information about what you can expect from treatment. The information they give you can consider any unique factors that might affect what you experience.

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Deep Brain Stimulation And Parkinsons Disease

Remember our recent article on electroceuticals zapping different parts of the body to treat things like headaches and backaches? Well, theres been some promising research on using small electrical pulses for easing Parkinsons symptoms, a technique known as deep brain stimulation .

A Swiss startup called Aleva Neurotherapeutics has raised $57 million in disclosed funding since it was founded in 2008. Its flagship product is directSTIM, a Directional DBS System for long-term therapy in Parkinsons disease. The device must be surgically implanted in order to deliver small electric pulses into the head, which helps reduce symptoms like tremors and stiffness. Unlike similar systems, directSTIM uses an array of directional microelectrodes to focus electrical stimulation, potentially decreasing the need for exact positioning, so you dont need a surgeon with a very steady hand.

New, unrelated research published just last month provided some insight into how DBS helps Parkinsons patients. Researchers believe the treatment boosts the number and strength of mitochondria, the power plant of the cell. More juice to power the brain cells may help reduce problems like tremors. Only about 300 patients per year receive DBS treatment, according to the study.

What Are The Primary Motor Symptoms Of Parkinsons Disease

There are four primary motor symptoms of Parkinsons disease:

• postural instability

Observing two or more of these symptoms is the main way that physicians diagnose Parkinsons.

It is important to know that not all of these symptoms must be present for a diagnosis of Parkinsons disease to be considered. In fact, younger people may only notice one or two of these motor symptoms, especially in the early stages of the disease. Not everyone with Parkinsons disease has a tremor, nor is a tremor proof of Parkinsons. If you suspect Parkinsons, see a neurologist or movement disorders specialist.

Introducing an easier way to track your symptoms and manage care.

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If You Or A Loved One Are Living With Parkinsons You Are Well Aware Of The Financial Burden The Disease Brings

Over and above the medical costs, the average annual indirect and non-medical costs for a person diagnosed with Parkinsonâs disease is over $19K â over $25K when combined with caregiver burden.

You may find you have to make some difficult decisions about which necessary services you are able to access.

We at Rise Above Parkinsons know how you feel. Our loved one has been on his Parkinsonâs journey for over a decade now, and during that time, weâve financed home renovations, adaptive gear, therapeutic services, and more. Weâve found these supportive services to be critical to his well-being and quality of life. And we want that for your loved one too.

Rise Above Parkinsons is a place where you can feel cared for, and where you can receive financial support, trust, and the attention you need. Our goal is to help your loved one live the best life possible. Because weâre all in this together.

Because you are so much more than your diagnosis.

We want to help you rise.

Getting Aid is as Easy as 1-2-3

Fill out a free, confidential application here.

Work directly with one of our Client Advocates to create your personal support plan.

Aid is then delivered directly to your service provider.

Getting Aid is as Easy as 1-2-3

Fill out a free, confidential application here.

Work directly with one of our Client Advocates to create your personal support plan.

Aid is then delivered directly to your service provider.

Additional Information

Medicines For Parkinsons Disease

Medicines can help treat the symptoms of Parkinsons by:

• Increasing the level of dopamine in the brain
• Having an effect on other brain chemicals, such as neurotransmitters, which transfer information between brain cells
• Helping control non-movement symptoms

The main therapy for Parkinsons is levodopa. Nerve cells use levodopa to make dopamine to replenish the brains dwindling supply. Usually, people take levodopa along with another medication called carbidopa. Carbidopa prevents or reduces some of the side effects of levodopa therapy such as nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, and restlessness and reduces the amount of levodopa needed to improve symptoms.

People living with Parkinsons disease should never stop taking levodopa without telling their doctor. Suddenly stopping the drug may have serious side effects, like being unable to move or having difficulty breathing.

The doctor may prescribe other medicines to treat Parkinsons symptoms, including:

• Dopamine agonists to stimulate the production of dopamine in the brain
• Enzyme inhibitors to increase the amount of dopamine by slowing down the enzymes that break down dopamine in the brain
• Amantadine to help reduce involuntary movements
• Anticholinergic drugs to reduce tremors and muscle rigidity

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Serious Infections Linked To Early Alzheimer’s Parkinson’s Disease

Batya Swift Yasgur MA, LSW

Patients in early- and mid-life who contract with infections that require hospitalization appear to be at increased risk for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease at a relatively young age, new research suggests.

Investigators in Sweden analyzed data from several large national registries, and compared individuals diagnosed with AD, PD, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to randomly selected age- and sex-matched controls from the general population.

They found that those who had a hospital-treated infection 5 or more years earlier were at a 16% increased risk for AD and a .04% increased risk for PD. Multiple infections before age 30 years conferred more than a 2.5-fold increased risk for AD and a 1.5-fold increased risk for PD before age 60 years.

Increased risks for AD and PD were associated with bacterial, viral, other infections and different sites of infection, including gastrointestinal, and genitourinary infections.

“Our study suggested that individuals with hospital-treated infections, especially in those occurring in early- and mid-life, had an increased risk of developing AD and PD, attributable to cases diagnosed before 60 years,” the investigators, led by Jiangwei Sun, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, write.

The study was published online September 15 in PLOS Medicine.

How Do Doctors Diagnose Parkinsons Disease

There is no specific test to diagnose Parkinsons disease. Instead, it is a clinical diagnosis, meaning doctors rely on symptoms and a detailed medical history. This makes it challenging to diagnose because early signs and symptoms often look like other conditions and can mimic the effects of aging. As a result, it can take timesometimes yearsto arrive at a definitive diagnosis. Seeing a neurologist with expertise in movement disorders is beneficial. This specialist will evaluate you over time.

Your doctor will likely start with some questions about your symptoms including:

• What symptoms are you experiencing?

• When did you first notice your symptoms?

• Are your symptoms constant or sporadic?

• What, if anything, seems to make your symptoms better or worse?

Your doctor will also perform a physical exam and ask you to walk. The exam will focus on your posture, coordination and movement. Your doctor is looking for at least two of the following symptoms:

• Balance problems

• Bradykinesia, which is a slowing-down of movement

• Stiffness or rigidity in your arms and legs

• Tremor in your hands and arms at rest or when you extend your arms

Your doctor will also want to know about any other physical symptoms, such as constipation, and mental symptoms, such as depression.

After the physical exam, your doctor may recommend testing, such as blood tests and imaging exams. In some cases, doctors may order special brain scans including:

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What Are The Risk Factors For Parkinsons Disease

Risk factors for Parkinsons disease include:

Genetics

People with a first-degree relative with Parkinsons are at an increased risk for the disease possibly as much as 9 percent greater.

Fifteen percent of people with Parkinsons have a known relative with the disease, but a condition called familial Parkinsons, which has a known genetic link, is relatively rare.

The average age of onset is 60 years, and the incidence rises with advancing age. About 4 percent of people have early-onset or young-onset disease, which begins before age 50.

Gender

Parkinsons affects about 50 percent more men than women, for unknown reasons.

Pesticide Exposure

Exposure to some pesticides has been shown to raise the risk of developing Parkinsons.

Problematic chemicals include organochlorine pesticides like DDT, dieldrin, and chlordane. Rotenone and permethrin have also been implicated.

Fungicide and Herbicide Exposure

Exposure to the fungicide maneb or the herbicides 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid , paraquat, or Agent Orange may raise the risk of Parkinsons.

The U.S. Veterans Health Administration considers Parkinsons to be a possible service-related illness if the person was exposed to significant amounts of Agent Orange.

Head Injuries

Head injuries may contribute to the development of Parkinsons in some people.

Coffee and Smoking

People who drink coffee or smoke tobacco have been found to have a lower risk of Parkinsons disease, for reasons that remain unclear.