Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder where there is an insufficient secretion of dopamine from the nerve cells. It is caused by the nerve cells that are responsible in secreting this chemical messenger in the brain called dopamine gradually break down, impaired or die. When dopamine level decreases, it causes changes in the brain activity, leading to impaired control of body movement and other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. It commonly occurs among older people who are aged 60 years old and above. However, it can affect all ages, and Parkinson’s disease is more prevalent in man than woman.

Why do the nerve cells die off?

Unfortunately, the scientists are still working on the exact mechanism of why the cells that produce dopamine die off. Although some cases of Parkinson’s appear to be hereditary, and a few can be traced back to specific genetic mutations, a large number of the cases occurs randomly and does not seem to run in families. It is believed that Parkinson’s disease results from a combination of genetic factors and environmental factors such as exposure to toxins.

Wait, there is more hormone lacking other than dopamine…?

People who suffer from Parkinson’s also lack norepinephrine, the main chemical messenger in the body that controls many functions of the body, including increasing heart rate and blood pressure as well as promoting food digestion. As a result, norepinephrine deficiency may lead to irregular blood rate, sudden drop in blood pressure especially when a person stands up from a sitting or lying-down position, fatigue and slows down food digestion throughout the stomach, which are commonly seen in people with Parkinson’s disease.

The early signs of Parkinson’s disease

Tremor

What is normal? Shaking can be normal after lots of exercise, undergoing stresses or injury.

Small handwriting

What is normal? Stiff hands or fingers or having poor vision could lead to small handwriting too.

Loss of smell

What is normal? Having stuffy nose, cold or a flu may affect the sense of smell.

Trouble sleeping

What is normal? Almost everyone has a night when they ‘toss and turn’ instead of sleeping, this can be due to several factors. Practice good sleeping hygiene is essential to maintain high quality of sleep.

Trouble moving or walking

What is normal? Walking and moving can be difficult for those who experience injuries or have arthritis of joints in their legs and arms or shoulders.

Constipation

What is normal? Constipation is a common condition for elderly as the bowel movement will decrease as they age. It is also a common condition for those who do not consume enough water or fibre in their diet or if they are taking certain medication or supplements that may cause constipation to be likely.

A soft or low voice

What is normal? A chest cold or other viral infections may cause you sound different, it will return to normal once you fight off the infection.

Mad and serious look on the face

What is normal? Some medications can cause you to have the same type of serious or staring look, but you may return to normal look once the medication is withdrawn.

Dizziness or fainting

What is normal? Some may experience dizziness when they stand up from a sitting or lying position, but if it happens too frequently you should visit a doctor and find out the exact cause.

Stooping or hunching over

What is normal? For people with bone problems, this might be normal for them. Also, if you have pain from an injury it might cause you to stand crookedly.

Treatment

The lack of dopamine is replaced with medications in order to compensate for the lack in of the hormone levels. Examples of Parkinson’s medication that are available in Malaysia are:

Sinemet® (Levodopa + Carbidopa)
Madopar® (Levodopa + Benserazide)

Learn more about Parkinson’s disease treatment here.

All in all

Having one of the signs of Parkinson’s disease above does not mean that you are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. However, it is crucial to detect any early signs of Parkinson’s and talk to a doctor immediately. Early detection offers an opportunity for early diagnosis and treatment, in order to slow down the disease progression. DOC2US (talk-to-us) now!

Written by DOC2US Editorial Team,
Medically reviewed by Ashwini Nair, MB BCh BAO.

References:

1. Parkinson’s Disease. National Institute on Aging. Accessed April 2, 2022. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/parkinsons-disease

2. 10 Early Signs of Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s Foundation. Accessed April 2, 2022. https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/10-early-warning-signs