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Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder characterized by tremor, lack of coordination, and difficulty with walking and other movements. Parkinson’s disease is primarily a disease that affects the elderly but it can occur in young adults, and in rare cases, children.

Parkinson’s disease is caused by the deterioration of the cells in the brain that control muscle movement. (The cause of this deterioration is unknown.) The destruction of brain cells leads to a decrease in the production of dopamine (a neurotransmitter), which in turn leads to a loss of muscle control.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include:

• Tremor
• Loss of muscle control
• Rigidity
• Loss of balance
• Depression
• Shuffling walk and awkward gait
• Start hesitation – difficulty beginning movements such as walking
• Facial expression changes – this includes the inability to show facial expression, as well as staring and the inability to close the mouth
• Difficulty with speech
• Constipation
• Difficulty with eating

Because Parkinson’s disease symptoms are similar to those of other conditions and diseases, such as manganese poisoning, many people are misdiagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s Disease Treatment

There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, so treatment is aimed at controlling symptoms. The first-line treatment for Parkinson’s disease is medication. Levodopa is the most commonly prescribed medication to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. However, because prolonged levodopa use leads to serious side effects, many doctors prescribe dopamine agonists (drugs that mimic dopamine) before prescribing levodopa.

In addition to drug treatment, Parkinson’s disease patients are also encouraged to eat well and adjust their exercise routine to changes in their energy level. There are also some experimental treatments that may be recommended, including transplantation of adrenal gland tissue and surgery to destroy the brain tissue that is responsible for tremors.

If you are being treated with levodopa for Parkinson’s disease and are not showing signs of improvement, you may be suffering from another disease such as manganism. Click to learn more about free manganese poisoning screenings.