| Parkinson's disease is a degenerative | | | | education, support group services, general |
| disorder of the central nervous system. | | | | wellness maintenance, exercise, and |
| Parkinson's disease occurs when nerve cells, | | | | nutrition. Medications can help manage |
| or neurons, in an area of the brain known as | | | | problems with walking, movement and tremor by |
| the substantia nigra die or become impaired. | | | | increasing the brain's supply of dopamine. |
| Normally, these neurons produce an important | | | | Amantadine may also be added to |
| brain chemical known as dopamine. At least | | | | carbidopa-levodopa therapy for people in the |
| 500,000 people in the United States currently | | | | latter stages of Parkinson's disease. |
| have PD. Parkinson's disease belongs to a | | | | Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) |
| group of conditions called movement | | | | inhibitors drugs prolong the effect of |
| disorders. Parkinson's disease is | | | | carbidopa-levodopa therapy by blocking an |
| progressive, meaning the signs and symptoms | | | | enzyme that breaks down dopamine. Tolcapone |
| become worse over time. But although | | | | (Tasmar) is a potent COMT inhibitor that |
| Parkinson's disease may eventually be | | | | easily crosses the blood-brain barrier. A |
| disabling, the disease often progresses | | | | medicine called levodopa is often given to |
| gradually. Parkinson disease affects movement | | | | people who have Parkinson's disease. Called |
| (motor symptoms). Typical other symptoms | | | | "L-dopa," this medicine increases the amount |
| include disorders of mood, behavior, | | | | of dopamine in the body and has been shown to |
| thinking, and sensation (non-motor symptoms). | | | | improve a person's ability to walk and move |
| Individual patients' symptoms may be quite | | | | around. Thalamotomy involves the destruction |
| dissimilar and progression of the disease is | | | | of small amounts of tissue in the thalamus - |
| also distinctly individual. Parkinson's | | | | a major brain center for relaying messages |
| usually begins around age 60. It is more | | | | and transmitting sensations. |
| common in men than in women. Symptoms of | | | | |
| Parkinson's disease often start on one side | | | | Parkinson's Disease for Treatment Tips |
| of the body first and then affect both sides. | | | | |
| | | | 1. Carbidopa and benserazide are dopa |
| There are many secondary symptoms associated | | | | decarboxylase inhibitors. |
| with Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease | | | | |
| patients may notice that they are weaker or | | | | 2. Tolcapone inhibits the COMT enzyme, |
| more tired. Symptoms include disorders of | | | | thereby prolonging the effects of L-dopa, and |
| mood, behavior, thinking, and sensation. Poor | | | | so has been used to complement L-dopa. |
| balance is due to the impairment or loss of | | | | |
| the reflexes that adjust posture in order to | | | | 3. Selegiline and rasagiline reduce the |
| maintain balance. Falls are common in people | | | | symptoms by inhibiting monoamine oxidase-B |
| with Parkinson's. Shaking (muscle tremor). | | | | (MAO-B). |
| This is one of the first symptoms in | | | | |
| three-quarters of people, and affects most | | | | 4. An antiviral drug, amantadine, can help |
| people with Parkinson's disease. Bradykinesia | | | | reduce symptoms of PD and levodopa-induced |
| is the phenomenon of a person experiencing | | | | dyskinesia. |
| slow movements. In addition to slow | | | | |
| movements, a person with bradykinesia will | | | | 5. COMT (catechol O-methyl transferase) |
| probably also have incomplete movement, | | | | inhibitors are a new class of drugs that stop |
| difficulty initiating movements and sudden | | | | the breakdown of dopamine. |
| stopping of ongoing movement. The progressive | | | | |
| loss of voluntary and involuntary muscle | | | | 6. Other therapies that are important for |
| control produces a number of secondary | | | | managing and coping with Parkinson's disease |
| symptoms associated with Parkinson's. | | | | include physiotherapy, speech therapy, and |
| Postural instability, or impaired balance and | | | | occupational therapy. |
| coordination, causes patients to develop a | | | | |
| forward or backward lean and to fall easily. | | | | 7. Amantadine acts like a dopamine |
| | | | replacement drug but works on different sites |
| Parkinson's disease requires broad-based | | | | in the brain. |
| management including patient and family | | | | |