Seven Facts About Parkinson's Disease
1) Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a brain disorder that affects the central nervous system. It is a movement disorder, a degenerative disorder, and both progressive and chronic.
2) Patients with PD experience shaking, decelerated physical movement, muscle stiffness, and are physically unbalanced. They may also display depression, muted and sluggish speech, and a slow-moving, shuffling walk.
3) Parkinson’s disease happens when too many dopamine producing cells are damaged. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter produced in the brain that affects coordination in the body and its muscles. Lack of dopamine creates the symptoms in Parkinson’s disease.
4) Parkinson’s disease is thought to be an idiopathic disease (meaning “arising spontaneously” or “from an obscure or unknown cause”), although in recent years there have been conclusions by many in the medical community that suspect there are genetic causes in some instances. It is also thought that head trauma and exposure to environmental toxins can cause PD. Studies and trials are still being done.
5) Studies have shown that PD patients are likely to experience depression and anxiety; nearly 20-80 percent of PD patients experience some form of depression. Ninety percent of PD patients with pre-existing anxiety develop depression, and 70 percent with preexisting depression will develop anxiety. It has also been shown that people with depression have an increased risk for PD.
6) Clinicians and researchers use the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) to diagnose and evaluate PD. This is done in five parts, including evaluating mood and behavior, motor evaluation, activities of daily life (ADLs), and severity of disease. The UPDRS includes clinical observations and interviews.
7) There is no cure for PD, but symptoms can be managed. PD is not fatal, though it does progress with time and lower the life expectancy of the patient. While progression may take decades, sometimes progression is much quicker. Education, exercise, proper nutrition, and taking steps to create wellness and health can help those with PD live longer, productive lives.
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2) Patients with PD experience shaking, decelerated physical movement, muscle stiffness, and are physically unbalanced. They may also display depression, muted and sluggish speech, and a slow-moving, shuffling walk.
3) Parkinson’s disease happens when too many dopamine producing cells are damaged. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter produced in the brain that affects coordination in the body and its muscles. Lack of dopamine creates the symptoms in Parkinson’s disease.
4) Parkinson’s disease is thought to be an idiopathic disease (meaning “arising spontaneously” or “from an obscure or unknown cause”), although in recent years there have been conclusions by many in the medical community that suspect there are genetic causes in some instances. It is also thought that head trauma and exposure to environmental toxins can cause PD. Studies and trials are still being done.
5) Studies have shown that PD patients are likely to experience depression and anxiety; nearly 20-80 percent of PD patients experience some form of depression. Ninety percent of PD patients with pre-existing anxiety develop depression, and 70 percent with preexisting depression will develop anxiety. It has also been shown that people with depression have an increased risk for PD.
6) Clinicians and researchers use the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) to diagnose and evaluate PD. This is done in five parts, including evaluating mood and behavior, motor evaluation, activities of daily life (ADLs), and severity of disease. The UPDRS includes clinical observations and interviews.
7) There is no cure for PD, but symptoms can be managed. PD is not fatal, though it does progress with time and lower the life expectancy of the patient. While progression may take decades, sometimes progression is much quicker. Education, exercise, proper nutrition, and taking steps to create wellness and health can help those with PD live longer, productive lives.
Return to:
Other Posts
What happens to my SSD or SSI if I go back to work?
Social Security Disability and Parkinson's disease
SSI Benefits, Supplemental security income disability
What do SSI benefits and social security disability include?
Reasons to apply for SSI and social security disability
How much in SSI benefits and social security disability will you get?
SSI benefits based on disability, who is eligible?
What will usually cause your SSI or Social security disability to stop?
Are you Allowed to Collect Social Security and Disability at the Same Time?
SSI disability benefits for children
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