Parkinson’s Disease

Description Parkinson’s Disease, also known as paralysis agitans, is a chronic and progressive neurological disorder that affects a person’s movement and their ability to function. What that means is that Parkinson’s is long-lasting disease with no cure that will slowly get worse over time. It affects vital cells in a movement control center located in the brain stem called substantia nigra. These cells, or neurotransmitters, are responsible for producing dopamine which regulates movement and emotions. In a person diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, these neurotransmitters are either malfunctioning or dying off, thus creating a decrease in the amount of dopamine produced.
Etiology (Cause) Scientists are currently at a …show more content…
There is no blood test available that can determine whether a person has PD or not; there are also no brain scans that can make that diagnosis for us. Diagnosing Parkinson’s relies solely on obtaining information from the patient on their history of problems and through a physical examination. A primary care provider may have suspicions that a patient has Parkinson’s disease, however the actual diagnosis is usually made by a neurologist. Neurologists specialize in disorders of the brain and have the knowledge to differentiate between Parkinson’s disease and another disorder. Sometimes, a patient may go into their PCP presenting symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and it may turn out that they are suffering from Parkinsonism and not the disease itself. Parkinsonism is a symptom complex similar to symptoms found in PD patients, but is not in fact the progressive disease. A neurologist would be the specialist most qualified for determined an accurate …show more content…
When prescribing medications, a physician must consider the severity of the disease and the patient’s tolerance to medication. A lot of these medications come at the cost of harsh side effects and depending on an individual’s situation, a doctor may choose not to use any medication in the treatment plan.

A third type of treatment, used less often than the others, is surgery and deep brain stimulation. If a patient is a good candidate for the surgery, then they may have the option of implanting electrodes in into the brain. These electrodes deliver impulses to areas of the brain involving motor functions. It may improve the quality of life for many but it does carry risks along with it.