Causes of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is linked to the damage or death of nerve cells in a part of the brain called susbstantia nigra. These nerve cells function to produce dopamine, a chemical that sends messages from the brain to the nervous system, and helps control body movements.

In people with Parkinson’s disease, the nerve cells in the Susbstantia nigra are damaged or die, so the amount of dopamine in the brain decreases. As a result, body movements become slow and abnormal.

The condition of nerve cells that die and cause dopamine reduction, is a slow process. Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease only appear when the number of nerve cells in the dead susbstantia nigra reaches 80 percent .

It is not yet known what causes nerve cells to become damaged or die . However, this condition is thought to be related to the following factors:

  • Heredity About 15 percent of people with Parkinson’s disease have a family member with a history of the disease. In such cases, Parkinson’s disease can be caused by mutations in genes.
  • Environmental factors Exposure to toxins such as pesticides, herbicides, air pollution due to industrial activities or motor vehicle fumes, can increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

In addition to these two factors, Parkinson’s disease is also associated with abnormal protein clumps. These protein clumps, called lewy bodies , form in brain nerve cells that produce dopamine.

Although the exact cause is not known, research shows Parkinson’s disease is more susceptible to attacking men than women and individuals aged 60 years and over.

Parkinson’s Disease Risk Factors

  • Age. Young adults rarely develop Parkinson’s disease. This disease usually starts in middle age to old age, with an increased risk with age. Age 60 years or more will be more at risk of developing this disease.
  • Heredity. Having a close relative with Parkinson’s disease increases the risk of developing this disease. However, this risk is relatively small, unless the person has many relatives in the family with a history of Parkinson’s disease.
  • Gender . Men have Parkinson’s disease more often than women.
  • Poison exposure . Exposure to herbicides and pesticides is thought to increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease.

 

Causes of Parkinson’s Disease

A substance called dopamine acts as a messenger between two areas of the brain, namely the substantia nigra and the corpus striatum , to produce smooth and controlled movements. Most of the symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease are caused by a lack of dopamine due to loss of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra . When the dopamine count is too low, communication between the substantia nigra and the corpus striatum becomes ineffective. As a result, body movements become disturbed.

The more the body loses dopamine, the worse the symptoms associated with movement. Other cells in the brain also degenerate and contribute to the non-movement symptoms associated with Parkinson’s Disease.

Although it is well known that dopamine deficiency causes motor symptoms, it is not clear why the brain cells that produce dopamine get worse. Genetic and pathological studies have revealed that various dysfunctional cellular processes, inflammation, and stress can contribute to cell damage.

Abnormal clots called Lewy bodies that contain the protein alpha-synuclein are found in many brain cells with Parkinson’s disease. The function of this clump in relation to Parkinson’s disease is incomprehensible. In general, scientists suspect that dopamine loss is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

 

Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

A person with Parkinson’s disease has a distinctive gait, which is a bent position and reduced or absent arm swing. The person may find it difficult to start walking and take turns. The person may also stiffen mid-step and fall forward while walking. In general, Parkinson’s disease has primary symptoms, such as:

  • Tremor at rest ( resting tremor ).
  • Rigidity or rigidity.
  • Sluggish movements (bradykinesia).
  • The balance is disturbed.
  • Impaired body coordination.

Some of the secondary symptoms include:

  • Anxiety.
  • Depression.
  • Dementia.

There are several staging systems for Parkinson’s disease. According to The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation , symptoms that often occur are divided into 5 stages, including:

  • Stage 1, with mild symptoms and does not interfere with the quality of life of the person.
  • Stage 2, with symptoms that start to get worse. It is characterized by difficulty carrying out daily activities and requiring more time to complete.
  • Stage 3 is considered intermediate stage Parkinson’s disease. the person begins to lose balance, moves more slowly, and is prone to falling. In addition, sufferers find it increasingly difficult to carry out light daily activities, for example when dressing, eating, and brushing their teeth.
  • Stage 4, with symptoms that become more severe. Patients need help when walking and doing daily activities.
  • Stage 5 is the most advanced stage of Parkinson’s disease. The person is unable to walk and will need lifelong assistance.

Also read: These are 5 Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease to Watch Out for

 

Diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease

There is no specific test to diagnose Parkinson’s disease. A neurologist (neurologist) will diagnose Parkinson’s disease based on your medical history, review of signs and symptoms, and neurological and physical examination. Your doctor may recommend a specific single-photon emission computerized tomography or dopamine transporter (DAT) scanner.

Although they can help support a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, symptoms and neurological examination are more precise determinants of the diagnosis, so most people do not need a DAT scan . The doctor may order laboratory tests such as blood tests to rule out other conditions that may be causing the symptoms. Imaging tests, such as MRI, CT, brain ultrasound, and PET scan can also be used to help rule out the risk of other disorders.

Apart from the examination, the doctor may give Rytary which is a drug for Parkinson’s disease. Patients must be given sufficient doses to show benefits, because low doses for one or two days give not optimal results. The impact of giving this drug will help the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.

 

Parkinson’s Disease Treatment

Until now, there has not been found the right treatment to cure Parkinson’s disease. Therapy may be used to reduce the risk of developing motor symptoms and improve them. All therapies are designed to increase the amount of dopamine in the brain, either by replacing, mimicking, or prolonging its effect by inhibiting its breakdown. Research has shown that early therapy at the non-motor stage can delay the onset of motor symptoms, thereby prolonging quality of life.

For people with advanced motor symptoms that cannot be controlled, surgery can be an option. In deep brain stimulation , the surgeon implements electrodes to stimulate areas of the brain that contribute to movement. In other types of surgery, the specific areas in the brain that cause Parkinson’s disease symptoms are destroyed.

An alternative approach that has been explored is the use of dopamine-producing cells derived from stem cells . Although stem cell therapy has great potential, more research is needed before these cells can become a therapeutic treatment in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

In addition to medication and surgery, general lifestyle changes (rest and exercise), physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy may be of benefit.

Causes of Parkinson’s Disease

In Parkinson’s disease, some of the nerve cells in the brain slowly break down or die. Many of the symptoms that arise are a result of the loss of nerve cells that produce a chemical in the brain called dopamine.

When dopamine levels drop, it causes abnormal brain activity. This then gives rise to signs of Parkinson’s disease.

The exact cause of Parkinson’s disease is not known, but several factors are thought to play a role, including:

  • Genetic factors. Researchers have identified a specific genetic mutation that can cause Parkinson’s disease. However, this is quite rare in the population, except for family members who have Parkinson’s disease. However, certain genetic variations can increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
  • Environmental factor. Exposure to certain toxins or environmental factors can increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease later in life. However, this risk is also relatively lower.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

The signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can vary from individual to individual. Initial signs can be mild and go undetectable.

They generally appear and occur on one side of the body and usually remain worse on that side, even though symptoms on the other side have started. Parkinson’s disease signs and symptoms include:

  • Tremor. Tremor, or shaking, generally occurs in one limb of the limb, often the hand or fingers. Sometimes you may notice pill-rolling tremors , which are repetitive movements of the thumb and index finger. One of the characteristics of Parkinson’s disease is hand tremor in a resting position.
  • Slow movement (bradykinesia). Over time, Parkinson’s disease can decrease the ability to move and slow down movement. This makes simple tasks difficult for those with Parkinson’s and takes a long time.

Footsteps may become shorter when walking or a sufferer may have difficulty getting out of a chair. In addition, you can drag your feet while walking, making it difficult to move.

  • Stiff muscles. Muscle stiffness can occur in any part of the body. Stiff muscles can restrict movement and cause pain.
  • Disturbed posture and balance. Posture can change, and sufferers can experience balance disorders due to Parkinson’s disease.
  • Loss of subconscious automatic movement. In people with Parkinson’s disease, it may be difficult to make subconscious movements, such as blinking or swinging their hands while walking.
  • Speech pattern changes. Individuals can experience changes in speech patterns as a result of Parkinson’s disease. Speech can become smoother, faster, unclear, or hesitant before speaking. The manner of speaking also appears more monotonous than the commonly observed changes in pitch.
  • Change in writing pattern. Individuals can have difficulty writing and handwriting can be smaller.

Diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease

The diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is generally determined through a detailed medical interview, direct physical examination, and investigations if needed. The physical examination usually includes an examination of the neurological status.

The doctor can advise the patient to do blood tests in the laboratory. The goal is to rule out other possible causes.

Imaging tests, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and Positron Emission Tomography (PET), may also be performed to rule out other causes. However, imaging studies cannot directly establish a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.

Management of Parkinson’s Disease

Although Parkinson’s disease cannot be cured, medication can be given to relieve symptoms. In advanced and severe cases, surgery can also be done.

Doctors usually recommend lifestyle changes, especially aerobic exercise. In some cases, physical therapy that focuses on balance and stretching has also been found beneficial. Speech and language therapy can also help with speech pattern disorders that are experienced.

Medication can help relieve problems you experience with walking, movement, and tremors. These medications increase dopamine, which is a signaling chemical in the brain. Individuals with Parkinson’s disease have low dopamine levels in the brain.

Parkinson’s sufferers generally show improvement after starting treatment. Unfortunately, the benefits of treatment begin to decline with time.

by Abdullah Sam
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