Parkinson’s disease develops when the neurons of the substantia nigra in the brain become progressively damaged and depleted. However the first signs of Parkinson’s disease are not obvious until about 80% of these neurons, that are responsible for the production a neurotransmitter called dopamine which helps to control muscle movement, are damaged beyond repair. Thus the early symptoms are actually only seen for the first time quite late on in the disease.

Fortunately there are a number of signs that point towards the development of the disease and so watching out for these can have positive effects on diagnosing Parkinson’s disease as early as possible.

For example:
Tremors – these are one of the first signs of the disease to be noticed by many sufferers. In the early stages it is common for just the extremities such as the hands and the feet to be affected, however as progression occurs the head, neck and limbs may also begin to shake uncontrollably. Other disease states also have tremors as a symptom however the movements associate with Parkinson’s disease disappear when the sufferer voluntarily moves and it is this factor that points to Parkinson’s disease as being the underlying cause. Rigidity – many sufferers don’t even realise they have rigidity until someone else points it out to them, for example a doctor or physiotherapist. Rigidity is one of the defining factors of Parkinson’s disease and so if extensive muscle tone is discovered during an examination, further tests will be carried out in order to ascertain whether Parkinson’s disease is in fact the cause. Poor balance and coordination – the tightness of the muscles and uncontrollable tremors often affect a person’s balance and make their hand/eye coordination decrease dramatically. A sufferer may find themselves dropping things, being unable to catch objects thrown to them, being unable to hold objects they could hold in the past and so on. They may also stumble over nothing and have to grab hold of things to help stabilise themselves. Difficulty with movement – this can manifest itself as being slow movements (bradykinesia), a problem with actually initiating a movement (akinesia) or a decrease in the range of motion (hypokinesia). This last example will become particularly noticeable in the way a sufferer walks i.e. their steps will be short and shuffled and their arms will have very little swing, and in they way they write i.e. their handwriting will decrease in size and their letters will be poorly formed until eventually the handwriting will become illegible. Other sensory signs – sufferers often complain of things such as pain in the affected areas, a feeling of restlessness even though they are actually physically exhausted, burning sensations in the extremities and occasionally numbness.

The signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can also be attributed to other illnesses such as stress and absolute exhaustion so many sufferers don’t visit the doctor until such a time as they realise the symptoms are not getting any better, which can be months down the line. Contrary to popular belief, Parkinson’s disease is not age specific and although it is most commonly seen in the older generation (60+) there is a growing number of cases that develop earlier on in life, thus if you have any of the signs mentioned above and are in the least bit worried then a trip to your local doctor is advised, even if it is only to put your mind at rest.

By: Jeremy Parker

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wrestlergrl15 asked:


i know how hard it is to grow up with someone with parkinsons disease if anyone wants to talk about it or needs help i can help as much as i can my mom has had it since i was 6-8 its hard at times but i know that her meds are really helping but there is nothing anyone can really do well there is one thing there is a surgery out there that they can drill something into the brain to help it a little bit i guess but that cost thousands of dollars….well just msg me if you wanna talk..

M.K. asked:


“The primary symptoms are the results of decreased stimulation of the motor cortex by the basal ganglia, normally caused by the insufficient formation and action of dopamine, which is produced in the dopaminergic neurons of the brain.” -Wikipedia

my grandfather has parkinson’s disease, but is really chill. would him smoking weed help his disease at all? because parkinsons is a disease that is caused by “insufficient formation and action” would smoking pot help him?

uknurse888 asked:


I need medical professionals advice or info here please.
My dad has been deteriorating for the last three to four years now.
As a nurse the symptoms brought straight to mind Alzheimer’s but now I am seeing some other things that are more comparable to Parkinson’s.
His memory is very poor (short term being the worst) his behavior is terrible, he is rude and yells and is suspicious all of the time.
He yells at my mom and myself for no reason and says some extremely hurtful things.
He has lost interest in eating ( he is on megace).
We(mom, myself and my daughters and dad) will have a big conversation about something important and he will deny ever having heard anything about it.
Now he is having to use a walker (badly even though i keep showing him the right way!!) I have noticed the shuffling gait. He is falling quite often ( 4-5 times a week)
Dad is 76, three years ago he was so alive and smart and vibrant and now he falls even using a walker Please, any help will be appreciated.
i looked online for a side by side guide to symptoms of both disorders but was unable to find one, hoping maybe someone else will be able to.
Morgan.
My dad has no idea that theres anything wrong with him. He thinks we are all exaggerating.
I wish I could get him into a wheelchair but he wouldn’t do it, it took us ages to talk him into the walker! My mom and I are his caregivers but he seems to think his illness is his heart disease and nothing to do with his brain. He’s a crusty Englishman and stiff upper lip is his response to just about everything.
Mom is exhausted and Im getting there. We have sat with him and tried to explain whats going on but he gets extremely aggitated and won’t hear of it. I think your response is great though. If we could just get him to understand!!