Both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease affect nearly half a million people each year with their debilitating and eventually life-robbing symptoms. While Alzheimer’s steals memories and personality and eventually leads to decreased motor function, Parkinson’s disease robs the person of basic motor function causing a shaking or palsy to run throughout the body. Scientists have wondered for years whether or not there was a connection for the two diseases, either in the genes or some environmental factor that triggered the onset of both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease.

A Discussion of the Two Players:

Parkinson’s disease is an incurable disease of the nervous system where the neuro-transmitters in the brain begin to malfunction, causing a trembling in the body and limbs that gets progressively worse over time. Symptoms of rigidity and trouble walking at a normal gait also appear over time. Eventually this disease will rob the person of the ability to control their balance leading to more falls and slips, which is a concern for their well being.

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease are different in that while Parkinson’s disease appears to focus more on physical ailments, Alzheimer’s appears to affect the mental capacities before the motor skills and physical ones deteriorate. Common everyday forgetfulness turns into confusion and forgetfulness that becomes a problem for every day activity. The location of homes or remembering the faces of children or friends becomes more and more difficult with time. Eventually, the personality can change as a result of the disease.

Is There a Connection?:

In April of 2003, a scientific study indicated that there may be a connection between Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. In that study, it was concluded that older adults who develop the tremors and other classical symptoms of Parkinson’s disease may be up to eight times as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease as well. In addition, it has been shown that the symptoms of both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease can be very similar and perhaps follow the same lines, although the root cause may be somewhat different.

Research also suggests that Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease may have a connection in how the two diseases progress over time. The same study published in the April 2003 issue of The Archives of Neurology tracked the progression of symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease among 824 Catholic clergy members with an average age of 75, and who had no signs of Alzheimer’s disease at the beginning of the study. After approximately four and half years, 79% of the study’s participants experienced a more rapid progression of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Of those who experienced the most rapid progression, it was found that they were eight times as likely to have symptoms of both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Is there a connection between Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease? So far the medical profession is still debating that idea, but more and more studies indicate that they’re might be a link between these two debilitating diseases. Only more time, and more research will be able to explain the connection, if any, between Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

By: Jonty Smith

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PBS asked:

www.pbs.org Michael J. Fox talks with FRONTLINE producer Dave Iverson about living with Parkinson’s disease, a diagnosis Iverson also shares with his older brother and departed father. “My Father, My Brother, and Me” airs Tues, Feb 3 at 9 pm on PBS (check local listings). Watch online beginning Jan 29. In 2004, journalist Dave Iverson received the same news that had been delivered to his father and older brother years earlier: He had Parkinson’s disease, a degenerative neurological disorder that affects about one million Americans. In a FRONTLINE and ITVS joint production, Iverson explores the scientific, ethical and political debate that surrounds Parkinson’s–a disease at the center of the ongoing controversy over embryonic stem cell research. Iverson talks to scientists on the cutting edge of new cures and therapies for Parkinson’s as well as a number of other major neurological conditions. And he has intimate conversations with fellow Parkinson’s sufferers like actor Michael J. Fox and writer Michael Kinsley.

OhanaPacificRehab asked:

www.parkinsonsmoveit.com Part IV of a Lecture Series by Kevin Lockette,PT. Topics are the hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease and movement strategies to help mobility and balance. With over 20 years experience working with PD patients, Kevin shares his knowledge of techniques that have proven to help you get control of your movements. For more information about his book and dvd, please visit http

One health problem that over 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with each year is Parkinson’s disease.

While most people are diagnosed with this health issue after age sixty, some people can have an early onset of Parkinson’s disease before the age of forty, roughly 5 – 10% of all diagnoses of the disease.

The health problems associated with the disease can be mild or severe, and men tend to get it more than women.

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic progressive neurological disease.

It affects certain nerve cells in the brain, and these nerve cells die.

When this happens, body movements of every kind are affected, and it can cause other health issues as a result of the disease’s progression.

The progression of Parkinson’s disease as a health problem often begins gradually

The symptoms are usually mild to begin with, but progress as time goes on.

The first health symptoms to appear are often fatigue, slight tremors, forgetfulness, or changes in handwriting and speech.

It most cases, it is often family or friends who notice the changes in the person’s health with Parkinson’s disease first. They often see the gradual stiffening of muscles, and the continual lack of ****** expressions.

It is important for people who notice that their health is not as good as it was to consult their doctor.

As the disease progresses, the health symptoms can get worse.

The tremors can become more pronounced. The patient’s movements become slower, and muscles become more rigid.

As the Parkinson’s progresses further, balance can become a problem, and walking, posture and the possibility of falls becomes more worrisome. Handwriting and speech can change a great deal, as well.

The good news is that for a lot of people with the health issue of Parkinson’s disease, the symptoms are often mild to moderate and they can still lead productive lives.

They sometimes need to have treatment for the disease and modify their lifestyles, but it does not present a significant health issue.

Drug therapy is the most common way to slow down the progression of Parkinson’s disease and keep the patient in good health.

While there is no cure for this health problem, a lot of research is currently being done in this field.

Sources:

http://www.pdtrials.org

http://www.webmd.com

By: Mike Herman

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Pathology of Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s disease is caused by the death of neurons in a part of the brain known as the substantia nigra. This area of the brain is part of a system of neurons known as the basal ganglia. This system is very important in the control of movement. The neurons in the substantia nigra secrete dopamine. The loss of dopamine’s effect on the basal ganglia leads to the signs and symptoms of Parkinsonism.

Abnormalities are also seen in the neurons of individuals with Parkinson’s. These abnormalities are called Lewy bodies. These bodies are collections of abnormal proteins that clump together to form a redish-pink mass in the cytoplasm of the substantia nigra neurons.

Unfortunately, it is not known what causes most cases of Parkinson’s disease. However, there are some known causes, almost all of which involve damage to the substantia nigra. Toxins like carbon disulfide and certain street drugs have been known to kill dopamine secreting neurons resulting in Parkinson’s. Another toxin known as MPTP, which was produced accidentally by drug chemists trying to illegally make a synthetic heroin derivative, is extremely toxic to substantia nigra cells. It caused irreversible Parkinson’s disease in those who were unfortunate enough to ingest it.

Finally, the genetics of Parkinson’s disease are not well known. There appears to be multiple genetic causes of the disease. One gene mutation involves α-synuclein, a protein that forms the main component of Lewy bodies. Other genetic mutations may also play a role in Parkinson’s, but they contribute only a small fraction of the total number of cases.

By: BC Gabel

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Here we are discussing a disease that around fifty thousand Americans are diagnosed with every year. That disease is Parkinson’s disease. Usually its people over 60 that are diagnosed with this, but people can get it before the age of 40. Once you get over the age of about 60, Parkinson’s will be on the radar of doctors when new symptoms appear that are indicative of the disease. According to one piece of research Parkinsons is more prevalent in men than in women. This disease is an incurable disease affecting the patient’s nervous system where the neuro-transmitters inside the brain start to malfunction, causing shaking in the body and limbs that gets progressively more pronounced as time goes by.

Other symptoms include slowing of movement and rigidity of muscles. Non-tremor symptoms of Parkinson’s can include relative immobility of body sections particularly the face which can be seen as a blank look or mask-like lack of expression. When brain cells deteriorate, one outcome is Parkinson’s disease This degenerative disorder is not passed genetically, nor is it contagious and very little information is known about what causes this condition. Having said all that, Parkinson’s has been known to be brought on by severe drug abuse or certain types of head injury. Strangely, according to research, cigarette smokers appear to have less of a chance of developing Parkinson’s disease, which has led experts to believe the probability that nicotine has some protective qualities against the fluctuations caused by Parkinson’s disease. So smoking has a benefit after all.

The latest news is that new treatments for Parkinson’s disease are at the leading edge of current studies, with experiments being carried out with stem cells and gene therapy. The diagnosis of Parkinson’s is a distressing time for any patient and anybody close to them. As a progressive condition, patients suffering with the condition have to come to terms with the fact that there is no hope of recovery, but rather a gradual process of loss of movement and co-ordination. An early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is vital to the patient being able to keep some independence, and a decent quality of life for a reasonable length of time.

By: James Hunaban

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eahleen3 asked:

ASL Mid-term Video on Parkinson’s Disease. We are supposed to watch a video and copy what is said. We were required to have 5 minutes of the story so that is why the abrupt stop takes place.

tommy lampini asked:


My grandfather (father’s father) died of Parkinson’s Disease in his 70′s. My father died at 71 from cancer so I don’t know if he had PD. My question is, what are my chances of getting PD? Is there any known figures as to how frequently it is genetically passed on?

G-Lop asked:


I’m new with running and there is a 5k run for Parkinson’s disease in october. So far i can only run a mile. I really would like to do this because my dad has parkinsons. Is it possible. Don’t make fun of me for not being able to run more than a mile i’m very self conscous about it and i try really hard.

CIRMTV asked:

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that affects nearly a million people in the United States. The symptoms include tremors, slow movement, muscle rigidity and less ****** expression. No cure exists for the disease and current medications become less effective over time. William Langston, CEO and scientific director of the Parkinson’s Institute, discusses stem cell-based research strategies to better understand the disease and to find new therapies. The Parkinson’s Institute has an Early Translation grant from CIRM.