Background
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease, meaning that it slowly progresses as the brain’s cells lose function or structure (National Parkinson Foundation [NPF], 2014). Parkinson’s disease is a condition affecting movement, also known as a movement disorder (National Library of Medicine [NLM], 2014). Parkinson’s involves the failure and death of the neurons in the brain that control movement and coordination. The neurons that are primarily affected are the substania nigra, which work to release the chemical, dopamine, and to maintain balance and movement (Parkinson’s Disease Foundation [PDF], 2014). There are four main symptoms of PD; tremor or muscle contraction in the extremities or in the face region, including
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(NPF, 2014). One million people in the world currently suffer from PD (NPF, 2014). Out of all adults age 60 or older, one to two percent currently has this condition (NPF, 2014). People become more prone to obtain this disease as they age. A family history of PD is present in most cases. If there are more than three people affected in a family, specifically if is identified before age 50, researchers believe that a genetic factor may be present (National Human Genome Research Institute [NHGRI], 2014). This gene will make family members more likely to develop the condition (NHGRI, …show more content…
Oxidative stress has been identified as one risk factor that could initiate and/or simulate deterioration of the neurons in the brain (Prasad, Cole & Kumar, 1999). Therefore, taking antioxidants could counteract or slow the progression of the disease (Prasad, Cole & Kumar, 1999). Taking multiple antioxidants, at proper doses, is crucial because multiple types of free radicals can be constructed from each different antioxidant (Prasad, Cole, & Kumar, 1999). Since L-dopa produces free radicals, the grouping of L-dopa with elevated quantities of antioxidants may increase the effectiveness of L-dopa therapy (Prasad, Cole, & Kumar, 1999). Other than this study done by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, there are no other methods known to prevent
...ll understood simply because of the numerous genetic and environmental factors possible in causing any part of PDB, either by over stimulating osteoclast precursors, genetic mutations, producing transduction pathways that would otherwise not be present or even signals misfiring or over active parathyroid gland. Much more isolated research is necessary before this disease can be fully understood.
"Parkinson Disease." Genetics Home Reference. Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications, n.d. Web. May 2012. .
People who have been diagnosed with this lifelong disease have either started to see the early signs and symptoms or have yet to recognize them. The negative impact that fatigue, loss of muscle strength and in-coordination has on the patients with Parkinson’s disease can be improved with a well-balanced exercise regimen. The three most common physical symptoms the patient will experience are tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia. “Tremors while at rest are the most common initial symptom and are present in around 70 percent of cases at disease onset. It often presents as a pill rolli...
Goldmann, David R., and David A. Horowitz. American College of Physicians Home Medical Guide to Parkinson's Disease. New York: Dorling Kindersley Pub., 2000. Print.
The four key symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are tremors of the hands, arms, legs, or
Parkinson disease (PD), also referred to as Parkinson’s disease and paralysis agitans, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is the third most common neurologic disorder of older adults. It is a debilitating disease affecting motor ability and is characterized by four cardinal symptoms: tremor rigidity, bradykinesia or kinesis (slow movement/no movement), and postural instability. Most people have primary, or idiopathic, disease. A few patients have secondary parkinsonian symptoms from conditions such as brain tumors and certain anti-psychotic drugs.
Parkinson's is an idiopathic, multifactorial neurodegenerative disease that attacks neurotransmitters in the brain called dopamine. Dopamine is concentrated in a specific area of the brain called the substantia nigra. The neurotransmitter dopamine is a chemical that regulates muscle movement and emotion. Dopamine is responsible for relaying messages between the substantia nigra and other parts of the brain to control body movement. The death of these neurotransmitters affects the central nervous system. The most common symptoms are movement related, including shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement and difficulty with posture. Behavioral problems may arise as the disease progresses. Due to the loss of dopamine, Parkinson's patients will often experience depression and some compulsive behavior. In advanced stages of the disease dementia will sometimes occur. The implications of the disease on the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory and phonatory systems significantly control speech.
Nurse’s play a very important role in the delivery of care to an older person and in complex disease such as Parkinson’s disease, the care provided by a nurse is vital for both the patient and the family of the affected person. The aim of this essay is to understand briefly about Parkinson’s disease and associated issues and the role of the nurse in the management of the condition.
Most signs and symptoms of Parkinson disease correspond to one of three motor deficiencies: bradykinesia, akinesia, tremor, and rigidity. The first two qualities are usually present before tremor, but often attributed to aging by the patient and even the physician, and thus the disease is rarely diagnosed until tremor becomes evident much later. An average of 80% of the nigrostriatal neurons may have already degenerated by the time Parkinsonism is diagnosed, which complicates treatment (Fitzgerald, 130). Bra...
...t one has it. Many scientists hypothesize that there is an inflammatory response in the brain when there is an extensive B-42 amassing. To slow or stop this, scientists theorize that the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, could delay the swelling in the brain. Also, as scientists have known that taking a multi-vitamin tablet each day is good for you, there has been recent research demonstrating that the use of antioxidants may protect neurons, not just the immune system and keeping the body healthy by providing vitamins and minerals. These special supplements protect the neurons from the effects of the accruing B-Amyloid that would likely cause the plaque that causes AD.
Without this vital dopamine nerve cells cannot properly transmit messages resulting in a loss of muscle function.Parkinson's Disease is a non-communicable disease and doctors have not yet found out whether or not it is a hereditary disease. Parkinson's Disease has many distinct symptoms. The symptoms are:Muscle Rigiditystiffness difficulty bending arms or legsunstable, stooped, or slumped-over posture loss of balancewalking pattern changesslow movements difficulty beginning to walk difficulty initiating any...
Since the gene for HD is dominant, there is a 50% chance of a sufferer's
Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the nervous system, and occurs when the brain cells that are in charge of producing dopamine in the body start to slow down the dopamine making process and/or stop it all together. These dopamine producing cells can be found in a grouping of cells called the substantia nigra, which is found in the mesencephalon, also known as the midbrain. What dopamine does is it sends the electrical signals in the brain between the dopamine producing nerve cells from the substantia nigra to the corpus striatum (part of the forebrain). With the right flow of electrical signals between nerve cells, your body will produce smooth muscle movements. When the production of the dopamine is interrupted, slows down, or comes to a stop, this will cause a lack of dopamine. With this lack of dopamine, the muscles in the body will produce shaky and jerky movements instead of the smooth and graceful movements which those muscles are used to. Disrupted for long enough, and during an acute attack of Parkinson’s disease, the dopamine producing cells and the tissue around them will then start to die off causing a short...
The average age of diagnostic of PD is 62. Any person diagnosed before 50 is considered to have Young-Onset Parkinson's Disease. This type of patients, have a slower disease progression and because their brains are younger, they are more likely to respond to treatment due to their neuroplasticity.
Parkinson disease is a neurological disease that causes tremors in the extremities, gait disturbances and a mask face, which makes activities of daily life difficult often leading to residency in a long-term care facility. The disease was named after an English surgeon whom wrote an essay in 1817 on Shaking Palsy a condition that was later termed Parkinson disease by Jean-Martin Charlot, a French neurologist. Often Parkinson disease involves other symptoms in addition to motor issues such as emotional imbalance, difficulty speaking, dementia and GI problems. Parkinson disease symptoms typically start slowly and get progressively worse as the disease develops. Most patients are diagnosed with Parkinson disease around age 60 however symptoms may start early in life and is referred to as juvenile-onset Parkinson disease.