Parkinson’s: what is known so far, what are the symptoms and treatments

The Parkinsons it’s a pathology of the nervous system it affects movement because the brain doesn’t produce enough of it dopamine.

According to the European Parkinson’s Disease Association, it usually starts around age 60, but in some cases it can appear earlier. Also, it is usually much more common in men than in women. At the moment there is no definitive curebut there are treatments that improve people’s symptoms and quality of life for a long time.

The life expectancy of a person with Parkinson’s disease can be similar to that of a healthy person if the correct treatment is given. It can be 10 to 20 years since its diagnosis, in which the quality of life is good.

The symptoms can vary and worsen over time depending on the person suffering from it, since it is a disorder that manifests itself progressively.

Most common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

People with Parkinson’s may have difficulty walking or performing simple tasks. They may also have problems such as depression, trouble sleeping, or trouble chewing, swallowing, or speaking. That means:

• Tremors: They usually start in one extremity, usually in the hand or fingers, which may also tremble when at rest.
• ​Muscle stiffness: It can occur anywhere on the body and cause pain and limited movement.
• Posture and balance problems: Posture can become hunched over and there are often problems with balance.
• Loss of automatic movements: The ability to make unconscious movements, such as blinking, smiling, or moving the arms while walking, is impaired.
• Speech changes: They involve speaking very slowly or quickly, having doubts before speaking, and even speaking in the same tone, without the usual inflections.
• Writing changes: Difficulties writing are common, as is writing with very small letters.
• Slowness of movement: Over time, it can make daily activities such as walking or getting out of a chair difficult or slow down.

Causes of Parkinson’s

Neurons use dopamine to help control muscle movement. When Parkinson’s disease develops, the neurons that produce this chemical die slowly, and without them, the cells that control movement cannot send adequate messages to the muscles.​

While the exact cause is unknown, these factors can contribute to its appearance:

• Genetics: Although specific genetic mutations that can cause Parkinson’s disease have been identified, they are rare and the disease is rarely passed from parent to child.
• Age: Most Parkinson’s patients are around age 60 when symptoms first begin, although between 12 and 15% have onset at age 45.
• Environmental triggers: Exposure to toxic chemicals, viruses and bacteria, and heavy metals can cause dopamine-producing neurons to die.