James Beck 00:00:03
Hi, my name is Dr. Jim Beck. I'm the Chief Scientific Officer at the Parkinson's Foundation. On this episode of NeuroTalk, I'm going to explain what Parkinson's disease is.
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that predominantly affects dopamine neurons in the brain. These neurons are located in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra, resulting in the motor symptoms that people with Parkinson's disease experience that we as observers can see, as well as a host of other symptoms called non-motor symptoms.
The four cardinal symptoms that a neurologist will use to help diagnose Parkinson's disease are slowness of movement, called bradykinesia, stiffness, tremor and, sometimes, problems with gait or balance.
James Beck 00:00:58
These are the symptoms that you and I can see as observers, but there are many symptoms that people with Parkinson's disease experience that are unrelated to movement. These are called non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
They can include digestive and gut problems leading to constipation. They can include sweating problems, where people may sweat profusely for no apparent reason. They can also lead to blood pressure problems, where people who stand up may have a sudden drop in blood pressure, or their blood pressure may not rise appropriately, causing them to faint.
Some people experience cognitive issues with Parkinson's disease, especially as it progresses.
Another series of non-motor symptoms of PD include ones that many people may experience. Those include anxiety or even depression that are inherent to the disease process. We don't understand exactly why they occur, but they can be very debilitating.
Many people with Parkinson's disease are diagnosed in their mid-60s and begin to experience some of their very first symptoms, typically involving movement on one side of their body.
James Beck 00:02:08
If they're athletic, they may have trouble with tennis or golf, or it could be something as simple as a loved one noticing that one arm doesn't swing normally when they walk. These are often some of the first indications that a person has Parkinson's disease.
While we don't know the cause of Parkinson's disease, and many people receive a diagnosis of what is called idiopathic Parkinson's disease, we do know that there are some subtypes of Parkinson's disease.
One is a genetic form of Parkinson's disease. This rarely affects people with PD. Maybe about 10 to 15% of all people with Parkinson's disease have a specific mutation in a gene that can lead to their Parkinson's disease.
Also equally rare, perhaps even less so, is young-onset Parkinson's disease. This is Parkinson's disease diagnosed before the age of 50.
Typically, we've found that there's a higher propensity for genetic forms of Parkinson's disease among those with young-onset Parkinson's disease.
The average age for a PD diagnosis is typically in the mid-60s for most individuals.
For Parkinson's disease, it is typically a slow and variably progressing disease. Some individuals may experience faster progression, whereas others may take decades for their Parkinson's disease to progress in a noticeable way.
James Beck 00:03:24
Although there is no cure for Parkinson's disease at present, scientists are currently exploring ways to halt the disease or maybe even limit its progression for people with Parkinson's disease.
In the interim, research shows that one of the best ways for people with Parkinson's disease to improve their lives is through exercise.
If you have Parkinson's disease, or you have a loved one who does, you're not alone. The Parkinson's Foundation is here to help and help you navigate through this process. Please visit Parkinson.org for more information.
