Introduction:
Parkinson’s disease is a nervous system disorder. It is a type of movement disorder. It is a condition where the brain cells do not produce sufficient dopamine. Genetic factors can be one of the causes. However, it mainly occurs due to environmental factors like toxins. The symptoms develop gradually. It is a chronic progressive nervous system disease characterized by postural instability, tremors, and bradykinesia. It is a neurological problem that slowly progresses into a disability. It is characterized by decreased levels of dopamine resulting from degeneration of dopamine storage in the brain's basal ganglia.
What Is Dopamine?
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain. It plays critical functions in the body, such as mood, motivation, and attention stimulation. It is made in the brain and acts as a chemical messenger that communicates between the nerve cells in the brain and the rest of the body. Epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine are the catecholamines. The hypothalamus of the brain releases dopamine.
What Are the Functions of Dopamine?
It is essential in body functions such as pleasurable reward and motivation, behavior and cognition, attention, sleep and arousal, lactation, and mood. Dopamine causes the blood vessel to relax. It increases sodium and removes urine from the body. It protects the gastrointestinal tract lining and slows the gastrointestinal content movement. It is called the ‘feel good’ hormone. It stimulates the motivation in a person when they are in pleasure. Dopamine is released more in the body if the person does activities that reward pleasure. Dopamine is removed from the brain, giving more fun and making the person feel on top of the world. Dopamine is a part of the reward system. The brain releases large amounts of dopamine when the person experiences more pleasure.
What Is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease occurs due to the damage of nerve cells or neurons in the substantia nigra of the brain. Substantia nigra is located in the midbrain dopaminergic nucleus, which has a critical role in dopamine production. Neurons in the substantia nigra are dopaminergic.
What Are the Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease?
It is not only caused by damage in the substantia nigra, but it is also due to the degeneration of cells in the nervous system that contains dopamine receptors. The symptoms can be similar to Parkinson's disease, but the cause of the symptoms differs from the traditional Parkinson’s disease. The symptoms of Parkinson's disease are:
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Postural Instability - The person can easily fall and is vulnerable to potential injuries due to the fall because changes in posture can cause poor balance during any activity.
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Tremor - It is a rhythmic shaking in the legs, hands, and fingers. For example, it is common to rub the thumb and forefinger back and forth. The hand trembles when it is at rest.
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Bradykinesia - It refers to slow or difficult movements. It makes simple movements and tasks more challenging such as difficulty getting out of a chair. The feet drag along while walking.
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Rigidity - Muscle stiffness can occur at any part of the body. The stiff muscles restrict motion.
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Speech Changes - The person might speak softly or hesitate to talk. They might finish a sentence quickly. The speech is more monotone than usual.
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Writing Changes - The writing can appear small and become hard to write.
What Is Atypical Parkinsonism?
Atypical parkinsonism has the same symptoms similar to Parkinson’s, such as tremors and stiffness.
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The treatments for atypical Parkinson’s vary from traditional Parkinson’s disease. Apart from idiopathic Parkinson’s syndrome, there are several atypical Parkinson’s syndrome. Atypical parkinsonism is characterized by abnormal accumulation of synuclein or tau.
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Synucleinopathies are a group of neurodegenerative disorders that share a typical pathologic lesion composed of aggregates of insoluble alpha-synuclein protein in the neurons and glia.
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It leads to degeneration of the affected regions of the brain. Synuclein is a family of soluble proteins.
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Tauopathies are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the deposition of abnormal tau protein in the brain. The blood-brain barrier plays a critical role in maintaining the microenvironment of the central nervous system.
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Tauopathies are a heterogenous group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by abnormal deposition of MAPT in the nervous system cells. Intracellular accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles consisting of aggregates hyper and abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein and neuroinflammation.
What Are the Causes of Parkinson’s Disease?
The causes of atypical Parkinson's are:
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Corticobasal Degeneration - The condition causes dementia. It affects the movements on one side of the body. For example, it causes involuntary jerking of the limbs. People with corticobasal degeneration have cognitive problems such as difficulty organizing and thinking.
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Drug-Induced Parkinsonism - It is caused by a collection of symptoms caused by certain drugs, especially anti-psychotic and certain anti-nausea medications. The best treatment can be to stop using the medicine. But when it is impossible to discontinue the medication, the person can tolerate some degree of Parkinson’s symptoms.
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Dementia With Lewy Bodies - It causes hallucinations. It is due to the clumping of proteins in the brain called Lewy bodies. Lewy body dementia is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. The symptoms of dementia with Lewy bodies include mood changes and reduced inhibitions, difficulty in problem-solving, balance and coordination issues, and fluctuation in blood pressure.
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Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) - It affects the autonomic nervous system that controls the body's involuntary processes, such as digestion, blood pressure, and eye movement. The alpha-synuclein is found in the brain cells in multiple system atrophy.
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Progressive Supranuclear Palsy - The tau proteins form clusters in some brain cells, and they die. The symptoms include slurred speech, vision problems, and lack of motivation.
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Vascular Parkinsonism - The brain areas that control movement have been damaged due to small strokes. It causes symptoms such as muscle stiffness and balance problems.
What Are the Symptoms of Atypical Parkinsonism?
The symptoms vary from person to person. The symptoms are:
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Vascular Parkinsonism - Gait and balance problems. Dementia and palsy can develop.
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Dementia With Lewy Bodies - Hallucinations and overthinking. Challenging to be alert all the time.
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Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) - Walking and balance problems are familiar with this condition. It damages the autonomic nervous system. The symptoms are constipation, sudden drop in blood pressure, and incontinence.
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Progressive Supranuclear Palsy - The symptoms are problems with walking and balance, eye movement, speech, and thinking skills.
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Corticobasal Degeneration - The symptoms of this condition are sudden jerking and abnormal posturing of the limbs. It occurs only on one side of the body. Speech issues, changes in behavior, and attention problems also develop.
What Is the Diagnosis for Atypical Parkinsonism?
The following diagnostic tests are done for atypical parkinsonism:
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MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Scan - The magnetic and radio waves create images of the inside of the body.
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DAT-SPECT (Dopamine Transporter Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography) - It is a type of CT (computed tomography) scan that checks dopamine levels.
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Positron Emission Tomography Scan - A radioactive dye called a tracer reveals signs of disease. It indicates if there is any injury to the brain.
What Is the Treatment for Atypical Parkinsonism?
The treatment of atypical parkinsonism includes levodopa. The medication can increase dopamine in the brain. However, people with parkinsonism have damaged nerve cells that cannot produce dopamine.
Conclusion:
Many studies have been conducted to discover the cause and treatment for the disease. The treatment aims to reduce symptoms by suggesting physical and occupational therapy to maintain balance and independence.
