Surprisingly, symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) have been described in writings as early as 2000 B.C. Sources such as Egyptian papyrus, an Ayurvedic medical summary, and Galen’s writings all describe manifestations of PD. In 1817, James Parkinson, an English doctor, published an essay identifying many of the symptoms associated with PD (which he then called paralysis agitans), but it wasn’t until the later part of the 19th century that Jean-Martin Charcot pioneered a more complete understanding of PD and renamed the disease in honor of James Parkinson. But what is Parkinson’s disease?
The central nervous system (CNS) delivers information received from all parts of the body and coordinates the processing of, and response to, the received information. The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord. Acting as a computer system for the human body, its role in the control of movement and behavior is imperative. Consequently, Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system. Within the midbrain (mesencephalon) is an area called the substantia nigra. This brain structure plays a fundamental part in the processing and management of movement and is exceptionally rich in dopamine-generating cells. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is thought to influence movement and behavior in important ways. Higher levels of dopamine activity in an individual equates to a higher level of motor activity. Low levels of dopamine lead to slow reactions and lower levels of motor activity. When you experience a natural high and responsiveness during exercise it is attributed to an increased level of dopamine being released throughout the body.
In those suffering from PD, and for an unknown reason, these dopamine-generating cells in the substantia nigra die. With the reduction of dopamine in the body, intense stiffness and greatly reduced movement and mobility follows which causes some of the signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease:
•Tremors: unwanted, rhythmic, muscle contractions of one or more parts of the body. In some cases, Deep Brain stimulation has been shown to deduce tremors.
•Rigidity: continuous muscle contraction creating stiffness and resistance to muscle/limb movement.
•Bradykinesia: slow movement throughout the whole motion process; planning, initiation, execution, response, etc.
•Instability: decrease of balance, rapid shuffling steps, speech and swallowing disturbances.
It’s interesting to note that when those suffering from Parkinson’s disease are presented with a strong stimuli, like a serious threat to safety, their reactions (now fueled with an intense amount of dopamine and adrenaline) can be as vehement as those without PD. This supports the argument of maintained dopamine levels significantly impacting the manifestation of PD.
While there is no known cause of PD, some researchers believe that genetic factors, pesticide exposure, head injuries, rural living (well water containing chemicals), caffeine consumption, nicotine (as a dopamine stimulant), vitamins C and D, estrogens and even anti-inflammatory drugs may be linked to the development of Parkinson’s Disease, although direct correlation of any of these factors with the cause and/or prevention of PD has been inconclusive.
Despite there being no cure for PD, modern treatments have been found effective at managing early symptoms. However, as the disease progresses, these treatments become less effective. PD is most common in those over the age of 50, however, about 10%-20% of all PD diagnosis occur with individuals under 50. If you are experiencing some of the symptoms identified above, or would like to learn more about Parkinson’s disease, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 949-642-6787 or e-mail Dr. Duma directly at drduma@cduma.com.
