Leukemia (Blood Cancer)

 

Today's topic is Parkinson's disease or PD. Parkinson's disease is a progressive central nervous system disorder that mainly affects the motor system, The motor system is the part of the central nervous system that is involved with the movement the condition affected 6.2million people globally in 2015 resulting in about one hundred and seventeen thousand four hundred deaths. The condition is more common in people over the age of sixty of which about one percent are affected it is more common in males than in females when the condition is seen in people before the age of 50 it is termed young onset Parkinson's disease.  

Following diagnosis the average life expectancy is between 7 and 14 years, the disorder is chronic and worsens, over time in Parkinson's disease nerve cells of the substantianigra gradually break down and die. The substantianigria is the part of the brain where a chemical messenger in the brain called dopamine is produced. The dopamine is responsible for the smooth and coordinated muscle movement of the body, in Parkinson's disease dopamine levels are reduced when this happens it results in an abnormal brain activity leading to symptoms associated with the condition.  

The exact cause of the condition is unknown but several factors seem to play a role including genetics environmental factors such as exposure to certain toxins and a history of head injury, the presence of Lewy bodies. Lewy bodies are an abnormal aggregate of proteins found in the brain of people with PD researchers believe that Lewy bodies hold an important clue to the cause of PD.

Risk factors for Parkinson's disease.

Our age is around 60 years or older a family history of the condition sex’s men is one and half times more likely to develop the condition than women symptoms the four major motor problems associated with Parkinson's disease are tremor a shaking that occurs at rest slow movements or bradykinesia, most stiffness which may occur in any part of the body impaired posture and balance leading to frequent Falls, other symptoms may include speech changes, writing changes, decreased blinking and swallowing, reduced arm swinging when walking blank facial expression, depression, anxiety, hallucinations or delusions cognitive disturbance such as problems with planning inhibiting inappropriate actions slowed cognitive processing speed impulse control disorders including pathological gambling compulsive sexual behavior binge eating oily skin and excessive sweating urinary incontinence, constipation, sexual dysfunction.

Diagnosis and treatment

There is no specific test for Parkinson's disease diagnosis is made based on health history symptoms a physical exam and a neurological exam the doctor may suggest photon emission tomography or PET scan or single photon emission computerized tomography scan or SPECT. Scan measure dopamine-related activity in the brain tests such as CT scan or MRI may be used to rule out other conditions the finding of Lewy bodies in the midbrain is usually considered final proof that a person has Parkinson's disease. Treatment there is no cure for this condition treatment options can help to control symptoms medications may help to manage the problem with walking movement and tremor these medications serve as a substitute or increases dopamine concentration in the brain medications such as carbidopa-levodopa that passes into the brain and is converted to dopamine this is the most common treatment.

Thank you