Parkinson’s Disease
- mrsaepts
- Feb 17, 2024
- 4 min read
BY Najarin Na Nan, Pisira Leelasa-nguan, Phattarathida Thitathanakit
EDITED BY Chate Therdkiet
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with the lack of dopamine in the brain. It affects mostly the motor nervous system, which supports movement (eg.moving our arms, legs and other parts of the body). Parkinson’s disease can progressively lead to other neuro-cognitive impairments and psychiatric problems over time.
Researchers should differentiate Parkinson's disease from other Parkinson-like neurological disorders, so-called “Parkinsonism” — a motor syndrome that manifests as rigidity, tremors, and bradykinesia.
Causes and Potential Symptoms
Parkinson's disease is a result of impaired or dead neurons in a particular area inside the basal ganglia, so-called, substantia nigra. The impaired neurons would then produce less dopamine which leads to movement problems. Those who suffer from Parkinson’s disease also lose norepinephrine known as noradrenaline, a neurotransmitter that is essential for the control of movement functions in the body. Without it, patients may experience rigid movement.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease may vary depending on each patient, but common symptoms include:
Tremor: A rhythmic shaking that occurs in the hands or fingers. Pill-rolling tremor – resting tremors that appear as if a person is rolling a pill or other small object between their thumb and index finger. The shaking might increase when the patient is at rest.
Bradykinesia: The slowing of alternating movement such as finger tapping and clapping. If it worsens, it might lead to loss of movement known as Akinesia. Patients with Parkinson’s disease will take more time to do simple tasks.
Rigid muscles: Muscle stiffness that limits one’s movement.
Impaired Posture and Balance: Difficulties in balancing which may result in falls. The posture of the patient also becomes hunched.
Stages of Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease (PD) impacts people in different ways. Not everyone will experience all the symptoms of PD; even if people do, they won’t necessarily experience the symptoms in quite the same order or at the same intensity.
There are five stages of Parkinson's Disease, which will increase as the disease progresses. The stages include:
Stage 1:
During this initial stage, the person has mild symptoms that generally do not interfere with daily activities. Tremor and other movement symptoms occur on one side of the body only. Changes in posture, walking, and facial expressions occur. Some might begin to gradually lose their sense of smell, rapidly lose weight and experience sleep difficulties.
Stage 2:
The symptoms from stage 1 worsen. Tremor, rigidity, and other movement symptoms affect both sides of the body or the midline (such as the neck and the trunk). The muscles also become stiffer, resulting in apparent walking problems and poor posture. Speaking difficulties may develop. In this stage, daily tasks are more difficult and lengthier.
Stage 3:
Stage 3 is considered ‘mid stage’ in developing Parkinson’s disease. Loss of balance, which is the unsteadiness as the person turns or when they are pushed from standing is the hallmark at this stage. Falls are more common and motor symptoms continue to worsen, affecting patient’s life expectancy. Functionally the person is somewhat restricted in his daily activities now, but is still physically capable of leading an independent life. The disability is mild to moderate at this stage.
Stage 4:
Symptoms are fully developed and severely disabling. The person is still able to walk and stand without assistance but he may need to ambulate with a cane/walker for safety. The person needs significant help with activities of daily living and is unable to live alone.
Stage 5:
This is the most advanced and debilitating stage. Stiffness in the legs may make it impossible to stand or walk. The person is either bedridden or confined to a wheelchair unless aided. Hallucinations and delusions will usually occur. Lastly, increased risk for injuries and infections. At this stage, round-the-clock care is required for all activities.
Life Expectancy
The life expectancy of Parkinson's disease can be normal or near normal to a regular human being. There is a correlation between the mortality rate and gender. According to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and other studies, patients usually live between 10 and 20 years after diagnosis. Furthermore, Parkinson’s disease has a higher mortality rate among those assigned females at birth.
Risk Factors and Treatment
Studies show that Parkinson’s disease may be inherited, developed from aging and exposure to toxins. Currently, it is believed that a combination of genetic changes and environmental factors may be responsible for the condition. Parkinson’s disease isn’t curable, but there are many different treatment options. The treatments are individualized for each person, so the patient should work closely with their doctor to discover medications or therapies that work best for them.
Although medication cannot stop or slow the progression of the disease, it is aimed to increase the level of dopamine in the brain and other brain chemicals and help control non-movement symptoms. Therefore, helping improve one’s symptoms.
Medication and treatment of Parkinson’s disease includes: medicine, deep brain stimulation (DBS) and therapy.
The main medication for Parkinson’s disease is Levodopa, which helps the nerve cells make dopamine. However, there are side effects to taking Levodopa, which includes nausea, vomiting, restlessness, low blood pressure, etc. Therefore, Levodopa should be taken along with Carbidopa — a type of medication that is used to prevent or reduce some of the side effects.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is also used in treating Parkinson’s disease. Deep brain stimulation is the implant of electrodes, which produces impulses to stimulate brain activity in the brain. The impulses affect the cells that cause Parkinson disease. In deep brain stimulation, a pacemaker-like device is needed to control stimulation. However, using this method can result in side effects such as tingling sensation, muscle tightness, mood changes or mood swings, and etc.
A widely known method of treating Parkinson’s disease is therapy. Physical therapy involves patients to over exaggerate physical activity and movement. Another type of therapy; speech therapy is also used as treatment for Parkinson’s disease patients works well alongside physical therapy. Speech therapy is used to fix speech impairments caused by Parkinson’s disease.
Work Cited
Emamzadeh, Fatemeh Nouri, and Andrei Surguchov. “Parkinson’s Disease:
Biomarkers, Treatment, and Risk Factors.” Frontiers in Neuroscience, vol. 12, Aug.
“Parkinson’s Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments.” National Institute on
“Parkinson’s Disease - Symptoms and Causes - Mayo Clinic.” Mayo Clinic, 26 May
“Stages of Parkinson’s.” Parkinson’s Foundation,
Jeremy Rodriguez. “Parkinson’s Disease Life Expectancy.” Griswold Home Care, 6
Dec. 2022,
“Physical Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, 8 June 2023, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/physical-therapy-for-parkinsons-disease#:~:text=A%20specific%20form%20of%20physical,'%E2%80%9D%20says%20Padilla%2DDavidson.
Deep Brain Stimulation - Mayo Clinic. 19 Sept. 2023, www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/deep-brain-stimulation/about/pac-20384562.
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