Parkinson’s disease: A Syndrome Not a Disease
Puzzled by the fact that patients with Parkinson’s disease present with strangely differing symptoms, researchers suggest that Parkinson’s is a syndrome. By syndrome, they mean a collection of symptoms and signs that “run together,” for which there may be many different causes.
The findings are a conclusion of a recent study that was published in a leading neurology journal, Brain. The study was spearheaded by Professor Per Borghammer and Medical Doctor Jacob Horsager from the Department of Clinical Medicine at Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. Per Borghammer opined:
“With the help of advanced scanning techniques, we’ve shown that Parkinson’s disease can be divided into two variants, which start in different places in the body. For some patients, the disease starts in the intestines and spreads from there to the brain through neural connections. For others, the disease starts in the brain and spreads to the intestines and other organs such as the heart.”
Challenge the Long-Held Understanding
The team used advanced PET and MRI imaging techniques to examine people with Parkinson’s disease. The study findings showed that while other patients showed damage to the brain’s dopamine system before the damage spread to the heart and intestines, for other patients, the damage occurred to the intestine’s nervous system before moving to the brain’s dopamine system. The new findings are significant because they challenge the long-held understanding of the disease that has been prevalent. Per Borghammer said:
“Until now, many people have viewed the disease as relatively homogeneous and defined it based on the classical movement disorders. But at the same time, we’ve been puzzled about why there was such a big difference between patient symptoms. With this new knowledge, the different symptoms make more sense and this is also the perspective in which future research should be viewed.”
Myths and Misconceptions
Ask any expert, and they will tell you that several myths and misconceptions surround Parkinson’s disease. Suppose the results of the current study are anything to go by. In that case, it’s necessary to sift through some of the persistent myths about the disease as this will help patients receive the correct treatment and take care of themselves properly. According to experts from the Johns Hopkins Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center, the following are the most common misconceptions about the condition:
Parkinson’s is “Only” A Motor Condition
There’s no doubt that Parkinson’s disease has symptoms that include rigid muscles, shaking and tremor, frozen or flat expression, and slowness of movement. However, there are several other symptoms. Today, researchers are giving non-motor signs more attention. This includes symptoms like cognitive impairment or dementia, anxiety and depression, fatigue, sleep problems, and more. For some patients, nonmotor symptoms are more disabling than motor symptoms, which focus on treatment.
Parkinson’s is a Disease of Older People
It may be true that most people who develop Parkinson’s are aged around 60 years, but today younger people are increasingly being diagnosed with the condition. Research by the National Parkinson Foundation indicates that up to 10 percent of people with Parkinson’s are diagnosed before 40.
There’s Not Much You Can Do to Help a Person with Parkinson’s
The “it is what it is” mindset about the disease is wrong since there are many effective ways you can deal with the disease’s symptoms. Studies indicate that patients who participate weekly, one-hourly exercise sessions report improvements in their activities compared to those who don’t exercise. Find a specialist through the Global Telehealth Exchange who is familiar with all available options. There are a lot of different things that you can do since hope is not lost.
The Disease Is Highly Genetic
While most people believe the disease is highly genetic, the truth is that only about 5 percent of people get it through a genetic tie. Scientists can’t tell exactly what causes the disease, and while genetics can play a role, chemicals in the environment can increase vulnerability to the condition. Inflammation and viruses have also been associated with the condition.
About 1 million people in the U.S. have Parkinson’s, which results from a loss of the brain cells that produce the chemical dopamine. The condition causes tremors, rigid muscles, and impaired balance. This figure is expected to increase to 15 million in 2050 due to the aging population, as the risk of getting Parkinson’s disease increases dramatically the older the community becomes.