THE MAN WHO DISCOVERED PARKINSON DISEASE
The disease was first described in 1817 by James Parkinson (1755-1854), an
English physician; but at that time very little information was known about its complete characterization.
CHARACTERISTICS
There are many characteristics of the disease and many of the classic ones are used by clinicians to help diagnose the disease (as there are no special tests used to diagnose the problem, Parkinson's disease is diagnosed by symptoms and presentation.) Many people have a lack of facial expressions as if they are without feelings or emotions. There may be a monotone voice or even a drooling of the mouth. Other classic signs of Parkinson's disease include pill rolling (pronation/supination of the forearm and flexion of the fingers) as well as cogwheeling, which is most noticed with passive movements of the limbs. Later in the illness, many patients lose the ability to perform the simplest of tasks; falls then become the rule rather than the exception as the patient deteriorates
WHO CAN GET THIS DISEASE?
You might be asking yourself, "Who can get this tragic disease?" Anyone can, of course, but men are usually more prone to be afflicted with Parkinson's disease than women. So, move over women -- you are potentially safe! The ratio between men and women, actually, is almost 2:1. The mean age for the disease is said to be in the 6th decade of life, although there have been reported cases of the disease in the young, up to five percent, between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-nine. If you are looking for a link between Parkinson's disease and your genes, forget it. Only about five percent or so of patients have a family history; in fact, it is believed that all of what causes the disease arises after birth and has nothing to do with your genes. So, you cannot blame your parents or grandparents.
CAUSES
So, what causes this tragic and degenerating disorder? doctors aren't very sure. They do know that the problem is caused by a decrease in the available dopamine in a part of the brain referred to as the substantia nigra, which is part of the brainstem. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, which means that the chemical is needed by the brain in order to carry out functions affecting the transmission of nerve impulses; in this case, referring to impulses which result in body movements.
THE TREATMENT
The treatment, would be to find a way to replace the dopamine in the brain, which is accomplished (theoretically, and with some success in most patients) with a medication called levodopa, which is marketed as a combination drug, carbidopa-levodopa. In a time when Sinemet (or levodopa) was not yet available, many synthetic anticholinergic medicines were used, such as benzotropine, for example.
Sinemet is probably the most commonly used medication to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease; and as noted previously, the medication is marketed as carbidopa-levodopa. Dopamine, in and of itself, in entirely ineffective in the treatment of the disease as it does not cross the blood-brain barrier -- in other words, dopamine, if administered by mouth, will not enter the brain, where it is needed. Levodopa, theoretically, is transformed into the active form, dopamine, within the basal ganglia, that area of the brain that encloses the substantia nigra. By giving the patient extrinsic dopamine (in the form of levodopa), one is providing the patient with an adequate amount of dopamine, hence the required levels of the neurotransmitter is present and, again theoretically, the symptoms should get better.
These are some well known figures who have had this disease
Pope John Paull II
Katherine Hepburn
Yasir Arafat
Johnny Cash (Musician)
Richard Pryor (Comedian/Actor)
Mohammed Alli (Boxer)
Michael J Fox (Actor)
Do you know anyone with this disease? It's a tragic and sad thing to happen to anyone. Unfortunately, this disease just doesn't go away. My sympathies to Kunle and his family. May you put this disease to shame and live longer than it expects you to. Amen
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