Sunday, November 21, 2010

Not a" going *away disease

Parkinson's is a chronical neurogical illness i.e. not a going away" disease.

PD patients are different from what we define themself as "patient" i.e only during acute, self-limited illness or injury that temporarily impact their lives as an inconvenience or comfort.

The major functions of muscles are to produce movements of the body, to maintain the position of the body against the force of gravity,to produce movements of structures inside the body, and to alter pressures or tensions of structures in the body.

The symptoms of muscles disorders are as follows:


'1. Bradykinesia i.e. slowness of movement


2. Resting tremor i.e shaking,either one or both side


3. Rigidity i.e. marked stiffness


4.Decreased arm wing on one or both side


5. Problems with walking and balance i.e. freezing being unable to initiate a step forward


6. Small, cramped handwriting


7. Masked face ie. reduced facial expression


8. Low voice i.e not clear


Therefore PD patients have to choose an exercises that gets their muscles moving i.e stretching, in order to overcome the muscles stiffness, rigidity and slow movement.


A physiotherapy, doctor or personal trainer my be consulted as how to start on an exercise routine that encourages flexibilty, improves stamina and helps to maintain balance.


There is some evidence that tai chi and yoga help maintain flexibility and improve posture.

stoop posture

Being a person suffering from Parkinson's Disease (PD), I notice other PD patients, including myself, suffer from a stooped posture, particularly while walking.


I would like to share with you my experience in the causation of the posture suffered by most, if not all PD sufferers.


I notice that my muscles surrounding my shoulders right down to my arms, are generally very stiff. Because of the stiffness in the said muscles, I have difficulty in swinging my arms when I walk. The swinging of the arms on opposite sides of your limbs, i.e. you swing your right hand when you walk with your left foot and vice versa, during walking gives us the counterbalance required to maintain a correct posture while walking.


Due to the lack of arm motion due to the stiffness of the muscles in the shoulder region, the body will naturally be off balance. To compensate for the lack of balance, I find myself exagerating the arm swinging movement, in that I need to push hard with my shoulder to swing the hands forward and backward.


This in turn lead to the muscles in the shoulders and upper back to tense up. This result in the body having to stoop forward to maintain the balance of the body during walking.

low blood pressure

I am taking Lavodopa,Carbidopa and dopamin agonist for two year Close monitoring is required for people with certain medical condition. After I have a minor stroke (T.I.A) recently, I experience two different blood pressure i.e. decreased blood pressure when rising from a seated position or lie-down on bed after lengths of times. I feel dizziness on standing,headache or fainting. My mouth run dry and thirsty Insomnia, anxiey, and fatigue, malaise..

I usually have 145/76 normal blood level for the past two years .
Recently I have low blood pressure which is below 100/60 standing after rising up from sitting or lie-down on bed.

It causes me feeling dizzness, and vision blurring.
I understand the syndromes can vary from person to person

Normal blood pressure is regulated by specific reflexes in the nervous system. Parkinson's disease can impair this reflex mechanism and result in lowered blood pressure.Low blood pressure usually presents itself as side-effect of anti parkinson's medications. Levodopa -carbidopa, dopamine agonists and other antidepressions and sleeping medications may potentiate a hypotensive event

Thursday, November 18, 2010

The shy dragger disease and shy dragger syndrome is a very rare disorder that greatly affects the control of the body’s automatic nervous system, which controls one’s blood pressure, vision bowel, heart rate and bladder functions.

The Shy Drager disease has a lot many features are same as Parkinson’s disease like slowness, muscle rigidity and poor balance. The disease Shy Drager symptoms also include very low blood pressure, dizziness and feeling very lightheaded. However, some individuals also have very high blood pressure when lying down. As the disease moves forward and progresses, other symptoms like bladder incontinence, slurred speech, constipation, having difficulty in swallowing anything and also not able to control emotions are also visible.

The Shy Drager disease normally occurs in people aged in the 50s and is more seen in men than women.

The reason why the disorder develops is still not known but the brain scan shows generalized shrinkage of the brain which controls the automated nervous system of a human’s body. No cause has yet been found.

The main difference between Shy dragger and Parkinson is the low blood pressure, which is the key to diagnosis.

Sky Drager is treated with medications which would increase blood pressure and other anti Parkinson drugs is also used. Also other treatment includes pacemaker to control slow heart rate, incontinence care and feeding tubes.

Majority of the individuals do not respond to drugs and the disease continues. A lot many people rapidly become disabled and have poor prognosis. Print | Post comment

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Parkinson’s Disease: Top 5 Symptoms

Parkinson’s Disease: Top 5 Symptoms
Tuesday, 16 Nov 2010 03:55 PM Article Font Size


Around five million people around the world suffer from Parkinson’s disease. In America alone, the number is around 1 million people. The disease generally occurs in people who are around sixty or older. Some sufferers can lead an extended and productive life while others degenerate more quickly.

The most fundamental of Parkinson’s disease symptoms affects both voluntary and involuntary functions and begins on one side of the body. The symptoms may be mild and subtle at first, and then gain momentum, turning aggressive and fully manifested. The top five symptoms to watch out for are:

1. Tremors. Tremors extend themselves to multiple body parts including the hands, fingers, jaws, legs, feet, head, and neck. The states of these tremors vary according to the level of stress or excitement that the person is under. They disappear with voluntary movement and sleep.

2. Stiffness. The second most well-known symptom of Parkinson’s is rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk, increasing with the individual’s movement and locomotion. The stiffness can give rise to muscle pain and muscle cramps. The restriction of fine and relaxed muscle movements can prevent normal functioning like handwriting (micrographia) and eating


3. Slow movements. This symptom of Parkinson’s disease is also known as Bradykinesia. The individual, with the progression of the disease, finds it difficult to begin a particular motion and conclude the same movement. This symptom of Parkinson’s can also cause a lack of facial expression.

4. Instability. This affects the posture of individuals. They may have impaired reflexes and cannot remain balanced in one fixed position. The "Parkinson’s gait" is a distinctive walk in a shuffling and stooped manner.

5. Secondary symptoms. The most common secondary symptoms of Parkinson's are constipation, difficulty in swallowing, and depression. Additional Parkinson’s disease symptoms include excessive sweating and excessive salivation. Dementia, or loss of intellectual capabilities, occurs in the last stage of the disease’s progression.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

secret recipe behind the mask



I often smiled as I watched the video recording of my kick-boxing exercise which I have uploaded to YouTube a few weeks ago. My trainers and videographer told me the same thing – “You do not look like a Parkinson’s patient at all”. Even my doctor shook his head in disbelief and said, “This is shocking. I can’t imagine a 70-year-old Parkinson’s patient doing such a strenuous exercise such as kickboxing. I am sure that you are the only Parkinson’s patient in Malaysia who is doing the kickboxing exercise.” As early as 1998, I already had both the motor and non-motor symptoms. Since my diagnosis in 2002, I went through a period of depression, anxiety, denial and anger. Subsequently, I bounced back after discovering a secret recipe for fighting Parkinson’s, which consisted of: knowledge (is power), exercise, medications, nutrition / supplements and prayer. In my quest for knowledge, I browsed various Parkinson’s websites, raining them with questions, questions and questions. I even started the first Parkinson’s blog in Malaysia (www.heroteo.com). I tried to learn everything about Parkinson’s in order to overcome all complications - the Chinese heroes won their battles by understanding their enemies first. . Animal experiments showed that exercises may be neuroprotective. Rats which were forced to exercise had a lesser degree of brain damage after they were exposed to poison. In mice which were made to undergo treadmill exercises, there was increased production of dopamine. Parkinson’s patients are comparable to the car. The medications are needed to help patients to start walking, while fuel or battery is needed to help start the car engine. Exercises are needed to improve the patients’ physical mobility and endurance, while driving helps to recharge the battery. Thus, exercises help our “engines” warm up before leaving home and keep the “cars” going everyday. Even healthy people such as Bruce Lee, the Chinese kungfu master, know that exercises are beneficial. As such, since 2005, I decided to “get physical”. I am spending 3-4 hours everyday at the California Fitness gym, doing a wide range of “heavy” exercises such as kick-boxing, weight-training and spinning (indoor cycling). Twice a week, I do yoga exercises at home with the guidance of a trainer. Since this year, my physical condition has drastically improved. I sleep and eat well (I eat to live a healthy and good life). I enjoy driving around the Kuala Lumpur city with my wife everyday and going overseas for holiday. I managed to reduce the daily dose of Parkinson’s medications recently. Sometimes, I wonder whether I am just a “normal person” I know that it is technically difficult to prove that exercise has neuroprotective effect in Parkinson’s patients. Despite this, I believe that exercise has slowed down my disease progression. I hope that my video recording will bring hope and happiness to all Parkinson’s patients in this world, by reminding them that they can still live a physically active life. Mr. Hero Teo, Kuala Lumpur

Saturday, November 13, 2010

low blood pressure affected your lifestyle

The consensus definition is a drop of > 20 mm Hg systolic, 10 mm Hg diastolic, or both.

I have low blood pressure caused by side effect of parkinson's medication and insomina drugs.

The medication of requip and Jumax are the one that causes me with low blood pressure

The symptoms are dizziness on standing up and expereince a fall sitting on the floor, faintness, light-headedness, confusion or blurred vision occur within seconds to a few minutes of standing.

The low blood pressure affected my lifestyle and make me changes

Standing up slowly rather than quickly, as the delay can give the blood vessels more time to constrict properly. This can help avoid incidents of syncope (fainting).

Take a deep breath and flex your abdominal muscles while rising to maintain blood and oxygen in the brain.Maintaining a proper fluid intake to prevent the effects of dehydration.

As eating lowers blood pressure, take your food in a larger number of smaller meals. Take extra care when standing after eating.
When orthostatic hypotension is caused by hypovolemia due to medications, the disorder may be reversed by adjusting the dosage or by discontinuing the medication.
When the condition is caused by prolonged bed rest, improvement may occur by sitting up with increasing frequency each day. In some cases, physical counterpressure such as elastic hose (stockings) or whole-body inflatable suits may be required.
Many people who experience orthostatic hypotension are able to recognise the symptoms and quickly adopt a "squat position" to avoid falling during an episode. This is because they are usually unable to co-ordinate a return to sitting in a chair, once the episode has commenced.
Avoiding bodily positions that impede blood flow, such as sitting with knees up to chest or crossing legs.


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Tuesday, November 9, 2010

DBS

DBS is only suitable for late stage of pD as all the available source to slow down the disease unsuccessful and the canditate by choice of medical team to receive the DBS. The canditate who receives the treatment has to take life risks during the surgery and does not guarantee the PD recovery to normal. He has to continue to take medication and do battery service and maintance by doctor and have to replace every three years

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Is parkinson's not the end? End stage of parkinson''s disease

Is parkinson's not the end?
End Stage of Parkinson's Disease

At the beginning of the Parkinson's disease, the symptoms are mild but as it progresses towards the end stages the symptoms become more severe. In the first stages slight tremors, forgetfulness and fatigue is observed. As the disease progresses to its next stages, the symptoms like loss of balance, rigidity (Muscle stiffness) and walking problems are observed. These symptoms are often noticeable to family members or friends. In the next stages, the people find so much problem in balancing themselves that they gradually fall. A change in handwriting and speech is also observed.

In the fourth and fifth stages of Parkinson's disease, the symptoms become worse. By this time, the symptoms become so severe that the person is completely disabled and has to completely depend on some one else. Muscles become so stiff that the movements become slow and the person is unable to perform his daily tasks. As the disease comes to its end stage or final stage, it is developed fully.

The end stage takes over all the physical movements of a person. The person is not able to take care of himself. He is unable to walk or stand and is restricted to chair or bed. They lose their urinary and bowel control and can't even turn around by themselves. The speech becomes very slurred. They find problems in speaking and can take long time in expressing themselves as it might take time for the thoughts to reach words.

The person with end stage of Parkinson's disease can't swallow the food due to the choking. The mouth becomes dry. Sometimes the food can even enter into the lungs, which can cause breathing problems. In some cases with the end stages of the disease a feeding tube is inserted for feeding the things. Hallucinations are also observed in some people.

Here is the brief review of all what can happen in the end stages of Parkinson's disease. End stage of Parkinson's disease may include one or more of the following symptoms:

* Progressive decline in the symptoms despite medical treatments
* Progressive weight loss
* Frequent hospitalization
* Decreased appetite
* Repeated infections
* Trouble in breathing
* Trouble in swallowing
* Decline in mental status
* Weakness
* Drowsiness
* Fatigue

At the end stages of the disease person requires a constant nursing care. The end-stage of the Parkinson's disease can lead to pneumonia, choking, severe depression, and even death. Though there is no cure for the disease, use of medication is the most common way of slowing down the progression of the disease and keeping the patient healthy

Symptoms of Parkinson's

Symptoms of Parkinson's usually begin slowly, develop gradually and in no particular order.

Everyone with Parkinson's is very different and may have a different collection of symptoms and response to treatment.

The nature and severity of symptoms and the rate at which the condition progresses will also be individual. The symptoms may take years to progress.

However, since Parkinson's is a progressive condition, symptoms will worsen over
time and new ones may appear. It is difficult to estimate how quickly or slowly Parkinson's
will progress in each person. It may progress more quickly in people who are older when the
symptoms first begin.

Currently, there is no cure for Parkinson's. However, many of the motor symptoms can be
treated with medications. Medications used to treat the symptoms either replace the lost
dopamine or mimic the action of dopamine in the brain. Medications can alleviate the symptoms,
but do not slow the progression of Parkinson's. As the symptoms change, medications will need
to be adjusted.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Dizziness

Dizziness, lightheadedness, and the feeling of passing out is a common complaint in patients who have low blood pressure.

When the blood pressure is too low, not enough oxygen-rich blood is being delivered to the brain, and its function can be affected. It lead you a fall. you have to learn how to monitor standing up, sitting on and lie down

Anemia (decreased red blood cell count)

Bleeding

Dehydration (loss of water in the body) often occurs with infections that cause vomiting and diarrhea. Fever also can cause a significant amount of water loss due to increased metabolic rate and excessive sweating as the body tries to cool itself.

Heat-related illnesses associated with dehydration such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke (a medical emergency).

.

My experience with mild seizures

I have been diagnosed as suffering from fluctuations in my blood pressure (BP). I have taken the Upright Tilt Test, and the results confirm that my BP fluctuates depending on the various positions I am in. As a result, my physician has prescribed Minirin to me to stablelize my BP.

Recently, owing to my stress due to personal issues and also the effect of Minirin, my BP shot up to 210/50. I vomitted and felt dizzy, and was subsequently hospitalized for observations. During my stay at the hospital, I also fell. It was discovered that the sodium level in my blood was very low. That apparently led to my dizziness and possibly blackout, which in turn led to my fall. I was given sodium solution through intravenous injection to increase my blood sodium level. I was subsequently discharged.

Subsequent to my discharge, my physician changed the dosage of my medication for both Parkinson's Disease (PD) and also the medication to maintain my BP. Minirin was substituted with Florinef. As far as PD is concerned, prior to my hospitalization, my daily dosage was Requip (6 mg), Sinemet 25/100 (6 tablets) and Jumax (50 mg). Both Requip and Jumax was stopped. I was asked by my physician to only take Sinemet 25/100 (6 tablets) daily to contain the progression of PD.

I subsequently experienced mild seizures, whereby I cannot move my hands and legs for perhaps a time span of 5 to 10 minutes. I would be frozen, so as to speak. This seizure episodes would take place nearly once everyday. It must be stressed that I didn't suffer from any seizure prior to the change in the dosage of my medication

check on the causes of your dizziness

Check on your Dizziness Causes


Dizziness may be caused or attributed by a wide variety of things. Some of the causes of dizziness require immediate medical attention. Examples of causes of dizziness include:

high blood pressure,
low blood pressure,
heart diseases or conditions (for example heart attack, arrhythmia,
strokes,
tumors,
headaches,
fainting,
dementia,
medication (for example, high blood pressure medications, sedatives, tranquilizers, antidepressants, pain relievers, certain antibiotics, and diuretics),
metabolic disorders (hypoxia, hypoglycemia, dehydration,
effects of aging,
internal bleeding,
anemia,
prolonged bed rest,
infections,
endocrine diseases (thyroid or pituitary gland),
depression,
anxiety,
panic disorders,
hyperventilation, and
somatization.

Friday, November 5, 2010

orthostatic hypotension

I have been diagnosed as suffering from fluctuations in my blood pressure (BP). I have taken the Upright Tilt Test, and the results confirm that my BP fluctuates depending on the various positions I am in. Due to my upright tilt table test conclusions

Asymptomatic through passsive tilting & given S/L GT
Postural hypotension 168/81 dropped to 91/51mmHg
Negative tilt table test

As a result, I put on compression stockings to stablelize my BP.People who have low blood pressure may also be told by their doctors that they should make use of the compression stockings typically used to deal with varicose veins. Low blood pressure can cause a pooling of blood in the veins which may or may not lead to varicose veins. Compression stockings can reduce that problem and can help keep people with low blood pressure medically safe.

My previous blood clot (T.I.A) in the year 2008 was caused by this fluctuation in my blood.

The side effects on my parkinson’s medications were also caused by this fluctuations in my blood i.e dizziness,lightheadedness,nausea,sweating,vomiting,shortness of breath and chest pain.

Using compression stockings to increase blood pressure in the legs Some people have low blood pressure all the time. They have no symptoms and their low readings are normal for them. In other people, blood pressure drops below normal because of some event or medical condition. Some people may experience symptoms of low pressure when standing up too quickly. Low blood pressure is a problem only if it causes dizziness, fainting or in extreme cases, shockMost normal blood pressures fall in the range of 90/60 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) to 130/80 mm Hg. But a significant drop, even as little as 20 mm Hg, can cause problems for some people

I have been suffering like you for years with Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension (NOH) and have found great relief from the clinical drug trial I have been involved with for the last 18 months. To get in the trial you had to have drops of 25 points standing to sitting, laying down etc. When approved the drug will be called Northera. Right now it is called Droxidopa. I found it has no side effects and works. It has been used in Japan for more than 20 years. Check it out on the Chelsea THerapeutics website.

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compression stocking

The first approach in treating orthostatic hypotension is to decrease the pooling of blood in the legs with the use of special stockings called compression stockings. These tight stockings “compress” the veins in the legs, helping to reduce swelling and increase blood flow. There now are a number of companies that make these stockings in a wide variety of sizes, and they usually can be found at stores that sell medical supplies, as well as at some pharmacies.

You should wear these stockings when you are up and about. You do not need to wear them when you are in bed. Further, it is recommend that you put the stockings on first thing in the morning while in bed and before getting up for your daily activities. It is important that you do not let the stockings bunch, gather, or roll, since this can compress the veins too much and could harm circulation. You should always watch for signs of decreased circulation, which could include discoloration of the skin, as well as pain or cramping, and numbness of the lower legs and feet.

If the stockings only provide some but not complete relief of symptoms, an abdominal binder can be used. The binder is another type of compression garment that is worn around the waist to help increase blood pressure. If these products fail to alleviate symptoms, certain drugs can be given to help increase blood volume. If you are taking these drugs, be sure to watch for signs of too much fluid in the body, such as swelling, bloating, or difficulty breathing. If these symptoms occur, call your doctor immediately

is to decrease the pooling of blood in the legs with the use of special stockings called compression stockings. These tight stockings “compress” the veins in the legs, helping to reduce swelling and increase blood flow. There now are a number of companies that make these stockings in a wide variety of sizes, and they usually can be found at stores that sell medical supplies, as well as at some pharmacies.

You should wear these stockings when you are up and about. You do not need to wear them when you are in bed. Further, it is recommend that you put the stockings on first thing in the morning while in bed and before getting up for your daily activities. It is important that you do not let the stockings bunch, gather, or roll, since this can compress the veins too much and could harm circulation. You should always watch for signs of decreased circulation, which could include discoloration of the skin, as well as pain or cramping, and numbness of the lower legs and feet.

If the stockings only provide some but not complete relief of symptoms, an abdominal binder can be used. The binder is another type of compression garment that is worn around the waist to help increase blood pressure. If these products fail to alleviate symptoms, certain drugs can be given to help increase blood volume. If you are taking these drugs, be sure to watch for signs of too much fluid in the body, such as swelling, bloating, or difficulty breathing. If these symptoms occur, call your doctor immediately

Is there a cure for parkinson's?

There is no cure for Parkinson’s at present. Drugs are used to try to control symptoms of Parkinson’s. There are no perfect drugs, although there are many promising developments.

Although there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, there is effective treatment. No treatment has been definitively shown to stop or slow disease progression, but several studies are underway. The main two treatment approaches are medical and surgical.

Regular exercise promotes a feeling of physical and mental well-being, important in the management of PD. Although exercise does not slow progression of PD symptoms it can prevent or alleviate orthopedic effects of akinesia, rigidity and flexed posture such as shoulder, hip, and back pain and has also been shown to improve some motor functions. Supervised training including cardiovascular fitness exercise, muscle stretching and strengthening, and balance training have been found to be useful in some short- and long-term studies

The main aims of drug treatments for Parkinson’s are to:

•increase the level of dopamine that reaches the brain
•stimulate the parts of the brain where dopamine works
•block the action of other chemicals that affect dopamine.
In most newly diagnosed people considerable improvements can be achieved by careful introduction of anti-parkinsonian drugs.

As Parkinson’s is a very individual condition, medication is prescribed and adapted to individual needs. Response to medication varies from person to person and not every medication will be considered suitable for everyone. It is important to discuss appropriate medication or any changes in medication with your health care professional.

It is important to also maintain a healthy lifestyle, focusing on exercise, relaxation and diet.

Maximize your bodies potential with YOGA

http://www.patientslikeme.com/forum/show/83775?post_id=1237567#1237567

Govt pressured to set up Parkinson's clinic

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/03/3028190.htm

parkinson's,exeercise and physical speechy therapy

http:/knol.google.com/k/parkinson-s-disease#Exercise_and_physical(2F)speech_therapy

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

I started my PD medication again?

I have once stopped taking requip and sinemet when they give me vivid dream and complusive behaviour disorders
Sinemet and requip also caused me side effects with medications for acid reflex, Vit 6 and bladder by causing masked face, slurred speech,dizzines and stool with blood. I started continue my PD medication and stopped medication for other illness after my movement developing slow and tremors.

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bladder and urinary difficulties

http://www.zaobao.com/http://www.zaobao.com/

Monday, November 1, 2010

Gastric reflux and parkinson's

Gastric reflux is one of the non-motor symptoms of PD. It can cause irritation of the vocal folds and throat and can potentially cause voice hoarseness. It is possible that a person who has reflux doesn't have any symptoms of reflux that they recognize. For example, sometimes people feel as though they "have something stuck in my throat" after swallowing. These people may even seek a swallowing evaluation which turns out to be within normal limits. The reason is that when reflux irritates the vocal folds and throat area it can give the person the sensation that there is something stuck in their throat when, in fact, there is not. Another possible symptom of reflux is frequent throat clearing.

Parkinson disease itself can cause voice changes as well including soft voice, monotone voice, and hoarseness. Frequently people with PD have bowing of the vocal folds meaning that the vocal folds don't come together completely during talking. When the vocal folds do not close completely air can leak through resulting in a breathy or hoarse sounding voice. If you have reflux and vocal fold bowing the combination of these two factors can cause changes in your voice that could potentially interfere with functional communication.

If you think that you might be experiencing symptoms of reflux or changes in your voice you should consult with your physician. Successful management of reflux is usually a combination of medication and behavioral modifications. For example, it may be recommended to stop eating several hours before going to bed at night, eating more frequent smaller meals, raising the head of your bed, or making changes in your diet. A speech-language pathologist can advise you about behavioral modifications that may help you and can also advise you about receiving behavioral voice treatment to improve your communication abilities.

Leslie Mahler

Is there a cure for parkinson's?

There is no cure for Parkinson's at present. Drugs are used to try to control symptoms of Parkinson's. There are no perfect drugs, although there are many promising developments.

The main aims of drug treatments for Parkinson's are to:

increase the level of dopamine that reaches the brain
stimulate the parts of the brain where dopamine works
block the action of other chemicals that affect dopamine.
In most newly diagnosed people considerable improvements can be achieved by careful introduction of anti-parkinsonian drugs.

As Parkinson's is a very individual condition, medication is prescribed and adapted to individual needs. Response to medication varies from person to person and not every medication will be considered suitable for everyone. It is important to discuss appropriate medication or any changes in medication with your health care professional.

It is important to also maintain a healthy lifestyle, focusing on exercise, relaxation and diet.

possibility cure for parkinson's?

Researchers at Iowa State University have found an essential key to possibly cure Parkinson's disease and are looking for others.

Anumantha Kanthasamy, a distinguished professor of biomedical sciences and W. Eugene and Linda R. Lloyd Endowed Chair in Neurotoxicology at the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine, has been working to understand the complex mechanisms of the disease for more than a decade and thinks he has found hope for the cure.
's disease
Parkinson's disease sufferers lack a sufficient amount of a brain chemical called dopamine.

Kanthasamy's research shows that there is specific protein that is naturally present in human brains that -- for no known reason -- kills the brain cells that make dopamine.

The cells that are being killed are the ones that produce the needed dopamine.

"We have millions of cells in our brains," said Kanthasamy, "In Parkinson's, about 10,000 of these brain cells die; no one knows why."

Kanthasamy discovered that a novel protein -- known as protein kinase-C (specifically PKCĪ“) - is killing the dopamine-producing cells.

Kanthasamy and his research staff discovered a compound that neutralizes the cell-killing kinase-C and allows the dopamine-producing cells to survive and function.

"With a lot of hard work, and little bit of luck, we found something important," he said. "And when you find something like this you say, 'This is great because it can be a target for developing new drugs.'"

Now, Kanthasamy's group is looking for additional compounds that also can serve to neutralize protein kinase-C. By identifying more compounds that perform the function of neutralizing kinase-C, researchers are more likely to locate one that works well and has few side effects.

This discovery is expected to provide new treatment options to stop the progression of the disease or even cure it.

The study is being funded by a Grow Iowa Values Fund grant. The goal of the grant program is to support development of technologies with commercial potential and to support the growth of companies using those technologies. Kanthasamy is working on this research with PK Biosciences Corp., an Iowa-based startup company. Funding was also provided by the National Institutes of Health.

"Once we find the compound, we need to make sure it's safe. If everything goes well, it could take about 10 years, and then we might be able to see something that will truly make a difference in the lives of people with this disorder," said Kanthasamy.

Parkinson's disease strikes around 50,000 people each year, and there are approximately 1 million people with the disease. Parkinson's sufferers include actor Michael J. Fox and former boxing champion Muhammad Ali.

As people grow older, the cells that produce dopamine naturally die, causing dopamine levels to fall gradually over time. When the levels continue to drop below 60 to 70 percent, the person will start to have Parkinson's disease symptoms, according to Kanthasamy.

"Everybody has a little Parkinson's in theory," he said. "But you can't see it until the level of dopamine gets too low."

Eliminating the symptoms of Parkinson's disease doesn't require people to be restored to 100 percent of previous dopamine levels, but only to a fraction of that.

"If you can bring dopamine up to the 40-50 percent level, you'll see a functioning, normal person," he said.

Currently, there is no cure for Parkinson's and available therapies only treat the symptoms.

Major contributing factors for getting Parkinson's disease include prolonged exposure to metals or pesticides and other environmental chemicals, according to Kanthasamy.

Symptoms of Parkinson's disease include trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; slowness of movement; and impaired balance and coordination. As these symptoms become more pronounced, patients may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks. Because the disease typically affects people over the age of 50, the National Institutes of Health anticipates the incidence of Parkinson's will increase as the nation's population ages.

Source: Anumantha Kanthasamy
Iowa State University

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