Neuroscience Blog » Parkinson’s disease

On Multiple System Atrophy

admin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:29:23 +0000

According to the Mayo Clinic, multiple system atrophy is a symptom of Parkinson’s disease, and a rare disorder. It is a progressive, adult-onset disease that affects many areas of the brain, as well as their associated systems in the body.
Patients with multiple system atrophy have a high chance of developing widespread damage to the nervous system. This is because multiple system atrophy causes autonomic dysfunction, preventing the systems of the body which are not under conscious control, such as blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, digestion and sexual function.
Symptoms of multiple system atrophy include changes in facial expression, such as a “mask” appearance to the face, inability to close the mouth and staring, difficulty chewing or swallowing, disrupted sleep patterns, dizziness, frequent falling, fainting, loss of motor skills or overall control of the body, muscle aches and pains, nausea, problems with digestion, posture difficulties, slow movements, tremors, and voice and speech changes. These symptoms may lead to others, such as confusion, dementia, depression, and sleep-related breathing difficulties.
Multiple system atrophy is most often diagnosed in men over the age of 60. Doctors will check blood pressure and run eye and nerve examinations in order to diagnose the disease. Currently there is no treatment for multiple system atrophy. However, patients are given medication to help control symptoms.
For more information on multiple system atrophy, visit the Neurosciences Department of NorthShore University HealthSystem.

On Parkinson’s Disease

admin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:38:35 +0000

Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that affects body movement. While the direct cause of Parkinson’s disease has not yet been discovered, research shows that abnormal genes, aging, and toxins in the environment may be possible causes

Parkinson’s disease occurs when there is a problem with nerve cells in the brain. When these cells begin to break down, the body stops making normal amounts of dopamine, a chemical that allows for muscle control. The less dopamine a person produces, the harder it becomes to move properly.

There are four main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease: trembling, stiff muscles, slow movement and problems balancing or walking. Most symptoms are experienced between the ages of 50 and 60.

The disease is diagnosed through a neurological exam, which involves questions and tests to determine proper nerve ability. Currently, treatment for Parkinson’s disease has not been developed. However, there are medicines that help control symptoms and make the disorder easier to live with. Your doctor will prescribe medicines when symptoms get in the way of daily life, and they will adjust them as symptoms gets worse. Sometimes, deep brain simulation may also be used to ease the disorder.

If you have Parkinson’s disease, there are many things you can do to stay independent and healthy. Some of these are eating healthy, getting rest and exercising. Physical and occupational therapy can also help.

For more information on Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorder, visit the Neurosciences Department of NorthShore University HealthSystem.

New Lead in Parkinson’s treatment

admin — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:59:36 +0000

Parkinson’s Disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that often impairs the sufferer’s motor skills, speech, and other functions. Most people with Parkinson’s disease are described as having idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (having no specific cause). There are far less common causes of Parkinson’s disease including genetic, toxins, head trauma, cerebral anoxia, and drug-induced Parkinson’s disease all of which currently do not have any treatments. Recently however, Biomedical scientists at a UK Research Center have made progress in their bid to generate new treatments for Parkinson’s disease based on the genetic cause of the disease.

Staff at the University of Sheffield’s Department of Biomedical Science recently identified a pathway inside nerve cells which they claim could be stimulated to protect the dying cells affected by the disease.

Published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, the study involved testing the effects of the drug Rapamycin, which was found to protect cells from the damaging impact of two of the mutant genes that cause inherited forms of Parkinson’s.

To learn more on breakthrough research concerning Parkinson’s disease, visit the neurosciences department at NorthShore University HealthSystem.

Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s disease

admin — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:16:53 +0000

Our previous look at Parkinson’s disease revealed many insights on the statistics of the disease, as well as possible treatments.

One of the treatments available for Parkinson’s disease is Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). NorthShore University HealthSystem’s live chat on DBS helped those who might be eligible for the process.

What is DBS?

Dr. Arif Dalvi (NorthShore):

DBS involves placing an electrode in the brain to deliver continuous high-frequency electrical stimulation to various parts of the brain that control movement. This stimulation is thought to suppress overactivity in areas of the brain that are affected by PD. The lay press calls it “a pacemaker for the brain” which is a useful description. Just like a pacemaker for the heart controls abnormal electrical activity in the heart, the DBS controls abnormal electrical activity in the brain. For example, when we map the brain to put in the DBS electrodes we may hear tremor cells firing in the brain. Once the DBS is turned on the firing of these tremor cells can be suppressed.

Are there any factors that preclude a patient from this procedure?

Dr. Arif Dalvi (NorthShore):

When we offer patients DBS surgery we put them through a detailed screening process. A formal neuropsychological evaluation is performed in more cases to screen for significant dementia or depression. These may preclude surgery or require prior treatment before surgery is offered. Response to levodopa (even if not adequate) is important as we need to exclude atypical forms of Parkinsonism that do not respond well to DBS surgery. Age is not a contraindication in itself, and we have some patients who underwent DBS in their 80s. Most of our patients with DBS are younger than 75 as older patients tend to be less responsive.
Visit NorthShore’s live chat page for a full transcript.

A Look at Parkinson’s Disease

admin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:49:29 +0000

Parkinson’s disease occurs when certain nerve cells in a part of the brain die or become impaired. In someone without Parkinson’s disease, the cells produce a vital chemical known as dopamine. Dopamine allows smooth, coordinated function of the body’s muscles and movement. When approximately 80% of the dopamine-producing cells are damaged, the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease appear.

According to the National Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, Parkinson’s disease does not affect men more than women, or vice versa. In the United States, it is estimated that 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, joining the 1.5 million Americans who currently have Parkinson’s disease. While the condition usually develops after the age of 65, 15% of those diagnosed are under 50.
The strongest signs of Parkinson’s disease include: shaking, slowness of movement, stiffness and difficulty with balance.

There are several treatment options for Parkinson’s disease. NorthShore University HealthSystems states, that “Parkinson’s is a relentless, progressive disease; management of this condition as soon as it is diagnosed is critical to patients’ long-term success. Patient and family education are key to our innovative team care. Lifestyle changes including regular exercise and stress reduction are very important for Parkinson’s patients. A variety of medications are available to help control Parkinson’s symptoms, and new drugs to help slow the progression of this disease are in the pipeline with clinical trials”. Another option available to those with Parkinson’s is Deep Brain Stimulation.