Basic background and information on Parkinson's Disease

Dr. Chris Steele explains Parkinson's Disease


PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Parkinson's disease is caused by the degeneration of the part of brain which produces a brain chemical, dopamine, vital for many brain activities, especially the smooth coordination of movements.

Over 120,000 in the UK have this disease, which attacks 15,000 new sufferers every year. Although primarily a disease of the elderly, about one in four hundred 40 year olds develop the disease, and it can even attack adolescents.

Symptoms include shaking and trembling of the hands, slowness of movements, a shuffling walk, stiffness and rigidity of the arms and legs, loss of facial expression, stooping posture, difficulty in keeping balance, small illegible handwriting, and difficulties with speech, swallowing and chewing. Understandingly, depression is common in sufferers of Parkinson's disease.

Famous individuals who have suffered Parkinson's, including Mohammad Ali, actors Kenneth More, Terry Thomas, Anna Neagle and Michael Redgrave, footballer Ray Kennedy, ex leader of the Liberal Party Jeremy Thorpe and also the current Pope.

Various drug treatments are useful but their effect can wear off and side effects can be a problem, so surgical interventions are being explored especially for more severe cases and when drug therapy has failed. Brain cells from pigs and human fetuses have been implanted into Parkinson patients, producing positive results in some patients but not all.

The newest surgical technique is Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) involving the insertion of a wire, under local anaesthetic, into various parts of the brain. The tip of the wire contains four electrodes used to stimulate the brain cells and the other end of this wire is connected to a small generator implanted under the skin of the chest. This generator can be programmed by a computer and can also be switched on and off by the patient. The effect is very dramatic, with the tremors and shakes being instantly reduced by the patient swiping a small magnet over the chest. The generator battery lasts 4 to 5 years then has to be replaced. To prolong battery life the patient switches off the device at night. 80% of patients experience a good response, some experience a return of tremors and a few derive no benefit at all from DBS. Neurosurgeons also cut specific nerve fibres within the brain to alleviate the tremors of Parkinson's disease, and the future of surgical treatments does look encouraging for the future management of this distressing condition. For the moment, the main treatment for most sufferers still rests with drug therapy.


IMPORTANT NOTICE : This content is from the Dr Chris Steele personal archive and is provided for convenience only. Information contained here may no longer agree with the most up to date medical advice. Please check with a medical professional before taking any action.

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