It is the disease whose number of cases has increased the most since 1990. In France, Parkinson’s affects nearly 200,000 people with around 25,000 new diagnoses per year, according to Public Health France. So, on the occasion of World Parkinson’s Day, Monday, the Antibes hospital center carried out an operation to raise awareness among the public in order to better understand the symptoms and treatments of this neurodegenerative disease. Slowness, stiffness, tremors… Dr. Renato Colamarino, head of the neurology department, was present to answer questions and “de-dramatize” disease.
Play it down… Because there is good news?
Sure! Currently very promising therapeutic trials are being carried out around the world on alpha-synuclein: it is the protein present in the brain which, when it malfunctions, causes a deficiency of dopamine and leads to a degeneration of the coordination of movements in the body. If we manage to prevent the inflammation of this protein, then we might stop the disease upstream. So there is hope!
For now, Parkinson’s remains incurable…
Yes, but we don’t die of it. We can live 20, 30 years with Parkinson’s without being too handicapped if we have a well stabilized treatment. On the other hand, it can lead to complications such as falls which can make you bedridden…
How do we treat it today?
The whole challenge of current treatments is to fill the dopamine deficiencies in the brain to improve the coordination of movements. In 90% of cases, this involves taking medication, but you can also use a subcutaneous apomorphine pump to inject a stable level of dopamine into the blood, rehabilitation to relieve pain. pain, etc.
What are the warning signs?
Restless legs syndrome, olfactory disorders, a depressive tendency, constipation: taken in isolation, these symptoms are not necessarily alerting but added together in a patient who begins to be slowed down, one can begin to think regarding it.
And to prevent disease?
It is by passing below the threshold of 25% of dopamine in the brain that the disease is declared. So the more physical activity you do, the more dopamine you produce and the more you reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s. By moving, we also oxygenate the brain which can then repair certain anomalies that arise. This is the best prevention!
Relieve through sport
Heal, not yet. But slowing down the aggravation of the disease, yes. To complete the diagnosis and medical treatment at Antibes Hospital, the Hélio Marin Center in Vallauris offers a Sport-Health program for people with Parkinson’s disease.
At the rate of three half-days per week, a dedicated team offers support for three months. Specific gymnastics, muscle strengthening, coordination exercises: “The goal is not to stop moving to maintain the coordination of movements, to know how to get up if you fall, to increase your walking capacity…”, summarizes Jérémie Dauce, teacher in physical activity.
In Grasse, the ORSAC Mont-Fleuri Clinic offers the same support which can be paid for: since the decree of December 30, 2016 as part of the care pathway for patients with a long-term condition, the doctor can prescribe a sports activity on prescription!
Hélio Marin Center in Vallauris, information on 04 92 95 31 27
ORSAC Mont-Fleuri clinic in Grasse, information on 06 25 17 50 04
