They warn about Parkinson’s disease

Motor symptoms, such as tremor, are one of those most associated with Parkinson’s disease, but the condition is much more than that, since initially the symptoms include significant changes in sleep patterns, depression, loss of smell and slowness when walking.

These symptoms can be the warning of the condition and although patients initially go to general practitioners or other specialists, and not to the neurologist, it is important to take into account that the symptoms described are associated with Parkinson’s disease and therefore this concern must be shared with the doctor providing care.

This is what Dr. Roberto Leal Ortega, a neurologist specializing in Parkinson’s disease, points out when speaking regarding this condition within the framework of World Parkinson’s Day, which is commemorated on April 11, with the intention of raising awareness among the general population regarding this chronic-neurodegenerative disease.

It was on April 11, 200 years ago, when James Parkinson described the disease in its general manifestations as it is known today, a condition that until today is considered complex.

The specialist doctor explains that this disease is characterized by the progressive loss of dopamine-producing neurons and other brain transmitters, which translates into alterations in movement and other symptoms not related to the motor part.

—It is not known what the cause of this progressive loss or death of neurons is, but it is believed that many factors influence brain aging, both environmental and genetic factors.

In reference to environmental factors, it has been seen that the exposure of people to toxic substances such as insecticides, herbicides, pesticides, water in rural areas contaminated with these toxic substances, other toxins such as created and recreational drugs can influence the appearance of disease, as well as consecutive head trauma, which generate parkinsonism.

There is also a genetic component—it is considered that 10% of cases are inherited—but there are genes with which the person is born that cause the disease or by combining genetic risk factors with environmental risk factors that cause the disease to express itself.

There are factors that are considered protective, such as caffeine and tobacco consumption and some anti-inflammatory medications. In the case of coffee consumption, a light dose is recommended, one or two cups in the morning, but not tobacco, since it is known that there are factors involved in the appearance of other problems such as cardiovascular problems and cancer when consumed. He is a smoker. However, it has been seen that smokers have a lower risk of suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

Symptoms

Regarding the symptoms, the specialist details that they are divided into two groups: motor and non-motor.

Engines are the most common cause for which patients come to consult. The symptom that defines the disease is slowness or bradykinesia, followed by tremor – which contrary to what is believed, does not always occur, as there are patients who never suffer from tremors -, alterations in posture and rigidity.

Non-motor symptoms or those not related to movement are: gastrointestinal problems such as constipation, anxiety, depression, forgetfulness, pain, difficulty or loss of smell, and sleep disorders.

Dr. Roberto Leal points out that before the appearance of tremor or other motor symptoms, the disease appears in the initial stages with changes in sleep patterns, depression without a reactive cause such as grief, loss of smell, slower walking, sleep problems from having very real dreams and acting out like nightmares.

The most common age for the onset of the disease is over 60 years of age, and the risk increases with older age. There are early forms that begin before the age of 60 and even before the age of 40, which is known as early-onset Parkinson’s. When this occurs, it is considered that the condition is more likely to be due to a genetic mutation.

It is estimated globally that between 1 and 2% of people over 60 years of age have the disease.

The increase in cases is partly due to less diagnosis, and on the other hand to the phenomenon of aging, since people are living longer and longer and this puts them at greater risk of chronic degenerative diseases.

Treatments

Regarding the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, Dr. Leal Ortega points out that it is the neurodegenerative disease that has the most treatments, since in the world there are at least 20 different medications to treat the symptoms, which although it does not cure it, it does change the evolution. of the condition.

In the area of ​​drugs there are drug infusion therapies and operations, including deep brain stimulation and injury surgery.

Those that change the disease the most are the use of the drug Levodopa, considered the most effective, and deep brain stimulation, surgery in which a pair of electrodes are introduced into the deep part of the brain and left placed in cell nuclei that are They activate normally in the disease, and through cables that go under the skin they are connected to an electro stimulator or pacemaker that is in the chest, and electrical shocks or stimuli are given that make the patient improve their symptoms.

This surgery is used in patients in whom pharmacological treatment has been tried and there is no control of symptoms, for which a series of selection criteria must be met.

Many symptoms are controlled with medications, especially in the initial stages, during the first 5 to 10 years of the disease, later complications arise that are part of the treatment and the evolution of the disease itself.

It stands out that Parkinson’s is the disease that is being investigated most intensively in the world, following Alzheimer’s, with more and more research and studies, which allows us to learn more regarding it and propose better treatments.

He asks all people with Parkinson’s disease and their family members, caregivers who work with them, to approach professionals who have knowledge of the disease, since it is much more complex than the patient’s tremors.

It highlights that there are associations and societies that work with medical scientific personnel and the general population to improve patient knowledge, care and prognosis.

For example, there is the Somma association, which patients and doctors can join.

It expresses the importance of support at the government level for chronic-degenerative diseases, since the person stops working, producing, socializing and integrating into activities of daily life, which generates emotional, family and economic losses, and this affects to the entire environment, not just the family. Consider that if it is not conceptualized in this way and the government does not support it enough, it represents a great debt to older adults.— IRIS CEBALLOS ALVARADO