There is No Cure for Parkinson’s Disease, but Early Treatment Can Slow Its Progression
Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects older individuals, does not currently have a cure. However, early intervention with appropriate treatment can significantly slow down the progression of the disease.
In spite of extensive research, scientists have not yet developed a drug capable of fundamentally treating Parkinson’s disease. However, there are medications available that can effectively mitigate the symptoms and slow down the disease’s advancement. These drugs work by replenishing dopamine levels in the brain – a neurotransmitter that gradually decreases as the disease progresses. Getty Image Bank
The hallmark symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are tremors in the hands or feet, stiffness in the body, and slow movement. As dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra region of the midbrain degenerate, the brain’s dopamine supply diminishes, leading to various behavioral disorders. Although the disease typically emerges between the late 50s and early 60s, it can affect individuals of any age. The prevalence of Parkinson’s disease rises as the population ages, affecting approximately 1-2% of people over the age of 65.
During the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, symptoms may be mild, but they can progressively worsen over time and significantly impact daily life. In addition to the primary symptoms mentioned earlier, patients may experience other manifestations such as dementia and autonomic dysfunction.
According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of Parkinson’s disease patients has increased by 14% over the past five years, from 105,882 in 2018 to 127,322 in the following year. As of 2022, female patients outnumbered males, with 51,345 males (43%) and 69,202 females (57%). Additionally, individuals aged 60 and above accounted for 93% (118,486) of all patients, while those in their 50s or younger made up only 7% (8,836).
Kim Jae-moon, chairman of the Korean Society of Neuroscience and a neurology professor at Chungnam National University Hospital, emphasized the importance of raising awareness about Parkinson’s disease as a prominent neurological condition. He hopes that World Brain Day, on July 22nd, will serve as an opportunity to increase understanding and knowledge surrounding the disease.
◇ Initial Symptoms: Tremors or Stiffness on One Side of the Body
As a degenerative disease, Parkinson’s disease progresses slowly and usually presents without early warning signs. Symptoms typically surface when around 80% of dopamine cells in the substantia nigra midbrain have been lost. Over time, neurodegeneration worsens, leading to a deterioration of the disease.
Initially, individuals may experience tremors or stiffness predominantly on one side of the body, which can gradually spread and make walking challenging. Due to the one-sided nature of the symptoms, some may mistake Parkinson’s disease for a stroke. However, strokes abruptly paralyze one side of the body, are accompanied by language difficulties, and differ from Parkinson’s disease in terms of associated symptoms and progression.
Given the various forms in which Parkinson’s disease may manifest, proper diagnosis by a Parkinson’s specialist is crucial. Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) alone is insufficient for Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, and electroencephalography (EEG) only serves to differentiate seizure-related conditions. Dopamine carrier positron emission tomography (PET) has recently provided more accurate results, but a detailed examination conducted by a neurologist is necessary to confirm Parkinson’s disease.
Can Parkinson’s disease be predicted and prepared for? Professor Park Jin-se from Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital suggests that non-motor symptoms such as depression, decreased sense of smell, REM sleep behavior disorder, and constipation may appear before the onset of characteristic symptoms like leg tremors, stiffness, slow movement, and gait disturbances. However, it is important to note that not everyone exhibiting these symptoms necessarily has Parkinson’s disease.
◇ Early Stages Benefit from Pharmacological Treatment
Regrettably, Parkinson’s disease remains an incurable neurological disorder, and no medications currently exist to halt its progression. Nevertheless, drugs based on dopamine, such as Levodopa and dopamine agonists, can be highly effective in alleviating both motor and non-motor symptoms in the early stages of the disease. These medications help replenish the brain’s diminished dopamine levels, providing relief to patients.
In conjunction with drug therapy, non-pharmacological approaches like regular exercise can enhance the effectiveness of symptom management from the onset of Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, since the disease can be accompanied by various symptoms including orthostatic dizziness, depression, dementia, and urinary disorders, a comprehensive evaluation of symptoms is necessary to determine appropriate medication adjustments.
Over time, however, the response to medication diminishes, and side effects may arise, such as dyskinesia – a condition characterized by involuntary movements and twisting of the body or face. To minimize complications associated with medication, various drugs have been developed and are commonly prescribed in Korea. In cases where medication alone proves ineffective, a surgical procedure called deep brain stimulation can be performed to alleviate motor complications and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Professor Park Jin-se stresses the importance of recognizing that while there exist various treatments related to Parkinson’s disease, their efficacy beyond the aforementioned interventions lacks solid clinical evidence. Engaging in unproven treatments may lead to adverse effects and aggravate the condition. Further research into the effectiveness of alternative treatments is necessary to provide better care for Parkinson’s disease patients.
Daeik Kwon Medical Reporter dkwon@hankookilbo.com
0 0 Share Save
[건강이 최고] There is no cure, but early treatment can significantly prevent the progression of the disease.
A drug that fundamentally treats Parkinson’s disease has not yet been developed, but the progression of the disease can be significantly slowed down by taking the drug. Getty Image Bank
“Shaking hands or feet,” “Body firmness (stiffness),” “Slow movement (sluggish movement).” These are the three main neurological symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
In Parkinson’s disease, as dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain are destroyed, dopamine gradually decreases, leading to various behavioral disorders. It is a neurodegenerative disease that often develops between the late 50s and early 60s. It occurs in 1-2% of people over the age of 65, and the number of patients increases as the population ages.
At first, the symptoms are mild, but as they become more severe, they can cause serious inconvenience in daily life. In Parkinson’s disease, in addition to the three main symptoms, various symptoms such as dementia and autonomic dysfunction may appear.
According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of patients with Parkinson’s disease increased by 14% over the past five years compared to 105,882 in 2018 to 127,322 last year. From 2022, there were more female patients with 51,345 males (43%) and 69,202 females (57%). By age, those in their 50s or younger accounted for 8,836, or 7%, while those in their 60s or older accounted for 93% (118,486) of all patients.
Kim Jae-moon, chairman of the Korean Society of Neuroscience (professor of neurology at Chungnam National University Hospital), said, “Parkinson’s disease is a disease caused by the aging of nerves. On World Brain Day (July 22nd), we hope that there will be awareness of Parkinson’s disease, a representative brain disease, is increasing.”
◇ In the beginning, tremors or stiffness on one side of the body
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disease, so it appears gradually without preceding symptoms. Symptoms begin to appear when around 80% of dopamine cells in the substantia nigra midbrain are lost, and as time passes, neurodegeneration gradually increases and the disease worsens.
At first, symptoms of tremors or rigidity appear mainly on one side of the right or left side, but gradually the symptoms spread to the whole body and walking can become difficult.
It’s easy to confuse with a stroke because symptoms usually appear on one side of the body. However, a stroke suddenly one day completely paralyzes one side of the body and is accompanied by language disorders, while the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease appear slowly and are also different from a stroke in the associated symptoms.
There are many symptoms that can suspect Parkinson’s disease, but Parkinson’s disease can appear in different forms, so a diagnosis by a Parkinson’s specialist is very important.
It is difficult to diagnose Parkinson’s disease with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) alone, and EEG is a test that differentiates between seizure diseases such as epilepsy, and does not diagnose Parkinson’s disease .
Recently, accurate results have been obtained with dopamine carrier positron emission tomography (PET), but the final diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is made by a detailed examination by a neurologist.
Is there any way to predict and prepare for Parkinson’s disease? Park Jin-se, professor of neurology at Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, said, “Parkinson’s disease has non-motor symptoms such as depression, decreased sense of smell, REM sleep behavior disorder, and constipation as prognostic symptoms before leg tremors, stiffness, movement slow, and gait disturbances occur.” he said.
Professor Yang Gwang-ik from Soonchunhyang University’s Cheonan Hospital Department of Neurology said, “Rem sleep behavior disorder, where you move your body while sleeping and make sounds like drooling or act like a dream, is known as the most powerful prognostic symptom. of Parkinson’s disease.” Just because you have one doesn’t mean everyone has Parkinson’s.”
◇ Pharmacological treatment is highly effective in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease
Unfortunately, Parkinson’s disease is an incurable neurological disease for which no cure has yet been developed, and there is no drug that slows the progression of the disease. However, dopamine-based drugs such as ‘Levodopa’ and ‘dopamine agonist’ have an excellent effect on improving motor and non-motor symptoms in the early stages by supplementing the dopamine deficiency in the brain.
In addition, when combined with drug treatment, non-drug treatment such as regular exercise from the early stage of the disease increases the symptom improvement effect. In addition to motor symptoms, orthostatic dizziness, depression, dementia, and urinary disorders may accompany it, so it is necessary to discuss symptoms and adjust medications according to various symptoms.
However, as time passes after the onset of symptoms, the treatment response to the drug diminishes, the duration of the drug’s effect shortens, and side effects on dopaminergic drugs occur, causing ‘ dyskinesia (motor difficulty)’ where the body or face shakes. and twists.
Various drugs have been developed to reduce the complications of exercise and are widely prescribed in Korea. If it is difficult to control with medication, an operation called ‘deep brain stimulation’ can be carried out to improve the motor complications and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Professor Park Jin-se said, “There are various treatments related to Parkinson’s disease, but clinical evidence for effectiveness other than the mentioned treatments is weak and there are many unproven cases, so it is necessary more research. “It can lead to side effects and make the disease worse.”
Daeik Kwon Medical Reporter dkwon@hankookilbo.com
0 0 Share Save
#legs #tremble #body #stiff #actions #slow #down.. #Parkinsons #disease
