Parkinson’s Disease is a unique condition that is usually recognized by movements and difficulty performing physical tasks. While its exact causes remain unclear, many researchers believe that Parkinson’s results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Symptoms can also differ in severity between different people. In this article, we will be looking a little closer at how Parkinson’s Disease affects the body so you can get a clearer understanding of the condition.
The Pathophysiology of Parkinson’s Disease
Before we continue, you might be asking what is pathophysiology in nursing and medicine? Well, it all comes down to the detailed factors that lead to disease and disorder in an individual’s health state. In this case, why people suffer from Parkinson’s is due to the impact that it has on neurotransmitters, leading to their degradation and a subsequent impairment of motor function.
The process is triggered by changes in the protein alpha-synuclein (excuse the technical jargon) that cause disruptions at a level that leads to eventual cell death. While the deterioration occurs gradually over time as one ages, it eventually means that a person’s cognitive ability decreases, and their physical movements can become very difficult.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Another critical factor in Parkinson’s Disease is mitochondrial dysfunction, which is another dangerous way the body gets affected. The mitochondria are the cellular structures that produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the energy currency of the cell. This means that cells that do not have ATP are effectively dead.
When mitochondria are not functioning properly, oxidative stress is increased, and the end result is that neurons end up dying. As with most neurodegenerative diseases, the cause of Parkinson’s is made up of many factors. This makes sense because many neurodegenerative pathologies are, at their roots, disturbances in cellular energy production that lead to the death of neurons.
Non-Motor Symptoms
Parkinson’s Disease doesn’t just manifest motor symptoms. It also comes with an interesting range of non-motor symptoms. Among these include cognitive impairments, mood disorders, and both hyper and hypokinesia symptoms. Aside from these impairments, it is also common for sufferers to experience difficulty in swallowing, which can result in nutritional issues, as well as constipation, urinary problems, and sexual dysfunction. The cause of the widespread, multifactorial health and wellbeing concerns that arise from non-motor symptoms is not well understood.
Treatment Options
Modern medicine is yet to find a cure for Parkinson’s Disease, but there are treatment options. The present options for treating Parkinson’s Disease focus mainly on reducing the symptoms, and the medication levodopa remains the most effective medicine for Parkinson’s Disease, as it consistently and reliably ameliorates motor symptoms. In pill form, levodopa is absorbed in the blood from the small intestine and travels through the bloodstream into the brain, where it is converted to dopamine. However, using this drug long-term is associated with the emergence of complications that can negatively affect a patient’s quality of life. Long-term levodopa use can result in irreversible motor function changes, which present in about 50% of patients using levodopa for five to 10 years. Although most people with Parkinson’s Disease are treated with medication, there is a type of surgery called deep brain stimulation that is used in some cases.
There are other disease-modifying therapies emerging that primarily aim to protect or rescue neurons that are degenerating. Besides offering promise for the future, these therapies are not yet available. There are some complementary and supportive therapies used to help manage the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Some researchers suggest that an effective therapy method is to exercise, as this, too, may have the potential to slow down, or potentially even reverse the neurodegeneration associated with Parkinson’s Disease.
The pathophysiology of Parkinson’s Disease is a complex topic and involves a range of factors. While there is research into the disease, there is still a lot we don’t know about Parkinson’s Disease. This unfortunately means there is no known way to cure or prevent Parkinson’s Disease from happening. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t hope, however, and if you or a loved one are suffering from, or think you might be suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, you should consult a health professional and discuss your options.