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Posts Tagged ‘Parkinson’s Disease’

Surgical Treatment

When all treatments have failed and is very advanced PD can be thought of surgery. There are various techniques such as pallidotomy, deep stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus or core palidum, etc. The purpose of these interventions is usually trying to control symptoms of disease intensity. Transplants have also been made of dopamine, using human fetal cells containing dopamine in the striatum of PD patients, seeking to slow the progression of symptoms and partial improvement in many of them.

Gene Therapy

Gene therapy in PD is based on the perspective of the production of proteins within the brain that may restore the ability of biological synthesis of dopamine in PD. This can be accomplished by transplantation of genetically modified cells (immortalized cell lines) or gene delivery by some viruses specially prepared for this purpose. Read the rest of this entry »

The treatment of PD is a challenge to give the patient and his family the best possible quality of life. The decision of the medication is specific to each case and depends on:

- Age

- Impaired function (how the disability affects everyday life)

- Effect of the dominant side (eg, involvement of the right arm in a right-handed person)

- Social situation

- Problems associated neurological (memory, for example)

- The patient’s desire to experiment with neuroprotective agents likely but unproven (medications theoretically can reduce the course of evolution of the EP). Read the rest of this entry »

Selegiline (5-10 mg dose or 1.25 mg) of selegiline has an action similar to that of the above inhibitors but not COMT but on the MAO-B, another distinct enzyme inactivates dopamine also .. Side effects include hallucinations, sleep disturbances, agitation, postural hypotension and problems after stopping the administration.

Amantadine (dose of 100 – 400mg per day) Amantadine is an antiviral agent with antiparkinsonian action. The mechanism of action is (1) increases the synthesis of dopamine, (2) a stimulating action similar to amphetamine and (3) blocking the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine (which makes them spend more time exercising their action on the neuron). Read the rest of this entry »

There is no standard treatment, but that it meets the needs and response of each patient. You can use any combination to achieve the best possible outcome.

The symptoms can be controlled effectively for several years with medical and surgical treatment, although the EP, unfortunately, can not be cured. The most important drug for the treatment of Parkinson’s is levodopa, dopamine precursor substance, which replaces the loss of it by the degeneration of nigrostriatal cells. The conversion of levodopa to dopamine is produced in the cortex of the brain through the mediation of an enzyme called dopa-decarboxylase.

The response in patients with a typical EP is almost immediate. The benefits of treatment usually can be observed already after the first dose. Read the rest of this entry »

What are the symptoms of PD?

The main symptoms of PD are:

- Trembling, especially at rest, with typical gestures such as passing coins.

- Stiffness of the limbs.

- Lack of initiative at the time of speaking, gesturing or walk, and slowness of movement (bradykinesia).

- Walking instability (tilting forward, difficulty in changing positions and occasional lapses).

Other symptoms include flat affect, decreased manual dexterity, writing difficulties, sleep disturbances, bed-wetting, depression, anxiety, leakage of saliva. Are frequent constipation, dry skin and difficulty in changing position in bed, and to turn corners, walking. Read the rest of this entry »

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Based on 6 cases examined in London in 1817, James Parkinson described the clinical features of a disease which he called paralysis agitans. Charcot, a famous French neurologist, suggested a new name for this disorder, the Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Since then, the original description, characterized by tremor and impaired posture and clinical course remains unchanged, but currently include cogwheel rigidity and bradykinesia (slowing of movement). In his day, Parkinson confused these last two symptoms as manifestations of paralysis.

Parkinson’s disease occurs as a result of a progressive loss of dopamine-producing cells in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra and has an important role in controlling the movement. The lack of such substance causes the death of the cells, leading to a progressive disorder of movement and balance, you just seriously affecting the activities of everyday life. Read the rest of this entry »