World Parkinson's disease Day 2015 April 11th

World Parkinson's disease Day 2015


11th April 2015

World Parkinsons Day (WPD) is celebrated every year and is dedicated to raising awareness about Parkinson’s and the impact this condition has on people’s lives.

“There is no reason for anyone to face Parkinson’s disease alone.

What is Parkinson’s disease ?


Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative condition. It is caused by insufficient quantities of dopamine - a chemical in the brain. Dopamine enables quick, well-coordinated movement. When dopamine levels fall, movements become slow and awkward. Parkinson’s has both motor and non-motor symptoms, and while it cannot be cured it can be treated. As Parkinson’s is a progressive condition, it can often take many years to develop and has little effect on life expectancy. Different people will experience a different number and combination of symptoms.

Following a reduction in dopamine levels there are many non motor symptoms which can precede the onset of motor Parkinson's disease for many years.

Non Motor Symptoms Include:

REM sleep behavioral disorder

Reduced sense of smell

Automatic dysfunction

Depression

Impaired Vision

Attention Deficit

Difficulties planning and carrying out ordinary tasks

The motor symptoms of Parkinson's are based around involuntary movements or rigidity (in which muscles of the body 'freeze up' and do not work). The impact of these motor symptoms in the day to day life of a person with Parkinson's are immense; this awareness event aims in part, to make more people understand the severity of these symptoms.

For example, a person may not be able to perform a simple activity like crossing the road in case their 'feet freeze' making them unable to walk. When shopping, they may be unable to take money out from a purse or wallet to pay for items due to involuntary arm and hand movements.

Symptoms are unpredictable and can vary on a time scale as short as one minute.

Many people who have heard of Parkinson' disease associate this condition with the physical symptoms of tremor or rigidity. These symptoms may be shown as head bobbing or other sudden involuntary jerking movements. World Parkinson's Day aims to make more people aware of the non motor symptoms.

Who gets Parkinson’s disease ?



Parkinson’s is relatively common. Approximately 1 in 500 people have the condition. It becomes more common with older age groups, and it is believed 1% of people above the age of 60 have Parkinson’s. The average age at diagnosis is 59.

What causes Parkinson’s disease ?



Although we know a lot about the changes in the nerve cells of the brain in Parkinson’s, we do not yet know what causes or triggers the development of Parkinson’s disease. Symptoms can be treated . Researchers across the world continue to investigate new treatments.


Life With Parkinson's Disease


For those living with Parkinson's disease, some non motor symptoms can be worse for the sufferer than the physical motor problems.

Medical treatments for Parkinson's therapy can trigger or aggravate some non-motor symptoms. Non motor side effects from treatments may take the form of impulse control disorders. These are a set of psychiatric disorders which may includes compulsive behaviors such as compulsive gambling, excessive shopping, and sex addiction.

For some, the treatments can lead to other bad lifestyle habits such as eating out, drinking, and partying, to excess. In many cases, the person is unable to afford this kind of lifestyle creating further problems. When people experience this kind of behavior they sometimes report that it's as if something else was controlling their behavior.

However, without proper medication, the motor symptoms can quickly return (typically within an hour). In terms of treatment, a person with Parkinson's disease is 'caught between a rock and a hard place'; they have a choice and each one gives an unsatisfactory outcome. They will either endure loss of motor control or experience psychiatric problems should they medicate. Once on medication, a person may become fearful of possible consequences if they decide to stop this treatment.

Parkinson's Disease Can Happen To Anybody.


World Parkinson's Awareness Day aims to raise global awareness of Parkinson's disease.

Recent survey founds that over 90% in india did not know Parkinson's disease is a neurological condition which affects movement. Even more striking was that over 95% of people surveyed did not know that rigidity, in which a person is unable to move their body (or certain body parts) is a key motor symptom of this disease.

If so many people are unaware of the key motor symptoms of Parkinson's then gathering support for people with this condition is made much harder. It is also likely that people are unaware of the non motor symptoms that people with Parkinson's may endure (including the side effects of those on medication).

It is hoped that Parkinson's Awareness Day will promote advocacy and influence the decision of relevant policy makers where appropriate.