Parkinson S Disease Term paper

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Introduction

Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system affecting over 1 million people in the United States. Clinically, the disease is characterized by a decrease in spontaneous movements, gait difficulty, postural instability, rigidity and tremor. Parkinson's disease is caused by the degeneration of the pigmented neurons in the Substantia Nigra of the brain, resulting in decreased dopamine availability. The Substantia Nigra is made up of cells called neurons or nerve cells which perform the work of the brain (Levin, 6). The major symptoms of the disease were originally described in 1817 by an English physician, Dr. James Parkinson, who called it "Shaking Palsy". Only in the 1960's, however, pathological and biochemical changes in the brain of patients were identified, opening the way to the first effective medication for the disease. ("Basic Information About Parkinson's Disease")

Both men and women are affected. The frequency of the disease is considerably higher in the over 50 age group, even though there is an alarming increase of patients of younger age. In consideration of the increased life expectancy in this country and worldwide, an increasing number of people will be victims of Parkinson's disease. ("Basic Information About Parkinson's disease")

Body

No cure exists for Parkinson's disease. Treatment usually centers on medications that provide relief from its symptoms. ("Treatment of Parkinson's Disease")

In prescribing treatment, physicians must assess the severity of the patient's symptoms and match them to an appropriate form of therapy or medication. No two persons respond identically to a particular drug or dosage level, so this process involves a certain amount of experimentation, persistence, and patience. Results may be only partially successful, and even these may demand adjustment as the disease progresses. Physicians often begin by prescribing less powerful drugs, the anticholinergics or amantadine for example, reserving stronger medications like levodopa for later, when the disease's progression necessitates more aggressive treatment. ("Treatment of Parkinson's Disease")

Levodopa (also called L-dopa), the active anti-Parkinson drug in Sinemet and its generic brands, is the single most beneficial drug to relieve symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Levodopa is a short-acting drug that enters the brain and is converted into dopamine, the neurotransmitter that is low in Parkinson's disease. Levodopa is combined with another drug called "carbidopa", which enhances L-dopa's action in the brain and minimizes side effects such as nausea. ("Treatment Methods")

Dr. Jayashree Rao, of Tulane University, said, "Levodopa is the most popular drug treatment for Parkinson's disease we have today. Although there, of course, are side effects, the results seem to be positive so far."

Other medications are also used to treat Parkinson's disease, as solo agents or in combination with Sinemet. Selegiline, marketed as Eldepryl in the U.S., may offer some relief from early Parkinson symptoms, and research is still ongoing to determine if it might also have some neuro-protective benefit. ("Treatment Methods")

Amantadine (Symmetrel) is an anti-viral drug that also provides an anti-Parkinson effect; it is most frequently used to widen the "therapeutic window" for Levodopa when used in combination with Sinemet. ("Treatment Method")

Benadryl, Artane, and Cogentine are brand names for anti-cholinergic agents that may be...

Book:
Levin, Susan B. Coping With Parkinson's Disease. Staten Island, New York. American
Parkinson's Disease Association. 1986.
Internet:
"Basic Information About Parkinson's Disease". June 22, 2000. American Parkinson's
Disease Association. Online. America Online. 5 July 2000.
"Treatment Methods". 1996-2000 The National Parkinson Foundation, Inc. Online.
America Online. 3 July 2000.
"Treatment of Parkinson's Disease". June 22, 2000. Neurology Channel. Online. America Online. 28 June 2000.
"What Treatments are Available". American Parkinson's Disease Association. Online.
America Online. 22 July 2000.
Personal Interview:
Rao, Jayashree MD, Tulane University. Personal Interview. June 30, 2000. You should cite this paper as follows:

MLA Style
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