PARKINSON'S DISEASE

WHAT IS PARKINSON'S DISEASE?

• A progressive disease (meaning it worsens over time)that mainly affects movement and cognition

HOW COMMON IS IT?

• Nearly 1,000 ,000 people are living with Parkinson's disease in the US
• It is commonly found in people 60 years and older
• Some people experience symptoms before 40 years old

HOW DO YOU GET IT?

• The cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown
• But several factors play a role:
• Your genes( it could run in your family)
• Environmental triggers( exposure to toxins)

WHAT'S GOING WRONG IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM?

• Destruction of nerve cells in a part of the brain called the "basal ganglia"
• Loss of neurons that produce a chemical messenger in your brain called "dopamine"
• When "dopamine" levels decrease, it causes abnormal brain activity; leading to signs of Parkinson's Disease

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

• Tremors
• Rigidity or stiffness
• Slow movement
• Constipation
• Difficulty swallowing

HOW IS IT TREATED?

• There is no known cure for Parkinson's Disease but there is a treatment
• The goal of treatment is to control the symptoms
• There are medications that control the symptoms by increasing levels of dopamine in the brain
• The medications are not always guaranteed to work all the time, it often wears off

HOW DOES IT AFFECT THE PATIENTS LIFE & FAMILY?

• It doesn't help relationships because your mood is down and filled with anxiety
• The family has to be more considerate because of the patients moods
• For the family, it requires continual re-adjustment as the disease slowly progresses
• Daily activities will continue to get more challenging through out the disease
• It also affects the patients intimate relationships

WORKS CITED

• www.mayoclinic.org
• www.pdf.org
• www.nytimes.com/health

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