29 Oct 2024        10:43:48 am

Biology

Parkinson’s Disease

Tags : Parkinson’s Disease

Topic: Diseases

Why in the news?

• According to a study, gastrointestinal problems could heighten Parkinson’s disease risk by 76 per cent.
• These findings, published in JAMA Network Open, add to a growing body of evidence that ageing-related or neurodegenerative disease, long thought to originate in the brain, could begin in the gut.

Source: The Hindu 

About Parkinson’s Disease:

• It is a progressive neurological disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves. 
• It is a condition in which a patient holds limited or no control over his movements and body balance. 
• It occurs and progresses with ageing, but in rare cases, it is also witnessed among children and teenagers as well. 
• It has no cure.
• Studies suggested that men are more likely to be affected by Parkinson’s than women.
• It is caused by the degeneration of nerve cells in the part of the brain called the substantia nigra, which controls movement.
  • These nerve cells die or become impaired, losing the ability to produce an important chemical called dopamine.
  • Dopamine operates with other neurotransmitters to help coordinate the millions of nerve and muscle cells involved in the movement.
• Symptoms:
  • Tremors, rigidity, slowness of movement; and impaired balance and coordination.
  • Patients may experience difficulty in swallowing, chewing, and speaking, urinary problems, constipation, skin problems, depression, emotional changes and sleep disruption.
• Currently, no laboratory or radiological tests are available to diagnose this disease.

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