It can begin with an almost unnoticeable shake. Or an unexplained bout of “clumsiness.” If fact, it might be Parkinson’s Disease. At least, that’s how it started with my father, three years ago when family members began to take notice.
A shaking hand. A series of trips and falls. Concern. Worry. Then “” finally “” diagnosis.
We all have a vague idea of what Parkinson’s is, thanks to actor Michael J. Fox’s very public announcement of his diagnosis and his highly visible symptoms. Fox’s case is fairly advanced, though. Of the nearly 66,000 Americans diagnosed with Parkinson’s each year, the effects of the progressive order of the nervous system are minor. Researchers are still trying to narrow its cause, but genetics and environmental factors are still suspected. Age is a factor, and men are more likely to be stricken than women.
Tough there are no definitive tests to determine if you have Parkinson’s, your doctor can make the diagnosis if you exhibit:
- Tremors, usually beginning in your hand or fingers. A big tip-off is a the presence of a hand tremor when your hand is in its relaxed state.
- Changes in your handwriting. Penmanship is controlled by small, precise muscle movements in your arms and hands, and may be the first red flag.
- Slowed or hindered movement, also known as bradykinesia, making even the most mundane everyday activities frustrating. You may notice you take shorter steps, drag your feet or find it difficult getting out of a chair. Unconscious functions, like swinging your arms while you walk, may be absent.
- Balance problems.
- Changes in your speech, especially slowed delivery or slurring.
If your doctor thinks you may have Parkinson’s, he will likely prescribe a medication like dopamine which can mitigate the problems. In fact, since there is no definitive test for Parkinson’s, your reaction to the medication may be the confirmation that you have it.
As terrifying as the initial diagnosis may be, it’s likely more frightening than it sounds. Most types of Parkisnon’s progress very slowly. Medications can markedly reduce your symptoms or erase them entirely. And, research continues.
Earlier this month, the science publication “Neurotherapeutics” reported on a UCLA study of a drug called AT2101 which shows promise for not only masking the effects of Parkinson’s, but reversing the damage it causes.
In the study of genetically engineered mice that mimicked Parkinson’s effects, the drug not only slowed the progression of Parkinson’s but also reversed its damage. If proven effective and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it would be the first drug on the market to treat Parkinson’s, not merely addressed its symptoms “” truly good news for the approximately 10 million people worldwide with the disease.
