Parkinson’s disease is an illness of movement which affects your nervous system. The symptoms are caused by lower levels of dopamine in the brain.
ExpertsTrustedSource isn’t sure why Parkinson’s disease occurs, but they are currently assuming that genetic changes and exposure to environmental elements, including toxins, play an essential part.
Find out more about the first signs of Parkinson’s disease as well as the is the cause.
Initial signs
The signs associated with Parkinson’s illness appear slowly. It is common for them to begin with a slight shake on one hand and then a sensation of stiffness within the body. In time, other signs appear, and some might develop dementia.
The first symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include:
- Changes in movement, for example, shaking.
- balance and coordination impairments which can cause someone to lose things or fall over
- loss of sense of smell
- The person’s gait leans forward a bit or walks with a shuffle while walking.
- Fixed facial expressions are caused by adjustments in facial nerves controlling the muscles of the face.
- a voice tremor or softer voice
- Handwriting is more cramped and less detailed.
- sleep disorders caused by restless legs and other reasons
- Fast eye movements sleep disorder could be an effective predictor of sleep disorder in a study from 2015. a survey by the Trusted Source
The movement symptoms may begin with one part of your body and eventually affect both sides.
Other typical symptoms include: Trusted Source:
- mood changes, including depression
- difficulties swallowing and chewing
- fatigue
- constipation
- skin issues
- Delusions, dementia and hallucinations can occur over time.
The presence of these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean that a person has Parkinson’s disease. Other conditions may exhibit similar symptoms, including:
- Parkinsonism
- Head trauma
- encephalitis
- stroke
- Multiple system atrophy
- progressive supranuclear palsy
There is no current test to detect Parkinson’s disease. It is similar to other conditions, making it difficult to recognize in the beginning stages.
Here, you can learn more about doctors’ methods to identify Parkinson’s disease.
Will Medicare cover Parkinson’s Disease?
Causes
It is known as a degenerative disorder that occurs when changes within the brain. It isn’t known, but researchers have discovered a few variations that can occur.
Low dopamine levels
The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease stem due to low or decreasing amounts of dopamineTrusted sources the neurotransmitter. It occurs when the cells which produce dopamine die within the brain.
Dopamine plays a part in transmitting messages to the brain area that regulates coordination and movement. Thus, low dopamine levels could make it challenging to manage their activities.
If dopamine levels continue to decrease, symptoms slowly become more intense.
Low levels of norepinephrine
Parkinson’s disease can also cause Trusted Source damages to the nerve endings, which produce another neurotransmitter, called norepinephrine, involved in blood circulation and other bodily functions.
The low concentrations of norepinephrine in Parkinson’s diseases may raise the chance of non-motor and motor symptoms, for example:
- Rigidity and stiffness
- postural instability
- The tremor
- anxiety
- difficult to focus
- Alzheimer’s
- Depression
This could be the reason behind the reason why those who have Parkinson’s disease often have the condition known as orthostatic hypotension. This refers to when a person’s blood pressure fluctuates as they get up. This can lead to lightheadedness and the risk of falling.
Lewy bodies
People with Parkinson’s disease might have Parkinson’s disease and may have clusters of proteinTrusted sources called alpha-synuclein, also known as Lewy bodies, inside their brains.
The build-up of Lewy bodies may cause a reduction in the number of neurons, which can lead to changes in the way you move, think and behave as well as mood. It may also cause dementia.
Lewy body dementia isn’t the same as Parkinson’s Disease. However, people can suffer from both, as the signs are the same.
Find out More about Lewy body degeneration.
Genetic causes
Experts have discovered mutations in various genes that could be linked to Parkinson’s disease. However, they do not believe it to be a genetic condition.
Genetic causes are believed to be responsible for only 10% of instances, mainly in people who have an early-onset disease.
Autoimmune factors
In the 2017 study by the Trusted Source, researchers discovered an underlying genetic connection between Parkinson’s disease and other autoimmune diseases, like Rheumatoid arthritis.
The year was 2018, and researchers studying the health data of Taiwan discovered that patients suffering from autoimmune rheumatic illnesses were at a 1.37-higher chance of also suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
Risk factors
Certain environmental factors can increase the chance of developing Parkinson’s disease.
This includes:
- The past traumatized brain injury. Trusted The source: Head injuries caused by contact sports, for instance, could cause an increase in the likelihood of developing the disease.
- Exposure to toxic substances: Such as pesticides, solvents, metals, and other pollutants.
- Genre: Males are 50% more likely to get this condition than women; however, one study from 2016 suggests that the risk for females could increase as they the onset of age.
- Age It usually occurs between the ages of 60 years.
- Some medications and medicines: Certain medicines can cause Parkinsonism, a condition in which the patient experiences tremors and other symptoms but doesn’t suffer from Parkinson’s disease.
Symptoms typically begin to manifest around the age of 60. The reality is that 5- 10% of the Trusted Source of patients suffer from an early-onset Parkinson’s that begins before the age of 50.
Are racial differences affecting the risk?
In the past, studies have indicated that Parkinson’s illness is less likely to be affecting Black people than people from other races within the United States.
But, experts trusted sources have suggested that this could be due to a lack of knowledge about how the disease affects Black people and a greater likelihood of misdiagnosis due to disparities in health care.
Prevention
It’s impossible to stop Parkinson’s disease from occurring; however, certain lifestyle habits can lower the chance of developing it.
Beware of toxic substances.
Take precautions in using possibly harmful chemicals from Trusted sources, including pesticides, herbicides, and solvents.
If they can, people should follow these steps:
- Beware of the needless usage of herbicides and pesticides.
- by using alternative products to those that contain known toxic substances, like paraquat
- Make sure you take appropriate precautions, such as wearing protective clothing if it is impossible to stay clear of them.
Beware of head injuries.
To safeguard themselves against a traumatic brain injury, People can follow these steps
- wearing protective headgear during contact sports
- while riding or motorcycling wear a helmet
- wearing a safety belt when driving in a car
- being treated for concussions and avoiding any future risk until a physician confirms it is appropriate.
Exercise
Regular exercise can help in the prevention or treatment of Parkinson’s disease, according to the findings of a 2018 review by Trusted Source. The authors state that physical activity may aid in maintaining dopamine levels within the brain.
Dietary aspects
Confident diet choices can assist in reducing the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease and other illnesses. Studies have shown that the following foods may be beneficial:
- Turmeric is An unassuming spice that can be added to soups, curries, teas, and other food items. It contains curcumin, an antioxidant component. According to a laboratory study, it could help reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease by stopping the effects of oxidative stress and the clumping of the protein alpha-synuclein.
- Flavonoids Studies suggests that this antioxidant can reduce the chance of developing Parkinson’s disease. Apples, berries, vegetables, tea and red grapes have flavonoids.
- Avoiding aldehydesHeating and reusing cooking oil like sunflower oil can create aldehydes, which are harmful chemicals linked to Parkinson’s disease and other ailments. The research from the 2020Trusted source suggests that the potatoes cooked in cooking oils that were previously used may have high levels of aldehydes.
Summary
It is a chronic disease that involves neurological changes within the body.
Experts don’t know why Parkinson’s disease is a problem; however, environmental and genetic factors could be. In particular, scientists have identified strong connections to trauma from previous brain injuries and exposure to toxic chemicals.
Fitness, a balanced diet and avoiding the presence of toxins can all aid in preventing Parkinson’s disease. However, there’s no research to establish the exact causes.