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Announcer Jeremy Paxman has revealed he has Parkinson’s disease, but what are its causes, symptoms and how is it treated?
What is Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects parts of the brain.
What are the symptoms?
The NHS says there are three main symptoms, including tremors or shaking, slowness of movement and muscle stiffness.
Other symptoms include balance problems, loss of smell, nerve pain, excessive sweating and dizziness.
Some people may also experience sleep deprivation, excessive saliva production, and difficulty swallowing, leading to malnutrition and dehydration.
What are the first signs?
Symptoms begin gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in only one part of the body.
In the early stages, people may show little or no expression and their arms may not swing as they walk.
Speech may also become soft or slurred, with the condition worsening over time.
What are the causes?
Scientists believe that a combination of genetic and environmental factors is the cause of Parkinson’s disease.
It occurs after a person experiences loss of nerve cells in part of their brain.
However, it is not known why the loss of nerve cells associated with the condition occurs.
Scientists say that genetics cause about 10 to 15% of Parkinson’s and therefore can run in families.
Other factors attributed to causing the condition include environmental problems such as pollution, although such links are inconclusive, the NHS says.
How is it diagnosed?
No test can definitively show whether a person has the disease, but doctors can make a diagnosis based on symptoms, medical history, and a physical exam.
A specialist will ask the person to write or draw, walk, or speak to check for general signs of the condition.
They may even check for difficulty making facial expressions and slowness of limb movements.
How many people are affected?
About 145,000 people live with Parkinson’s disease in the UK.
What Happens When Someone Is Diagnosed?
According to Parkinson’s UK, it is a legal requirement to contact the DVLA as a diagnosed person must undergo a medical or driving assessment.
The organization also advises people to contact any insurance companies and get information about available financial support.
People are also encouraged to exercise more.
Can it be treated?
While there is no cure, there are a number of treatments available to reduce symptoms.
The three main remedies are medication, exercise, and therapy, which can help people in a variety of ways.
What drugs are there and what are the side effects?
Medication can help improve the main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, such as tremors and movement problems.
There are three main types that are commonly used, levodopa, dopamine agonist, or an MAO-B inhibitor.
Each can affect people in different ways.
The drugs have some side effects, including impulsive and compulsive behavior, hallucinations, trouble sleeping, and blood pressure changes.
What therapy is available?
There are several therapies available for people with Parkinson’s through the NHS.
Among them are physical therapy to reduce muscle stiffness, occupational therapy to help with daily tasks, and speech and language coaching.
Does this change your way of life?
Most people’s life expectancy will not change much, although more advanced symptoms can lead to more disability and ill health.
It can also cause some cognitive problems and changes in mood and mental health.
Those with Parkinson’s are encouraged to exercise more often, with scientists saying 2.5 hours of exercise per week is enough to slow the progression of symptoms.
Parkinson’s affects one in 500 people and causes muscle stiffness, slowness of movement, tremors, sleep disturbances, chronic fatigue, a reduced quality of life and can lead to severe disability.
It is a progressive neurological disorder that destroys cells in the part of the brain that controls movement.
Sufferers are known to have a reduced supply of dopamine because the nerve cells that cause it have died.
There is currently no cure and no way to stop the progression of the disease, but hundreds of scientific studies are underway to try to change that.
The disease claimed the life of boxing legend Muhammad Ali in 2016.