Parkinson's disease Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Parkinsons disease - Essay ExampleDamaging approximately 60% to 80% of the cells producing dopamine would cause its deficiency and consequently lead to the appearance of PD tug presages. The National Institute of neurologic Disorders and Stroke, NINDS (2013) refers to this brain cells impairment process as neurodegeneration. Prevalence and Incidence About 1 billion deal in the US suffer from PD with between 50,000 to 60,000 new cases being diagnosed annually. Worldwide, between 4 million and 6 million people suffer from PD (National Parkinson Foundation, 2013). It has been particularly noted to set in at age 50 to 65 with a lower incidence in African Americans as compared to the Caucasians and 32 for male to female ratio incidence (Talan, 2011). Motor Manifestation Years before the motor manifestation, people with PD experience non-motor symptoms including stop disorders, loss of smell, hyposmia and constipation. The Braaks hypothesis cited by the NPF (2013) observes its earli est signs in the medulla, particularly the olfactory bulb which controls the sense of smell. It would then gradually progress to the cortex and substantia. Notwithstanding, the four motor symptoms cited by NFP (2013) are cardinal in PD postural instability, slowness of movement, rigidity and tremor. The well-known symptom of tremor has been referred to as rest tremor by NINDS (2013) as it becomes maximal on rested limbs and disappears with sleep or voluntary movement. It begins with a single leg or arm and later becomes bilateral. The tremors have a frequency of between 4 and 6 Hz. Secondly, the slowness of movement referred to as bradykinesia by NFP (2013) relates to difficulties in the substantial movement process planning, initiation and execution. This early manifestation hinders simultaneous and sequential movement performance indicated by problems related with performance of fine motor controlled tasks like sewing, writing and dressing up. The magnitude would be unconquerabl e by ones emotional state or activity. Rigidity would be manifested by rigor of the limb and resistance to movement due to excessive continuous ponderousness contraction or muscle tone. This could be uniform or ratchet referred to as lead-pipe and cogwheel rigidity respectively. It could be accompanied by pain. Whereas in the early stages it affects the shoulder and neck muscles, it later progresses to the whole body. Finally, the late stages of the disease exhibits impaired offset causing frequent falls and bone fractures due to postural instability. It would be experienced by 40% of the patients. Talan (2011) adds posture and gait disturbances like festination to the list of these motor manifestations. Diagnosis and Detection Initial diagnosis requires the realization of at least two of these four motor manifestations (NPF, 2013). Bedside examination by a neurologist body the most basic diagnostic tool for suspect patients. To aid this diagnosis, emergent imaging modalities i ncluding PET and digital audiotape scans would be performed by a neuroimaging expert with DATscan playing a critical role of differentiating PD from different essential tremors but cannot indicate the PD subtype. Also to aid in accurate diagnosis would be the need for information on physical and medical examination and also medication history to fancy the absence of medication that causes symptoms similar to those of PD. The