Written by Vraamoree Chattopadhyay, Youth Medical Forum
Parkinson’s disease, often referred to as a neurodegenerative disorder, affects the nervous system. This disorder affects the dopaminergic neurons which produce dopamine in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra.It affects 3 in every 1000 Singaporeans aged 50 and above, out of which 10 of those affected have dementia.
Parkinson’s disease is categorized into 5 stages.
Stage 1 is the mildest form, symptoms in early stages may include loss of expressions on the face, significant change in posture, rigid limbs accompanied by slight tremors in hand, generally described as “pill-rolling” tremors. However, these mild symptoms can be cured by certain prescribed medications.
Development of stage 2 from 1 can take a few months to years and varies between individuals. Stage 2 is the moderate form of Parkinson’s disease, where the same symptoms experienced in stage 1 are experienced across the whole body with difficulty in speech, it might be slower and more dreary than before.
During stage 3, the person affected tends to lose balance easily and is more prone to falls or injuries. The turning point of this disorder is said to be in stage 3 as it affects the person’s lifestyle by making it difficult to perform daily tasks like eating and dressing. Parkinson’s disease may affect one’s non-motor skills, like cognitive functioning and sense of smell.
Stage 4 is a complete loss of independence, the person at this stage is unable to perform daily tasks including walking without help.
Stage 5 is the worse stage of Parkinson’s disease, where the person affected starts to experience hallucinations, where the person starts to hear, see, smell, taste or feel things that do not really exist. At this stage, a person is most vulnerable to developing dementia, which is a severe loss of thinking, memory, speech and cognitive functioning.
Despite several studies, the cause of Parkinson’s disease is unknown. However, recent studies show that several mutations of the gene account for 10-15 per cent of all Parkinson’s disease cases. The presence of clumps of abnormal protein in the brain called Lewy bodies can also increase the risk of this disorder. Typically, those aged 60 or older are susceptible to this disease, especially females.
Moreover, exposure to pesticides and herbicides can cause tremors and dysfunction of the nervous system, increasing the chance of developing Parkinson’s. With Parkinson’s, a person can experience certain complications like depression, bladder problems, constipation, blood pressure fluctuations, changes in sexual desires and fatigue. All these are due to the rapid depletion of nerve cells in the brain, leading to severe dysfunction of the nervous system, making it difficult for the brain to control the senses.
Parkinson’s disease itself is not life-threatening, however, the symptoms associated are. Loss of balance can lead to a fatal injury in the head or elsewhere. With a loss of ability to swallow, the affected person can inhale food into the lungs, causing aspiration pneumonia, which can result in death.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for Parkinson’s yet. However, recent research shows consuming fewer toxins, eating organic food and food rich in Vitamin D3, avoiding head trauma and regular aerobic exercise has been said to keep the nervous system healthy and reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
Works Cited
“5 Stages of Parkinson’s Disease.” Healthline, 28 Aug. 2013, www.healthline.com/health/parkinsons/stages#alternative-rating-system. Elkouzi, Ahmad.
“What Is Parkinson’s?” Parkinson’s Foundation, 2019, www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/what-is-parkinsons.
Mayo Clinic. “Parkinson’s Disease - Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic, 8 Dec. 2020, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-2037 6055.
“Parkinson’s Disease: Early Signs, Causes, and Risk Factors.” Www.medicalnewstoday.com, 25 Mar. 2021, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323396#summary.
Parkinson's Foundation. “Causes.” Parkinson’s Foundation, 2021, www.parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons/Causes.
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