Parkinson's Disease | New Horizons
Training Resources

Parkinson's Disease

What is it?

A chronic progressive neurological disease chiefly of later life that is linked to decreased dopamine production in the substantia nigra.

Facts

  • Begins between 40 and 70 years of age
  • Most common in men
  • Suggested causes are both genetics and environmental
  • Disease is observed in all countries and all races
  • Parkinson's disease itself is not fatal, however complications from the disease are serious as it progresses
  • Despite decades of intensive study, the cause of PD still remains unknown
  • Many experts believe the disease is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors

Clinical Features

Marked especially by tremor of resting muscles, rigidity, slowness of movement, impaired balance, and a shuffling gait.

Mild Parkinson's Disease Clinical Features

  • Movement symptoms may be inconvenient, but affect daily activities
  • Tremors often occur on one side of the body
  • Changes in posture, walking abilities, and facial expressions
  • The body moves more slowly
  • Trouble with balance and coordination may develop
  • "Freezing episodes" - feet may feel stuck in place; inability to move forward
  • "Pill rolling" motions of the thumb and forefinger

Advanced Parkinson's Disease Clinical Features

  • Great difficulty walking in wheelchair or bed most of the day
  • No longer able to live alone
  • Assistance needed with all daily activities
  • Cognitive changes may be prominent, such as delusions and hallucinations

Risk Factors

  • Parkinson's disease is rare in young adults. It ordinarily begins in the middle to later years of life. The average age of development is about 60 years old.
  • Having a close family relative with Parkinson's increases the chances that you'll develop the disease. However, the risks are still small.
  • Men are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than women.
  • Ongoing exposure to herbicides and pesticides may increase the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.

Treatment

While some of the common symptoms can be treated with over the counter products, other side effects such as body tremors cannot.

Movement Helps

  • Dance to music
  • Garden or plant seedlings
  • Occupational and physical therapy routines
  • Use a walking device such as a cane or walker
  • Wheelchairs should be fitted by an OT or PT to determine which one will best suit their needs

Signs & Symptoms

Walking Difficulty

Walking differences such as starting and stopping or misjudging corners are common, subtle changes that can make a walk outside a daunting task.

Tremors

Tremors are when your hands or arms begin to rattle or shake on their own accord.

Bradykinesia

This symptom can result in facial expressions that have a loss of balance and the inability to carry items while walking.

Balance Difficulty

Many living with Parkinson's experience loss of balance and the inability to carry items while walking.

Depression

Imagine having to suddenly rely on others and how that could take a toll on your mental health. Depression, especially in the first year of a Parkinson's diagnosis, is unfortunately common.

Motor Skill Loss

As a Parkinson's client slowly loses their motor skills, ordinary tasks such as working on a puzzle or using kitchen utensils become a major challenge.

Handwriting

Those with Parkinson's Disease have reported a change in their penmanship as a telltale sign. Many experience the need to write smaller than usual, or the final printing results are not as neat as it once was.

Voice and Speech Differences

Patients tend to speak in a softer tone, some also have challenges eliciting words.

Memory Loss

The disease can attack the memory rather quickly, causing mild to severe dementia.

Skin Disorders

Very dry, rough skin, or dandruff of the scalp can be a common symptom of Parkinson's.

Recent research has identified primary non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease which might be experienced up to 10 years before the motor symptoms appear.

Non-Motor Symptoms

  • Constipation
  • Loss of olfaction: decreased acuity in sense of smell
  • Sleep disorders: trouble falling asleep, inability to awaken, yelling or acting out one's dreams
  • Pain
  • Seborrhea: flakiness of skin around the nose, forehead, and chin
  • Fatigue: loss of energy or motivation

Depression

Approximately 40% of people with Parkinson's disease develop depression which can be treated with medication and/or counseling.

Depression & Parkinson's Disease

  • It is important for people with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers to report signs of depression to a physician.
  • Persons with Parkinson's disease may not acknowledge their depression and resist taking medication to treat their symptoms.

More in resources