Parkinson's disease: when the diagnosis is made, it is already too late Knowledge and environment

A woman’s hand trembles at the adjacent table in the cafe. She can barely hold the coffee cup or the man in the restaurant trying to put the ladle in his mouth. Many at the next table cannot see, are clumsy and prefer to look away at people with Parkinson’s disease.

In Germany alone, between 250,000 and 300,000 patients have it. Parkinson’s disease is the second most common nerve disease after Alzheimer’s disease.

There is no cure

In Parkinson’s disease, nerve cells die deep in the brain. You are in an area controlled by the many movements that make up the transition to the spinal cord. Early symptoms of the disease can appear 10 or 20 years before the onset of Parkinson’s disease. They include, for example, olfactory disorders or depression. Most people will be in their 60s when they are diagnosed. But even if the disease is caught early, there is no cure.

Against vibrations

There are no drugs yet that can prevent the development of Parkinson’s disease. Many studies are being conducted worldwide. Scientists are working on so-called neuroprotective therapies that can be used against nerve cell death.

Liftlabsdesign medicated spoon compensates for hand tremors

This medicated spoon makes up for a handshake

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The approach is to detect the disease as early as possible, preferably before known symptoms appear. These include, for example, pronounced movement disorders and tremors, muscle stiffness and subsequent uncertainty when standing and running.

Messenger role

The neurotransmitter dopamine is no longer available in sufficient quantities in patients with movement disorders. Individual groups of nerves can die. This also includes what’s called dark matter. This cell area appears black in healthy people. The cells produce dopamine here. This is important to transmit impulses to control movement. This area gradually deteriorates in people with Parkinson’s disease. If about 60 to 70 percent of the dark matter is affected, known symptoms occur.

Waiting for an outbreak

in a A broad study At University College London, researchers were able to show that many signs of the disease appear years before diagnosis. In addition to the musculoskeletal disorders observed, patients also suffer from neuropsychiatric disorders.

Scientists looked at different time periods. Five years before diagnosis, tremors, that is, tremors, could be detected in the controls, 14 times more than the comparison group with people without Parkinson’s disease. Other signs – including five years before the actual diagnosis – were low blood pressure, imbalance or dizziness. In addition, patients experienced depression, chronic fatigue and anxiety disorders at a young age.

Known for a long time

The disease was described 200 years ago by the London physician James Parkinson. Title: “Essay on Vibrating Paralysis– A Treatise on Paralysis Despite all the research that has been done over two centuries, there is no cure for neurological disease.

James Parkinson was a British physician, surgeon and paleontologist. Parkinson’s disease is named after him.

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Patients are usually treated with drugs that make up for dopamine deficiency in the brain, which can relieve symptoms. Surgical procedures can help a bit too. Deep brain stimulation is the name of the method.

Stimulation electrodes are used in the brain. The surgeon places a generator under the skin on the collarbone. Then it sends electrical impulses to the corresponding parts of the brain and thus affects different processes. Patients receiving this treatment should still take the medication, but not as much as before the procedure.

Researchers around the world are looking for treatment options and how to treat the disease associated with noticeable tremors.

As long as Parkinson’s cannot be cured, exercise and exercise are of the utmost importance. For example, clinical studies indicate that Tango can significantly reduce some of the symptoms characteristic of this condition and improve posture, gait and balance. It can now be found in many places Special dance lessons for people with Parkinson’s disease

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This is how you prevent dementia

Handover

Exercise not only protects the blood vessels on the toes and thus is beneficial against dementia, but it also directly helps the brain: the brain must control the body – and adapt accordingly. Improved routing and memory.

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This is how you prevent dementia

In

This is how you stay young and healthy: music, company, exercise and body control There is probably nothing better than a normal dance evening to prevent dementia. But here too, medicine does not guarantee lifelong success: dancers can also develop dementia at some point.

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This is how you prevent dementia

Do you play an instrument

Researchers have shown that musicians and dancers are less likely to develop dementia. Making music changes brain structure and can help older adults maintain mental, physical and social fitness. Anyone who makes music in a group also benefits from social connections.

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This is how you prevent dementia

Train your mind

Any kind of mental activity keeps the brain moving: it’s not just about puzzle solving and memorization. Social connections are much more important. It also challenges and improves memory. Important: keep in touch with others, do and organize things.

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This is how you prevent dementia

Eat healthy foods

Various studies have shown that a healthy diet – rich in vegetables, lettuce and vegetable fats – has positive effects on the blood vessels. Scientific studies have shown that people with a lower risk of heart attack or stroke also have a lower risk of developing dementia.

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This is how you prevent dementia

Smoking and alcohol … you guessed it …

Tobacco and alcohol are neurotoxins. Studies show that regular alcohol consumption triples the risk of all forms of dementia. Smoking damages the lungs and leads to atherosclerosis. Both ensure that less oxygen reaches the brain. This, in turn, accelerates mental decline in old age.

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This is how you prevent dementia

Prevent high blood pressure and diabetes

If you keep your blood pressure under control, you do something about dementia. Because it often arises as a result of cardiovascular disease. Diabetes and obesity can also lead to dementia.

Author: Fabian Schmidt

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