Parkinson's Disease: An Overview

Treating Parkinson's Disease

How is Parkinson's Disease Treated?

Medications for Parkinson's Disease

There is no cure for Parkinson's disease but medicines can provide relief of symptoms.^[1] Medicines fall into three categories. The first category includes drugs that increase the level of dopamine in the brain or are similar to dopamine such as the drug Levodopa. The second category of drugs, anticholinergic drugs, affects other chemical messengers in the brain. These drugs can reduce tremors and muscle stiffness. The third category of drugs helps with symptoms that aren't movement or muscle related. An example is the use of an antidepressant to treat depression.

Parkinson's Therapy

Supportive therapies may be used to assist people with Parkinson's disease.^[1] They may include physical, occupational and speech therapy. These therapies can help with problems with walking, speaking, tremors and stiffness and the decline of higher mental functions.

Diet and Exercise for Parkinson's Disease

There is no evidence that vitamins or supplements help with Parkinson's disease.^[1] A healthy, fiber-rich diet can help with constipation, however. A high-protein diet can interfere with Levodopa. Researchers are looking for supplements that might be helpful in slowing down, preventing or treating symptoms of the disease.

Exercise can help people improve movement and flexibility.^[1] Physical therapy can strengthen muscles and increase range of motion. Exercise will not slow the worsening of the disease but will allow people to cope with it better. It may also help with emotional well-being. General exercise, outside of therapy programs, can be helpful. This includes walking, swimming, gardening and use of exercise machines. People should talk with their doctors before starting an exercise program.

Surgery

Surgery was once used to treat Parkinson's disease, but its use was stopped after Levodopa became available.

Deep Brain Stimulation

The Food and Drug Administration has approved deep brain stimulation and it is widely used.^[1] An electrode is implanted in the brain and electrical stimulation is used to counteract the abnormal signals in the brain that cause tremors and other symptoms. It can replace medicine and eliminate side effects. This method can be very effective but requires follow up surgery to replace batteries. It does not stop the disease from worsening. It is only used for certain patients with advanced disease who are suffering from the side effects of drugs.

Prevention & Research

Prevention of Parkinson's disease is a focus of research, but there are no known ways to prevent the disease at this point. Much of research is focused on the genes associated with the disease and the possibility of finding markers to help diagnose the disease.1 Researchers are looking at genetic mutations do.^[1] Researchers are also looking at the DNA present in mitochondria, which is separate from the DNA that is in the nucleus of the cell. Scientists are also studying pesticides and herbicides to see what their role is in the disease. In addition, they are looking at how cells dispose of protein to see how it leads to the death of brain cells. They are also looking at how the loss of dopamine causes overstimulation of parts of the brain.

Research is also focused on improving treatment, specifically improving the use of deep brain stimulation. Several drugs are under study for relieving symptoms or to slow down the worsening of the disease. Stem cells are being studied to see if they can replace dead cells that produced dopamine.

This Elder Health Guide was published on August 1, 2009.