World Parkinson’s Day - What do you know about this disease?

Excessive slowness in an elderly person might be mistaken for normal ageing.

People are sometimes accused of ‘witchcraft’ or ‘possessed with evil spirits’ in our communities if their bodies shake, especially in the hands.

But do you know these could be early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD)?

To create awareness about Parkinson’s disease, let us join the world in this year’s World Parkinson’s Day by sharing some information about Parkinson’s disease.

We have witnessed the dedication of many days set aside to create awareness of various diseases, including World Malaria Day, World Diabetes Day, etc.

It is a similar motive that drives the World Parkinson’s Day on the 11th of April, which is the birth date of Dr. James Parkinson, who first described the condition.

It’s been over 200 years since 1817 when James Parkinson described Parkinson’s disease as a ‘Shaking Palsy’.

However, the world is still struggling to find a cure to it. 

Condition

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological condition which results from damage to cells (dopaminergic cells) in a part of the brain known as the substantia nigra pars compacta.

These dopaminergic cells produce a chemical called dopamine, which regulates normal movement in the human body.

Therefore, anything that causes a reduction in dopamine leads to Parkinson’s disease symptoms.

Although the cause of Parkinson’s disease remains unknown, an interaction between environmental and genetic factors predisposes a person to getting Parkinson’s disease.

Some environmental factors include exposure to paraquat (pesticide), industrial chemicals, air pollution, etc.

Parkinson’s disease is the fastest growing neurological condition causing death and disability worldwide. 

Common

In Ghana, it is the third most common non-communicable disease (non-infectious) after stroke and epilepsy, and the leading hypokinetic (small movement) disorder.

So, it is time to make some noise about this condition because early detection and diagnosis is very important for its management.

A person with Parkinson’s disease will have some of the following motor symptoms:

• Resting tremors (shaking) starting from one hand or leg and progress to affect the other side.

• Bradykinesia (slowness of movement) in all aspects of human activities such as walking, bathing, dressing up, eating, etc.

• Rigidity (muscle stiffness), which affects arm swing and facial expression, among others.

• Postural instability with loss of balance and falls as the condition progresses.They may also experience some of the following non-motor symptoms:

• Olfactory dysfunction (loss of smell)

• Constipation

• Excessive daytime somnolence (sleepiness)

• Depression

• Urinary dysfunction

• Symptomatic hypotension (low blood pressure)

• Erectile dysfunction

These non-motor symptoms are described as prodromal or pre-clinical symptoms which occur several years before the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease appear.

Take note of these symptoms and be alert, although this does not mean everyone with these symptoms will get Parkinson’s disease diagnosis.

As Parkinson’s disease progresses, it causes serious disability resulting in difficulty to perform basic activities of daily living (ADLs) such as eating, dressing and bathing or instrumental ADLs including shopping and preparing food.

Appropriate medical management and early rehabilitation like physiotherapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy are known to delay disease complications, improve and maintain the level of activity and quality of life of persons with Parkinson’s disease.

Keep spreading the ‘PD word’.

Everyone needs to hear about Parkinson’s!!!   

The writer is a PhD student,

Stellenbosch University, South Africa

2021 OWSD Fellow, Assistant lecturer, UHAS, Ghana.

Co-ordinator PD Support Group Ghana.