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Before we look at the stages and treatment for Parkinsons Disease let’s first look at what this illness is about. Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. It was first described in 1817 by James Parkinson, a British physician who published an article that he called “the shaking palsy.” It is characterized by rigidity of muscles within broad or limited areas of the body. It is typified by trembling and the complete loss of voluntary movements. Other symptoms of Parkinson’s include increased salivation, sweating and seborrheic secretion.

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic progressive nature, which persists for an extended period of time, which means that the symptoms worsen with time. It is not contagious. Many researchers now believe that the disease results from a combination of genetic susceptibility and exposure to one or more environmental factors that trigger the disease. Viruses are another possible environmental cause of Parkinson’s. People who acquired encephalopathy following the 1918 influenza epidemic were later affected with severe and progressive symptoms similar to Parkinson’s.

A group of Taiwanese women suffered similar symptoms of Parkinsons after infection by the herpes virus. In these women, the symptoms, which later disappeared, were linked to temporary inflammation of the nigra substance. However, there are no real common cause of Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s disease is a slowly progressive disorder that affects movement, muscle control and balance. The disease has several stages, which help the doctor determine what treatment for Parkinsons will be carried out. The various stages are:

Stage One - Symptoms only on one side of the body.

Stage Two - Symptoms on both sides of the body. No deterioration of ones balance.

Stage three - Impairment of balance. Mild to moderate disease. Physically independent.

Stage Four - Severely disabled, but still can walk or stand unaided.

Stage five - In a wheelchair or in bed unless you get help.

Currently, there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease but sometimes medications or surgery can provide dramatic relief of it’s symptoms. Drug treatment for Parkinson’s disease fall into three categories. The first category includes drugs that work directly or indirectly to increase the level of dopamine in the brain. The second category of drugs treatment for Parkinsons disease affects other neurotransmitters in the body in order to alleviate some symptoms of the disease. The third category of prescription drugs for the disease includes medications that help control non-motor symptoms of the disease or symptoms that do not affect movement. Deep brain stimulation uses an electrode surgically implanted in the brain. The electrodes are connected by a cable under the skin to a small electrical device called a pulse generator that is implanted in the chest under the collarbone. The pulse generator and the electrodes stimulate the brain in a painless way to help stop many of the symptoms of the disease. Deep brain stimulation has now been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and is widely used as a treatment for Parkinsons disease. Researchers continue to study deep brain stimulation and ways to improve it. One other treatment for Parkinsons that has everyone talking is stem cell research. This is a fairly controversial topic and one that deserves it’s own article. It’s important that if you or someone close is a sufferer to talk to your doctor to get all the information possible and find out the options for treatment for Parkinsons Disease.

Parkinsons disease can be a difficult illness to see in a once healthy and active loved one. It’s important to know and detect early the symptoms of Parkinsons. As with most illnessess the early you can detect it the more effective the treatment for parkinsons will be.

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