About usParkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that causes the brain cells responsible for making dopamine to stop working and eventually die. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter — a chemical required to send signals from the brain, and necessary for quick and well-coordinated movement. As the dopamine-making cells die off, the symptoms of Parkinson’s become worse.
- As many as 10,000 New Zealanders have Parkinson’s.
- Parkinson’s disease is twice as likely to affect European New Zealanders as Māori.
- The disease affects 1% of people over the age of 60.
The average age of diagnosis for Parkinson’s is around 60 years old, although the disease can develop much earlier, as in the case of celebrity Michael J Fox.
As Parkinson’s progresses slowly, it can take many years before the symptoms become obvious, and it has little effect on life expectancy. Different people will experience a different combination of symptoms.
Signs and symptoms
The diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is based on the patient’s symptoms and signs. There is no objective test for Parkinson’s, and misdiagnosis is relatively common, so it’s important to consult a specialist.
The most noticeable symptoms of Parkinson’s include:
- slowness of movement, known as bradykinesia
- shaking or trembling when at rest, specifically in the hands
- problems with coordination and balance
- rigidity or stiffness in the limbs.
Causes and treatment
There is no known cause and, at present, no known cure for Parkinson’s, although there is strong evidence to suggest that both genetic and environmental factors play a part.
Researchers have identified a few rare cases where the disease appears to be caused by a specific mutated gene that is shown to be hereditary. In other isolated cases, however, environmental factors have been shown to be the sole cause of the disease. In the 1980s, for example, a group of intravenous drug users accidentally injected a chemical called MPTP, which caused the users to contract the disease.
There is still no treatment to slow the progression of Parkinson’s, but there are medications to treat the symptoms. Clinical trials are underway into medications that slow the rate of cell death, and improvements in Deep Brain Stimulation are making their way into clinical practice.
Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's disease – a life-changing procedure explained
Learn all about Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) from Dr Viswas Dayal, a neurologist with special expertise in this life-changing procedure.
In 2016, Dr Dayal carried out research into DBS and Parkinson’s disease at University College London on a $107,000 Neurological Foundation Chapman Fellowship, and later brought his expertise back to New Zealand.
Find out more by watching the video in our Lecture Library:
https://neurological.org.nz/get-involved/lecture-library/
Support organisations
- Parkinson’s New Zealand — parkinsons.org.nz
- Parkinson’s Disease Dementia — www.yodat.org.nz
- Parkinson’s mobility tips & videos — www.parkinsonspt.com
- Parkinson's with Mia Boelen — www.youtube.com/@parkinsonsPT
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