April is Parkinson’s disease Awareness Month; what can we do to increase our awareness?

One way is to educate ourselves and others on what Parkinson’s disease is and how we can recognize it when symptoms are presented in ourselves, our family or our friends.

Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease. Movement is normally controlled by dopamine, a chemical that carries signals between the nerves in the brain. When cells that normally produce dopamine die, the symptoms of Parkinson’s appear.

Is Parkinson’s life-threatening?

Parkinson’s is a progressive disorder that is ‘life-altering’, not ‘life-threatening’. Although people do not usually die of Parkinson’s, they may be at an increased risk for developing life-threatening complications, like pneumonia or severe swallowing difficulties, once they have progressed to a highly advanced stage.

Is Parkinson’s hereditary?

No specific clues have been discovered as yet.

What is the average age of diagnosis?

Parkinson’s usually begins between the ages of fifty and sixty-five with an average age of onset of sixty years. In fact, 5 to 10 percent of people with Parkinson’s develop symptoms before the age of forty; this is called Young Onset Parkinson’s.

How many Canadians have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s?

According to statistics, there are nearly 100,000 people living with Parkinson’s in Canada. This number is expected to double by the year 2016 as Baby Boomers age.

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptoms are tremors, slowness, stiffness, impaired balance, rigidity of muscles, fatigue, soft speech, problems with handwriting, stooped posture, constipation and sleep disturbances.

What can help manage the symptoms?

Medications, exercise, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy can help manage the symptoms.

Can brain surgery cure Parkinson’s?

Surgery can ease some of the symptoms associated with the disorder, but cannot stop its progression.

How is Parkinson’s diagnosed?

There is no single test, such as a blood test, to determine whether a person has the disease. The family doctor should make a referral to a neurologist, preferably one who specializes in movement disorders.