Parkinson's: What is Parkinson's?

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Parkinson's: What is Parkinson's?

Parkinson’s: What is Parkinson’s?

February 2, 2012 at 10:08

Parkinson’s: What is Parkinson’s?

Parkinson’s disease is a motor system disorder that falls under the broader category of Movement Disorder. The motor symptoms present along with a cluster of other symptoms that are related to the specific area of the brain that is affected by an individual with Parkinson’s. There are currently no blood or laboratory tests that have been proven to help in diagnosing sporadic Parkinson’s disease. As a result, the diagnosis is based on medical history and a neurological examination. The disease can be difficult to diagnose accurately. Doctors may sometimes request brain scans or laboratory tests in order to rule out other diseases. Parkinson’s usually affects people over the age of 50, but there is early onset at younger ages.

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Parkinson’s and Common Symptoms

Primary symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease:

Tremor
Trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw or face
Rigidity or stiffness of the limbs or trunk
Slowness of movement
Postural instability or impaired balance and coordination

Early symptoms are subtle and appear gradually. But as the disease progresses, the shaking or tremors will begin to interfere with daily activities. Other symptoms include:

Depression
Other emotional changes, including Anger/Rage or Anxiety
Difficulty swallowing, chewing or speaking
Urinary problems
Sleep disruptions

Parkinson’s and Brain Function:

This progressive neurological disorder results from degeneration of neurons in a region of the brain that controls movement. This degeneration creates a shortage of the brain signaling chemical (neurotransmitter) known as dopamine, causing the movement impairments that characterize the disease. The symptoms listed above are the result of the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. As with most movement disorders, some form of SMR (Senory Motor Rhythm) training can be done to reduce symptoms, but a qEEG is a necessary assessment tool to make these protocol conclusions. With the qEEG or Brain Map as an assessment tool, we can see the electrical activity of the brain. We can then determine where and how the dysregulation occurs allowing us to develop treatment protocols to put the brain back into balance without medication.

Parkinson’s and Treatment Options:

There are a variety of treatment options for this disorder. They include medication, nutritional, counseling, and neurofeedback interventions.

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