What experts know and don’t know about Parkinson’s disease

It may be surprising to learn how little experts around the world know about what causes a neurological condition that 90,000 Americans are diagnosed with each year. This slowly progressing condition is called Parkinson’s disease.

The condition affects your body’s ability to move normally due to the loss of dopamine cells in a specific area of the brain called the substantia nigra.

“There is a lot to still be learned about Parkinson’s,” explains Dr. Michael Rezak, a neurologist at Advocate Health Care. “What we do know is that the condition causes the loss of dopamine nerve cells in the part of the brain that is responsible for voluntary movement and walking.”

Who is at risk for Parkinson’s??

You may be at an increased risk if you have one or more of the following criteria:

• Family history of the condition
• Age 50 or older
• Male

There are also environmental toxins that increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s, such as exposure to herbicides and pesticides. More research is needed to determine the exact cause.

How is Parkinson’s diagnosed?

Multiple factors are evaluated to determine a Parkinson’s diagnosis. Your doctor will first look at your medical background and current symptoms, such as a new history of balance or coordination problems, falls or tremors.

“If you have tremors, your doctor will examine you closely to see if the tremor occurs while sitting still or while you’re moving,” says Dr. Rezak. “If you have essential tremors, the shaking stops when you rest. The opposite is true if you have Parkinson’s – your tremors get more noticeable at rest.”

Next, you may receive a CT or MRI scan to rule out other conditions.

Additionally, advanced imaging called a DaTscan can be successful at helping diagnose Parkinson’s since it involves injecting a substance into your bloodstream that highlights where Dopamine Transporter (DAT) activity occurs in the brain, specifically near your striatum – a brain structure involved in motor control.

Is there treatment for Parkinson’s?

While there isn’t a cure for Parkinson’s, there are medications available that help resupply the neurotransmitter dopamine or stand in for dopamine since Parkinson’s symptoms are caused by low dopamine levels.

“It’s also important that people with Parkinson’s get appropriate therapy to help them maintain function over time, which can include physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy,” Dr. Rezak says.

You may be advised to hold off on receiving treatment if you aren’t experiencing symptoms that affect your quality of life.

“There aren’t neuroprotective agents that can slow disease progression; therefore, medications that address symptoms are added when functionality is impaired. The only thing that may slow Parkinson’s progression is aerobic exercise,” Dr. Rezak explains.

Are you trying to find a doctor? Find one in Illinois or Wisconsin.