Skip to main content
  • Parkinson Disease
    Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder caused by malfunction and death of nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. Because of the death of nerve cells, people with Parkinson’s don’t have enough of the chemical Dopamine. This causes their movements to slow down. Symptoms get worse over time. An estimated 7 to 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s Disease. These numbers are projected to escalate sharply as more people live longer.   
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 28 October 2014
Image of a brain in blue colour with half of it submerged in a liquid

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by deterioration of nerve cells (neurons) in the part of the brain called the substantia nigra. The death or damage to the nerves and the central nervous system causes deficiency of one of the important chemical neurotransmitter or messengers called dopamine. The lack of or decrease in the dopamine levels hinders the brain from sending signals to other cells within the brain and muscles. Movements tend to slow down or difficult to control, and hence this is also called a Movement disorder. Parkinson’s is the most common motor and movement related brain disease.

Parkinsonism is a broad umbrella term that includes all movement disorders. This means that any disorder which has the symptoms of slowness (bradykinesia), stiffness (rigidity), tremor, and balance issues (postural instability) belong to this broad category.

An estimated 8.5 to 10 million people worldwide are living with this disease. Earlier known as a disease of the western world, in the last 2 decades, India has seen a rise in prevalence to around 300-400 people per lakh population. These numbers are projected to grow sharply as people are now living longer. However, this idea of it being an illness of the elderly has been challenged in recent years as more and more younger people, below the age of 40 years are getting effected by this disorder. This is termed as Early or Young-onset Parkinson’s disease.

Diagram explaining subtantia nigra, dopamine production and effect on movement

 

Can Parkinson’s disease be fatal

Parkinson’s disease is not considered fatal. Patients cannot perform daily movement tasks unaided due to gradual worsening of symptoms, thus there is decrease in quality of life.

Diagrams by Dr Meenakshi Krishnan

 

Condition

Stories

  • Dental Care for the Elderly
    Dental needs become increasingly specialized with age, making regular visits to the dentist even more important. Dr Shail Jaggi highlights some common gum and teeth problems that could become burdensome, if ignored. When we think of an elderly patient the first vision that generally tends to flash by is someone with greying hair, stooping and bent over with age, thick glasses and a denture to eat! But let’s take a quick look at my office! I am dentist and deal with geriatric patients all the…
  • Humans of Parkinsons story - Mr. Suryanarayan
    "I have been a stenographer, an advocate and have obtained a degree in information technology. It has been five years since I have retired. My left hand had started giving me a lot of trouble, and was not obeying my commands. It was then diagnosed that I had Parkinson's. I live alone, and I try to focus on not being limited by anyone, and try my best to not limit others too. I have a responsibility towards myself, and I focus on that. My daily routine is very active and I like it that way…
  • Nutrition in Parkinson’s Disease
    Most of us know that Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that affects our body movement. The disease progresses slowly and gradually the quality of life is affected. The rate of progression generally varies from person to person and is very individualized. As is the case with most diseases, medication is prescribed to control the progression of the disease. Nutrition is particularly important in Parkinson’s disease for many reasons:  The disorder itself slows transition through…
  • A Parkinsons Support Group Meeting in India
    What is a Parkinson's Support Group?
    Support Group for Parkinson's in India run by PDMDS and in collaboration with their partners. Last Update - Feb 2019 A support group is an informal gathering of people who share similar experiences, situations or problems. By meeting together, Parkinson’s Support Group members can offer each other emotional and practical support. In such a group, one is able to learn about Parkinson’s its problems and treatment. But most importantly the members share experiences and practical tips on living…
  • An elderly person on a wheelchair looking out to the lake with a male caregiver standing next to him
    20 Tips For Handling Hospital Stays and Medical Emergencies
    Sangeeta is a blogger who instills rare insight into her role of a caregiver. She not only chronicles the various methods which work for her father, who has Parkinson's, Dementia and Diplopia, but she backs it up with profound logic and common sense. The best part of her blog is her all-pervading humour which gives such a bitter sweet taste to her snippets of caregiving. Here are her top tips for handling medical emergencies and hospital stays.  My father  Anna was in a hospital for…
  • Losing A Loved One – Dealing With Death And Loss
    Losing a loved one especially after a long period of caregiving can be distressing and leave you with a range of different and conflicting emotions. This article by PDMDS suggests six ways to deal with grief and loss.   Losing someone close to you is extremely distressing. That loss also signifies the end of your caregiver role which may create feelings of emptiness. How you cope with the demise of the person you cared for is a very personal thing. Remember, there is no right or wrong…
  • Your Health Care Team for Parkinsons
    It is important to be aware of the Multidisciplinary Team of Health Care Professionals who play an integral role in the care and treatment of people with Parkinson’s as well as their caregivers. These professionals offer support and practical tips in those areas which you as a caregiver find difficult to manage and this also aids in an improvement in quality of life. Neurologist- Is a medical practitioner, who is licensed to make a diagnosis of PD (and other neurological conditions) following a…
  • Fall Proofing the Home for Older Adults
    Falls are probably the number one cause of injuries in seniors resulting in high medical and rehabilitative costs. Porrselvi A.P. a cognitive and psychosocial interventions specialist, offers valuable tips and suggestions for preventing falls at home, from installing handrails and anti-skid mats to decluttering the house and wearing sturdy footwear. Falls can lead to avoidable hospital admissions and the associated complications for elderly with a good health status as well as those older…
  • Provisions for People with Parkinson’s
    There are several Government provisions/ benefits available for People with Parkinson’s, which could be related to public transport, income tax etc. These various benefits are offered by the Government under the appropriate legislation To avail of any of the concessions offered by the Government, the first step one needs to take is to get a ‘Disability Certificate’. What is a Disability Certificate? A Disability Certificate is a document issued to a person with some form of disability, which…
  • Do not confuse the caregiver with unscientific therapies
    From popping pills for Parkinson's Disease every 2 hours and dealing with various side effects of these pills, Hari has turned his life around and chose to focus on his passions for travel and spreading awareness on PD. Read on. I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2008. Currently after the Deep Brain Stimulation surgery, I seem to have recovered almost 95%. Earlier I used to pop pills every two hours. My consumption of medicines has now come down to at the most one per day. What…